The Republican journal., 1892-01-21
Impressions of Cape Cod.
I Written for the Republican Journal

to make visit ? And if so, was the result
satisfactory or disastrous =?
In such a mood, at the urgent invita-
ton of friends, a visit was lately made in
Barnstable County, Cape Cod. Early in
the evening we left the cars of the Old
Colony r. R. at South Dennis, and We're
met by three lady friends, and in a closed
carriage started from the depot. Greet
ings and inquiries were not finished
when, without any warning an indescriba-
BILE crash, mingled with the screams of
the ladies'. informed the two visitors on
the back seat that we had collided with
another carriage.
Then was shown the different phases of
human nature. The driver threw the
reins and jumped from the carriage, fol
lowed by two of the ladies; not so the Wis
itorS.
Relieved of part OF his load. the
frightened horse started on brisk trot
leaving the visitors strangers in a strange
place-to shift for themselves us best they
could in the darkness. nable to find the
reins, the only eNpedient left was pres
ence OF mind, and by dint of soothing
tones We Gained the horse until one was
able to partly jump and partly fall from
the carriage. leaving the writer mistress
of the situation, peculiar one to say the
least.
Recollections of the censure ladies
have received for jumping from a carri-
age in motion fitted through my mind
and partly for this reason, and partly
it takes to write, some one caught the
horse, and soon a crowd of painting boys
and men had collected, and with ropes
made the vehicle safe to proceed. while the
author of the mischief, after making sure
of his own safety. rode off without an in
quiry as to our fate.
1t was an unpleasant reception.
| imagine the feelings of our hostes,
when she read the affair next day in the
Brockton Enterprise credited to hel
nearest neighbour.
Next morning, undaunted but dul,
laughed at, we started for long drive
but this time at the invitation Of one VIII,
handled the reins as he handled his ship
successfully.
Cape Cod may be liIened to the haret
and Bonded arm Of Massachusetts. witt
the shoulder at Buzzard ) Bay. the elbow
at Chatham, the wrist at Truro, and til,
sandy fist at Proyincttown--behin whicl
the State stands on her guard. In the
elbow Of that mighty arm we made ola
explorations.
The ancient salt works were novel OBJ
.jects of interest to Us. Barnstable County
seems to have been the most favorable To-
cality for these works. there is so little
fresh water emptying into the ocean
The first attempt to obtain salt by solal
evaporation was made here and dates
back as far as l11116 at which time. on ac-
count of the war salt was scarce and dear
itN wins t'liNi9l VI I'il- ltNS vi Ndl>.
| resting on piles driven into tie marsh
covered with low, turtle like roofs.
Many years ago millions of dollars were
/ invested in this business. but the Cape be-
! came unable to compete with the import
e1s OF salt and the manufacturers Of it at
| the West. and The SALT works are fast 60
inc to decay
Immense Grant erly lu-s are shown the
visitor. one in particular from which a
Thousand h,.shel> were taken last year.
Net only do they furnish employment but
We found them considered as paying in
yestments
People commonly celebrate those
beaches only which have hotels but ii one
wants a quiet watering place where rest
and diversion can lie had without the
slavery which fashion entails, lie Will find
at Iiarwichport the true Atlantic House.
whore the ocean is landlord as well as
sca-lord. and comes ashore without
a wharf for the landing. At present
it is unknown to the fashionable world
and the visitor who thinks more of the
wine than the brine, will be disappointed
here.
A brief visit was made to Bass River
lighthouse, but, like all lighthouses, its
gloomy surroundings and isolated position
make one almost forget the humane pur-
pose attendant on its construction.
At the head of Buzzard's Bay, on the
shoulder of the Cape, one sees from the
car window the summer cottage of Mrs
Cleveland, with the Joe jefferson cottage
near by. Commodious and beautiful for
situation, there is yet nothing outwardly
to indicate to the stranger that here the
first lady in the land rested and recuper-
ated, gazed at the sea and took her long
drives
1t is delightful spot for the coterie
who inhabit it.
At Yarmouth we We're made familiar
with an instance of public spirit, pitiable
in its results. A fine granite block called
the Exchange, notable for its size and
stable construction, is shown as the pet
ambition of a single citizen. The returns
We're not what were expected and the