Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-09-02
A PLUTOCRA1'lC EDEN
luNtus HENRI BROWNE SCORES FASH
ION IN PROUD NEWPORT.
The Place Not So Charming. After All.
Why Fashion Does Not Bathe-Ah =
Qualification and Prevention Of Money.
A Pen Picture.
II will Cure.
Is.ecial Correspondence.l

| Qualification and Perversion Of Money.
| A Pen Picture.
Iss,eciai Correspondence
| NrwPoRT, r. l., Most persons
| would, imagine, be disappointed by New
| tort on their first visit after hearing so
| ,auch of its delightful situation and mis-
| ,elIaneous charms. l remember that was
when first came here as a boy, and that
| wondered at its reputation, which was far
Tess then than it is now. Its praises have
| tven 50 loudly and persistently chanted
| that one might expect to see Kind ot mod
| srn Eden, and indeed it is so regarded by
| the rich summerers who give it fame and
| constitute its society. 1t may be called,
| therefore, a p utocfatic Eden, for the plu-
| tocrats have done all that wealth could do
| to make il attractive, and they look at it
almost entirely from the standpoint OF
| wealth.
| This renowned resort is pleasant-very
| pleasant, locally and climatically--and IN
| general would be so considered doubtless,
had not its exaggerated eneomiums been 30
| continually dinged in our ears. Still 1t
| seems to me that it owes far less to nature
than it owes to art, or perhaps 10 architec-
| ture. contributed with most lavish hand.
The sea view is not nearly 50 extensive as
1 might he Inferred There are many cot
ttlses-it is yet the custom TO 50 designate
| the sumptuous villas here-from which no
| part Of the ocean is visible. And from tn"
| Ocean House, the old time hostelry, scarce
| Is a vcstige of water, except in the eVers.
| mas Ire seen Hence in all likelihood it,
| uaime-names being selected nowadays from
| the;r total uniitness.
| Ocean aventi1, running ut right angles to
| Bellevue avenue. is much the more lnvit
| ing thuroughfare of the two, though less
| conspicuous. The cottages on it have THEN
rear seaward, and the rear piazzas com
| niand the best views of any here.
| The noted ocean drive, which nsaround
| by the fort tAdams) does not deserve it,
| uotedncss. The road is not particularly
| good, and large portion of it is AVA
from the sea But the summewrs dr,N
| over it, unless the weather be tnw ',iiie-fS.
| as regularly as they dine. ami ~,.esA q.
| as If it were another CorucLr
| Some of the most attractive parts If tAis
| isIaud-i is not generally known thai Nc'E
| port is on the island of Rhode lsl,uld-'ti7
| seldom visited, the majority OF people has
| Tim. themselves to the immediate cn;n'-r
| aye Of the old town and its Summer addi
| ton. mach the more important of the two.
| The old town rs decidedly interesting, but
/ scarcely any one who comes here ever thinks
| of it, being absorbed by the snowy and pre-
tcntious modern quarter. Nevertheless II
| had century ago great commercial cOhse
| oueuce, bsiII. a rival of New York ami
| bustling with enterprise aud expectations.
| Now it is but IL fashionable resort. Tic
| smart set til INK that it has advanced be
cause its members possess it utterly, ard,
il nv, be added, emptily.
| This is often spoken Of as IA bathing place.
| It is such potentially, though not actually
| to the summsrers, especially To the fe'ni-
| nine portion, who never battle. WhN u
| horrible imputation Oh fine, nice womenl
| The charge would seem to be unpar,lonal!e.
| What mean is that they never battle i'll
the sea-those women mt least who coneid-
err themselves fashionable, and earn the
consitl, ration by the variety and elaborate
ness of their attire. They are continually
putting on and taking off costly gowns ~ d
their Accomplishments, and this invols es
time and trouble, even with IA maid to As-
sist at the process, They are delighted to
dress and uDdrt4s dozen times n diy
when vanity and mode require, but not tor
| a plunge in the sea.
| Everybody, even men, know that to don
and doff a bathing suit, particularly on &c
count Of the sickness Of salt water, Is a
| bother and "a burden. And it may eas:ly
| be imagined why women, to whom self
| decoration is the chief end of life, are ,,n-
willing to occupy an hour or two daily for
| a purpose that does not show, or. what is
worse, shows to disadvantage. They are
certainly justified, us they look at it, in
| til, ir objection to sea baths.
| What is most striking and alluring here
is the superb cottages and grounds, the 81 IL
cral pageautry Of the place, the gorgeo rs
panorama, as it may be called, OF the oi'n
| lent colony. As spectacle il is not in rIy
| opinion cquaied at any resort at home or
| abroad-not ut Brighton, Trouville, Nice,
| Wiesbaden, Hamburg or Baden Baden In
| their most dazzling season. Whatever
money, Taste. study, contrivance, social aIts-
| btion or selfish rivalry can do for outward
| respleudence i done here to the utmost. 1t
is well worth seeing, very impressive, full
| of suggustiveness. lie who wishes to sd
| nire It should accept its appearance; should
NOT look belo.y the surface; should not at
| tempt analysis. This might spoil the flavor
| OF the exhibition and alter our opinion of
its value.
The paiior una looks beautiful, though
| much of its interior Is ugly, even bideOus,
| Men who seem so brave and self satisfied
are really alarmed and disconnected. Won
en- who seem enviable and happy are con
stunned with heartburnings and wretcbtd-
hess. 1t is all show; splendid show,
but only show. Newport is a small world
| Ia itself. hollow, aching, nieretricio,is,
| .lostly devoid Of simplicity and sincerity -
| The principal virtues of wholesome exist
pace In such a circle these are impossible
| Those acquainted with the colony ;.re
aware to what AN extent it is scanned with
| gossip, generally false, often malicious, lot
seldom true. Women meet. embrace, Fay
| mutual compliments. and yet hate one IN
other cordially. They are well bred, a.
the phrase goes, and breeding eopcesls
| what Is dis l.reeable or painful. Behiad
| the brilliant .;aze and the sweet smile he
| fever 6ushes aud the cancer Turks. New
| port is All epibome Of the world.
! Ii is hard for any one outside Of the
| pilded ring TO comprehend how its mem
bers can take pleasure in continuing hare
| the artiiicIai, fast. furious. wholly TN
| wholesome life they lead in town. Aud
| they name il rest and recreation in unc'in-
| scious irony. 1t might he supposed tia;
| they would tire to dissolution Of the iness
SAINT round Of gayety, makebelieve aad
| dissipation. Bat they do not, apparently,
| though the death of many may be justly
charged TO stciety. What iron consti.u-
| lions. what elastic systems they must -
seSs, after ALI So ineessant a chase Of
| folly il enough to Kill giant, and seem
| ngiy delicate women survive it season
| after season.
While the habitues represent various
cities. most Of them are from New York,
| which in many respects is seen here at its
| worst. Clos it a. you may, this society Is
at base parade and panegyric Of money
put to its worst uses. New York is the
less school on this continent for the dese-
riorai ion and unmaking OF American citi
xeuship JCSICs HENRI BEowsE-
The Snail In Time Of Drought.
Extensive drought will cause the snail &c
close its doors 20 prevent the evaporation