Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-19
csxrespondence Of TEE EvESNe STAR.
STAsCONsEI. NkNrucKFr Isr ~,

green sward of level field, and. like children'
work, not always arranged in right lines. Sc
close together are the houses on the irregular
little streets and lanes. sometimes not more
than three feet apart, one thinks still more
they might well be the work Of children Nc
side walks. The streets are travelled, for there
are ruts In the center caused by the wheels oil
passing wagons. Elsewhere between the rows
OF houses the grass grows luxuriantiy and il
only kept from reaching proportions for now
Ing by the foot steps Of the summer residents.
Such odd little houses. Like exaggerated dry
boxes as the beginning. over which roof was
placed and in which q doll family might have
gone 10 live. But with other dolls born, an
addition on one end of the house was a neces-
slty. This had a roof of the same slant, and as
1t was deeper than the main building, the ewes
sometimes extend to the height of the seeming
hlliputian owner. Then, as the family further
increased and other rooms were needed, addi-
tions we're made on the other end or rear. If
space were available on the ground, perhaps
another and another room would be put on,
but five or six miniature rooms is the average
OF the little 'Sconset houses.
As FISHING VILLAGE.
Cease to regard the structures as toy houses,
but as the habitations of grown men and
women, and one begins to realize how incon-
gruous they are when considered in connection
were begun nearly two hundred years ago and
have been added TO from time to time until
they assumed the proportions that they had
reached nearly half century since. They were
the dwellings, Of hardy, brave and strong men
-tolers OF the sea-who came each and spring
fall to fish in the waters off the beach The
houses in their beginnings were merely for
shelter during stormy weather, when they
could not launch their boats upon the surf and
when the season was over in which to house
THAR Hff1a "a ba br1il Is A.
rudest carpentry. Odds and ends of timber
and lumber were used in their construction
Stills and joints and studs and rafters were Of
all shapes and sizes. Some we're pieces of
wreckage that had toated upon the beach;
Others were taken from dismantled barns,
dwellings, and out houses. Scarce any new
material was used. The parts were put together
securely and in time sides as well as roofs
were shingied. Doors of any pattern and
nearly ALWAYS second hand were used Old
windows brought hlther were availed of to
admit light. II they were of uniform SIZE all
right. If not all right. Little garrets over the
parlors and bed rooms afforded shelter for two
or three men during the height of the fishing
season. The occupants slept well, for the fur
nishings were equal to those in the hunks they
occupied IN whale ships or coasters in which
they lad been employed. The air was always
cool, and, with the little windows raised a
couple Of inches, ventilation was perfection the
occupants IN the smallest room.
AS SUMNER RESORT.
This was Siasconset ten years ago-a quaint
little fishing village of about forty or fifty
houses from ten to twelve feet to the peek of
the roofs, situated on the east side of Nantucket
Island on bluff of some thirty to forty feet in
height, with broad beach of sand before it.
and then the vast ocean with no land inter-
vening between the village and southern
Europe. Not counting Cape Cod as part of
the continent the island is 10 miles out at sea-
Every breath of air that passes over it is redol-
ent with the odOrs of the ocean, With ewes
closed, the visitor to the village could well
imagine himself On deck of a vessel in mid
ocean. were il not that there is no motion
With his eyes open he realizes that he has all
the benefits OF a sea voyage with the comforts
OF dwelling on land.
When steam communication was regularly
established with the island. some twenty odd
years ago, families from the mainland who
had learned of the healthful qualities of the
air, hired the fishermen's cottages during the
summer and stopped for the season, ENJOYING
climate where there are always cool nights and
never hot days, even IN midsummer; where
mosquitoes are scarce ever seen; where the rain
quickly perculates the sandy soil and stagnant
water cannot exist and where malaria is i'm
possible; where the water for drinking pur-
poses is raised from depth of near forty feet,
ana Is cool, soft, pure. refreshing and healthful
SUMNER soJoURNERs.
The builders of these little houses didn't sup-
pose that they had laid the foundation for
seaside resort, but such is the fact Now nearly
two hundred houses built and furnished are oc-
cupled between June and October. considerably
more than a hundred having been erected
within the past seven or eight years One
hotel which existed forty years ago in the
tush times of the whale fishery has recently
been enlarged. Another begun over twelve
years since has been added to from time to
time, in this direction and in that. until now il
has accommodation for nearly two hundred
guests. Two or three houses are used for
boarders, and this year a restaurant has been
erected for the accommodation of excur-
sioulits.
The TRANSIT OF THE ISLAND
was, until 1885, by wagons over sandy roads,
the like of which could not be found elsewhere
in any old settled country. 1t was a tedious
pull Of seven and a half miles, taking at least
ali hour and a half. unless with q light vehicle
But the increasing importance of the place as
summer resort awakened the sleepy authori-
ties Of the sleepiest town in America into per-
functory effort. and now the roads have been
greatly improved from their condition ten
years since. though further improvement is
sadly needed. But the little railroad which
was projected IN connection with an unsuccess-
ful land speculation on tine south shore of the
island. now conveys passengers between the
"town." as Nantucket is called. and 'Sconset.
which is the abbreviated name OF the little
tshermeu's village.
AND SUCH RAILROAD.
Its guage Is as narrow the purposes and
hopes of its projectors were broad. The cars
sway from port TO starboard like unto a fishing
smack on the pillows of Nantucket shoals and
the seafaring man who rides on them feels at
home. The resident visitor at Sconset will not
hear anything derOgatory of the road. He
knows that. but Tor II. II would require courage
TO leave his home on the main land to pass a
summer of rest on 'Sconset bank 1t was con-
celved IN speculation; WAS born in poverty;
was dry-nursed in hope; was sustained in its
maturity by subscriptions to its stock and
bonds. But the stockholders have not learned
that sweet are the Of adversity" and the
bOndholders have Jared no better for like st.
Paul, they would that all men were alike unto
them save these bonds.
For several miles the road was built within a
few rods OF the south shore of the island, and
the heavy gales had made such inroads into
the biuh, that last season. III many places the
track was within a few feet of the beach In
November, following, a terrific gale washed the
earth from under the track for a long distance
and so great the damage done that i,
seemed doubtful if the managers would at.
tempt to restore il; but they were equal to the
emergency, and on the LIST Of July traffic was
Resumed.
NOT FASHIONABLE RESORT.
II Is not probable that il will ever become a
fashionable resort. The visitors are mainly
college professors, teachers, invalids, tired out