The Iola register., 1891-07-17
4 xAssAs eraI n rnE EAsr.
ON the s.Tsle of shoals. IA Quiet Sunni 4
Resort-Hew II Looks and What
Sort of People Go There
Celia Thaxter.-Old o.
cean 10 Prairie
Dwellcr..

| ISLE OF SHOALS, n. II. June 80.
"Some "reminiscences of your life In
Boston, was asked for. The trick
that SO many story writer's employ o.
beginning In the middle to tell a thing
must serve in this case, for until 1 have
spoken of this place, which for the
present has crowded everything else
out of mind, it might be difficult to
reminisce successfully of the delights
of winter in Boston, which just now
seems &C yague and far removed.
The poet who longed for green isle
of his own In blue summer ocean, far
off and alone, would have entirely re-
allied his hearts desire If he had come
here before the cottages, pavilions, boat
landings and the immense Appledore
House were built. am going to close
this letter, schoolgirl fashion, with
some lines which think adequately
describe it all, but in more prosaic
English I want to tell show the land
lies."
To the west, dimly outlined against
the sky, are the blue hills of New
Hampshire. There are summer re-
sorts all along the Massachusetts, and
New Hampshire coast, and it was very
interesting to watch them from the
deck of our steamer as we came up,
for we were often quite near the shore.
But on the other three sides one sees
nothing but vast expanse of sea and
sky. SomewayI like the "other three
sides" the best. This island is, as its
name indicates, an island of shoals.
1t is quite small 80 small that wher-
ever one is, it is little more than a
stones throw to the waters edge. A
thick growth of bushes of some sort
grow wherever there Is soil enough to
give them opportunity, and there are
lots of buttercups and daises, eglan-
tine, blue forget-me-nots and some
rare and beautiful ferns. Then there
is little plat of pasture land, where
some cows Craze, and these, with
chandeliers shrill clarion the first
thing in the morning, almost make us
believe we are in the country. At
least, we are away from Changing bells
and horse-cars and screeching news
boys, and there is no Conservatory
with four hundred pianos, each play
ing a different tune at the same time,
If indeed it is tune at all ,-and no
wailing violins and ubiquitous young
woman with a high soprano voice.
Really, the list of things that can
make noise is interminable.
But up here there is nothing obtrus-
i've but the ocean. Too much that is
true and beautiful has been said about
the sea for me to attempt any descrip-
tion, and there is only one phase that
I shall speak of. That is its wonder
full power as an educator. Why, it is
worth going halfway across the con-
tinent just to sit at the feet of the
broad Atlantic and learn the lessons
that it teaches. Then. too, there is so
much in literature and music and art
that one cannot appreciate or half un-
derstand, so much that one is not in
touch with, until one knows the sea.
Not long ago, at the new Old South
next to Trinity the finest church i'm
Boston, there was a service expressly
for sailors. They marched in in a
body, three hundred brave old salts,
and took the seats reserved for them.
A more impressive service 1 never at
tended, and it certainly was true, as
one speaker, said, that only those men
of the sea could sing with thorough
understanding, "While the nearer
waters roll, while the tempest still is
high"
I like to sit out on the rocks I'm the
afternoon and watch the fishermen
fishing for mackerel off the shoals.
1t is little too cool for comfort, but
that doesu't make the fishermen, with |
their sun-burned faces, corn-cob pipes
and dilapidated old hats, less pictur-
esque.
The season has not fairly begun yet,
but there are good many people here,
most of them BostoniaEs; and it is
mostly Beacon street and Common
wealth avenue Boston thai is repre-
sented, for this is a very aristocratic,
though not ultra-fashionable place.
People come here for rest and recrea-
lion, not to display resplendent toilets
md get engaged. By the way, Celia
is here, stately, rather se-
rere looking old lady, who breakfasts
every morning at half past five, and
,ught to be a shining example to ordi-
lary mortals.
We have just come in from glorious
ialf-hour out ON the rocks, where we
vent to laugh at the romping pillows
md watch the sunset tints steal across
he sky. 1t is as cold as late October
in sunny Kansas, and it all
has the same exhilarating effect that
hose first bracing north winds have.
Heavy winter wraps are necessity,
f course. From my window, as l
write, I see the waves rolling in grand
Y. AS it grows dark the sea seems
o grow more angry. and the waves
ash spitefully against the rocks,
Which frown back impervious. Ships