Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-04-25
A MODERN UTOPIA.
The Beautiful City Of Vineland, New
Jersey, Described.
A MODEL SET OF PEOPLE.
Only Two Constables Required to Keep Or
der-Plenty of Wine Made, but Prohibition
Strictly Enforcesi-A Prosperous and Well
Ordered Community.
Written for The Evening Star.

| Written for The Evening Star
DATE MY LETTER FROM THE LOVELY
- town OF Vineland, which in the spring and
summer is veritable Arcadia though no doubt
70 many OF your readers it is unknown. A short
TIME since 1t celebrated its twenty-eighth birth
DAY In Cosmopolitan Hall by addresses from
prominent clergymen Of the town, pootical and
humorous Rotations, music and an allegorical
tabieau OF Temperance crowned by Peace and
prosperity. Vineland was founded by Mr.. c. K.
Lands, whose extensive travels in Europe, and
more especially in the south of France and
Italy, created the desire to transplant the vine
In all Its luxuriant variety to this SOIL SO con-
genial to its growth. Owning a large area o.
land $4,000 acres) in complete state of nature,
ne was the pioneer Of this section. He brought
from Italy colony of the cultivators of the
grape and settled them within a few miles OF
sneiand, which he called New Itaiy." where
they have by industry and knowledge of the
moses OF cultivation made that whole region
blossom. The small fruits, the strawberry,
raspberry and the Lawton blackberry also
grow here in great profusion.
| STRINGENT PROHIBITION.
Lest the wine industry should lead to abuse
he laid the foundation of the success of Vine
land in the establishment Of prohibition by the
most stringent laws. This was the first town, /
believe. in New Jersey to raise the standard of
the crusade against that enemy of home and
peace. ,intemperance. Every facility was offered
here also to the manufacturer by grants of land
and aid In capital, and at this time within the
limits OF the corporation there glass fac tores
paper box, tool, button and several large shoe
factories. extensive steam saw mills and other
mechanical industries. The principal! thor
thn 4nxrv II L. Z.
twelve miles in length. From the West Jersey
railroad depot to the end of the borough. about
TWO miles, there are situated the elegant sub
urban residences. Homes for the Feeble
Minded" for both sexes state institutions
The lower part of the avenue is devoted to
business. The stores contain all that is needed
py persons OF means well as the common
necessaries of life. Here the busy tide of traffic
hows on from ''rosy morn to dewy eve," but at
night silence falls upon the place unbroken
py the shouts OF tavern revelry or other haunts
OF vice. The effect of the law of prohibition
Is seen in the brightness of the eve and the
glow OF health on the cheek of youth as well as
In the matured vigor of manhood. From about
midway the avenue Is laid out on the plan of
the Champs Elysees of Paris 1t is broad
thoroughfare, bordered by wide sweep of
lawn each side shaded by double rows of trees
forming bower over the entire sidewalk.
The residences are surrounded by extensive
grounds, highly ornamented and inclosed with
hedges OF the arba vit2'and other evergreens
and howery shrubs. Scarcely a fence is to be
seen. The vista between these rows Of trees,
with the great wealth of greenery from the WELL
trimmed hedges and the wide lawns is one of
great beauty. Parallel with and crossing
Lands avenue are streets and avenues which
vie with each other in beautiful designs in
grounds and residences. One of these, East
avenue, is the most conspicuous, and upon it is
situated the convent and boarding school Of
the Sisters OF Charity, a branch of the institu-
ton of Madison. n. J.
ONLY TWO CoNsTABLEs REQUIRED.
Vineland requires but two constables to pre-
serve good order and to protect the rights of
its citizens. and 30 seldom are they called upon
to exercise their authority that when they do
make arrests they grow tender-hearted
and allow their prisoners in the 'lock- up the
range Of the corridors. A few nights ago two
disturbers OF the peace Of this quiet town, who
mad been placed in durance vile. battered
down the door and fled; another prisoner, more
grateful for the kind treatment OF these guard
ians of the peace, refused to avail himself of
the opportunity and remained to testify to the
mode by which these ungrateful ''vagrums"
had escaped. The officers when arraigned
pleaded guilty to the charge of tenderness and
offered to pay the fine of these ingrates The
terrors of the law are reserved for the chicken
thief, against whom the police exercise all
their severity. The ''sncak thief is an I'M
known variety Of the species in this locality.
Fruits and howerD bloom and ripen, untouched
by the passers by, though in many instances
they border the streets and roads As near
an approach to the millennium as l
expect to see is found in the peace which
relgns between our colored brother and the
watermelon. They bloom and ripen within full
view of him, with no intervening fence nor
house dog to offer impediments to the enjov-
ment he finds SO understandable elsewhere;
here in this Utopia they safe. 1 feel 1 am
taxing the creduity of our southern friends in
this statement, but. as Paul Pry says: II willre-
pair to the nearest magistrate and make OATH
to this existing fact.
Sometime ago arrests were made of persons
caught stealing flowers. and being brought be-
fore the worthy mayor, who has been recently
reelected, and the evidence being conclusive,
Tor they were caught red-handed. his honor adj
ministered a severe lecture upon the outrage
committed against the owner of the beautiful
flowers. they were superb specimens of the
chrysantemums, and was about to impose q fine
when some one said: Your honor, these flowers
were stolen from your own garden"
''Oh indeed" said the mayor whose garden
was gorgeous in its array of these beautiful
flowers, IF you are ever brought before me
again l will impose heavy fine upon YOU
1t was his OK that was gored and he thus ad-
ministered Vineland justice and mercy, which
is $50 closely blended. This reminds me of story
told Of Col Bob Ingersoll, who on one occasion
committed some contempt of court and the
judge after reprimand fined him So
Col Ingersoll admitted the justice of
the sentence and said, Judge, will you be good
enough to loan me that amount to pay nv
fine? mo, sir" said the judge. II will remit
the fine, the state of Illinois can better afford
to lose that amount than can."
THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE.
Here is located the Theological College of the
Sacred Heart, presided over by the Very Rev.
erend Father Porcille, an eminent member of
the Fathers of Mercy, of which he is the pro-
vincial. The college grounds are very extern
sive and it fronts on the fine Natural Park
which is about to be embellished. Like all in
situations of its character it has students from
all parts of the country. The town contains
churches of every denomination, schools. pub
lie and private, u school of art. Young Mems
Christian Association, under whose auspices
courses OF lectures are delivered during the
winter, circulating library, and literary So
cieties are numerous. Every facility is offered
for the cultivation of music, for which Vine
land il remarkable.
BY concatenation Of circumstances, after
years of travel abroad, and study at the Royal
Blanchard Coyle found in this charming spot a
congenial home, where the tones of music,
like the odor Of its flowers pervadc the very
air. This Astounding musical talent induced
her to resume her profession as vocal teacher,
which she had pursued SO successfully, but
which for some years she had relinquished.
In recalling some "reminiscences of the his
toric year Of 1861, when Madame Blanchard