Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1891-11-07
MRS. rAAxrgs's ISLAND HOME.
now sA. Has ssaas the Rock. Of Apple

3@H& ksAN@N0ea as Aaac ksos&s
Today the Shoals are given up 10 the
Laightons and their summer guests
They are the sole owners Of the entire
group. and their great hotels and the
adjoining cottages represent property
Of half million dollars The Laighton
family Is closely identified with the isles.
About half century ago Thomas Bell
Laighton was defeated in New Hamp-
shire election His wounded pride and
thwarted ambition led him 10 eschew
his kind. He removed from Portsmouth
70 the islands, and he never returned to
the mainland. His grave marks the
heart OF Appledore
He was man Of stalwart form. great
intelligence and force of character, and.
withal, - good hRter." such AZ Dr.
johnson, would have loved He Was
devoted father, and gave daily lessons to
his children. Oscar. Cetlric and Celia
II was = strange isolation in which they
passed their youth, but nature is by no
means the least desirable OF tutors The
two sons had shown great business saga
city in making the islands famous as a
summer resort.
The daughter says. II came here when
Ave years old. and lived with no society.
no school. no church. till I married az
sixteen and left the islands. only TO re
turn with each succeeding summer
Her husband was Levi Thaxter, the
prophet Of Browning ~ America When
a schoolgirl ] heard him lecture ON
Browning and l have never forgotten
the rich thought which his deep insight
so ably set forth Mrs. Thaxter is best
known by her verses and, if her scope is
less wide than other songsters, surely the
sea has never found an interpreter more
picturesque OF a colurist more subtle.
The pulse of the tide thrubs through all
her poems She has also written a
charming book
Among the cottages grouped around
the big AppledOre hotel is an unpreten-
tons but rooIny one. before which is a
wonderful garden Such glory OF color
was never elsewhere coaxed out of New
England's unfriendly soil indeed, it's
a bit of tropical splendor that rewards
Mrs. Thaxter's care. for she Is MP with
the birds and devOtes the early hours TO
her flowers. One happy morning il was
my good fortune To pay her visit Be-
yond the vine covered porch is the large
room where she receives, at once studio,
library and salon. The hard wood hoor
IS spread with soft green rugs. and the
duh green wall ia lined. row upon row.
with pictures, bits of Venice or Florence,
photographs of the paintings Of old Ital-
ian masters. portraits and sketches, and
dominating all. strong figure drawn in
charcoal by William NJ Hunt.
Tn the floor. leaning against the grand
piano. were many spirited water color
sketches just sent in by Childe HassaIn.
On tables, windows, mantel. everywhere,
were flowers. Tall cylinders with grace
full peoples, blue bowls heaped high with
red roses glasses filed with delicate
sweetbrier and great masses of naseur.
tiums OF the yellow California peoples
made an Understandable wealth Of color
In the midst. Mrs Thaxter in a pale
gray gown silver star in her snow
white hair. tine tan of the sea on her
cheeks and the blue OF the sky in her
eyes
Beside her On the deep sofa piled with
cool green cushions sat the widow Of a
famous musician, whose violin was loved
from the fior,ls Of Norway TO Massachu.
sets bay Opposite was professor from
Cambridge. who rpcited poetry in
voice deep but Sympathetic. and near
him distinguished pianist whose ia
ther devoted his life 10 setting hy1ns to
music. As the conversation driftei ON
Mrs. Thaxter gave as an interesting de-
scription Of her visit to Mary Cowden
Clarke and her meeting with Browning.
Afterward she read III some of his let
ters, and then. at the professors request.
the epitaph Browning wrote for Mr.
Thaxter's grave. Isles Of Shoals Cor
Worcester Mass. Spy