New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-08-05
JOHN PAUL AT NANTUCKET
A pLAC- WHERE THEY DO EVERYTHING
DIFFERENT.
SKATES AND BrCYCLEs-FIsIIING FOR SOMEBODY
ELsE-THE BABY SHOW AND ITS

| SKATES AND BICYcLEs-FIsIIING FOR SOMEBODY
ELsE-rHE BABY SHOW AND ITS
SUGGESTIONS
II Nantucket did things or surrendered 10 sur
rounding conditions az others. 1t might be so'ne
other Mace but IT would not be Nantucket
The original settlers made seaport OF t-prin-
cpaIlv fancy because ships could not get ether
in or out. And n whaling port OF IT, because """''
were all on the other side OF land Ihey cap.uie'
right whales in wrong places. and sperm wha'es
where other people went for herring. Inc pros
neritv that the island attained under these cond-
lions was marvelous--"fa bulous," some say. But
some remarkably fine houses that endure pretty
well even at the present day speak for the TACT!
When all else Of America rebeed, Nantucket did
not A sprner OF the sea. she stood out ana Kicked
casting sour glances at the mention even OF
United States and pertinaclously ciing'hs 10 'ne
skirts OF the mother country. In her single
bossedness deprived OF the protection OF one party
and harried by the other-she was not particularly
happy but managed to get along; ana mere shc
stands to-day kicking OF old. like all possessed
Mt any new order OF things. and generally joining
the procession after 1t has passed
For instance Just az the skatng-rnk mania was
subsidng Nantucket concluded to have one. ana one
was built AS skating was out OF fashion when II
arrived al completion. they made sausage lac
tory or something SIMILAR. OF IL. IL II ho" d"
electric light plant and as all electric nsht P'an''
the country over-panted by individual enterprise
and watered by and in the same interest-are
nourishing this one OF Nantucket Is. or course IN
the hands OF a receiver. SIN. II runs But my
friend. Johr Pncrs. who runs IT, true 10 carry
tradition turns or the light at bedtime-"h'ch III
.;antucket is about dark-and on soon after sun
rise II there's supposed to be moon he does not
turn II on at all.
And now the bcyc.e furore Is on in ful force-
by which Judge that 1t must be dying out CSC
where Young men on "whee.s" pneumatic tires.
dive and dash past you in al directions Sconset
s the favorte objective point. and the ne" roai
hither affords excellent cycling. 50 you see no"
Il that most other watering places. fresh ana SIT
are complaining OF du times and stagnauoh Vi
buslness-a.l. as | remember TO have read on your
elitoria! page because OF the tariff or, rather the
wan, Of che Nantucket Is nourshins. Boarding
houses are full and hoe.s are crowded; there are
few that are not daily turning people away Cro"us
would be seen streaming from the steamboats, thit
make daily trips from the main.and-f the steam
boat pcope sprinkod the wharf. 80 that one cou-'
see Anything: as It Is the dust prevents. Hackmeh
riot In q wealth Of traffic. and in taking visitors Out
sailing and fishing the boatmen have no time
indeed. no need-to catch and salt away ees ana
cams ior their winter sustenance. II Is now the
do"ars-in most Instances the doars Of the daddies
OF those who go-that they salt away against
possible freeze-up Of the harbor mex; winter
What Is the charm OF Nantucket? Why DO 50
many peop.e come here? Coming here once. why
DO they come again and again? wish that some
body would expain Sometimes I've thought OF
advertising: why DO people Ike Nantucket? Why
10 they come here" But why advertise for the
solution Of a problem which in ones own, case ne
cannot so.ve?
Twe.ve years ago | came TO Nantucket. Twelve
sea sons since have come; and iweve seasons more
viii SEQ me hcre-f | I've 20 become that mucn OF d
patriarch.
Il may be because. as have before hinel things
here are different from what they are elsewhere
For one count there's deal Of do-as-you-pea'e
about the Ne ones not obliged 10 do anything he
doesn't want to- mean OF course. II ones un-
married You put rough shirt and boat IT,
II YOU e.ect or you can put on white hannels
and pose on piazzas or lawns. II you prefer tha;
There's the tower OF the Unitarian Church. which
You can climb .n;o II you don't want to see the !
na,nanl on a Gear day. but you're no; compelled |
TO- No ore makes you visit the old windmill or buy |
u Photograph Il It: and II only had moral cour-
age and a gun he wouldn't have TO listen 20 the !
town crier,
Bathing Is not imperative-lndeed. TO be in the
swim now I, is rather we'll to keep out OF It. Here !
IL change from the old times Then the North |
shore was alive with equ.pases-f the old horses
iha, lrew ne crazy vehicles could he called alive
ana bright with gay ba,hing dresses. We had reds.
thr severe back variegated mainly By corsets and !
y ns around on the beach in graceful posiures IS
nearly akin 20 I, as cleanliness Is 70 godliness
f. thing 70 be- away from strikers ana talk
~ strikes Nothing strikes here but the town clock /
ana this doesn', With rega il,E -,
c,tse ~ vail and woe In the Old days YOU could !
always 70 out 70 the rips and get hsh and FUN II !
me very much Ike dragging lawn-mower about |
can be called fun. Now you can go down 10 the !
ani not catch even q catfish. but you can pay s. !
day FOR IT, all the same and have the sail which Is
do catch fish You don't get them; the boat takes
them. II good-natured. perhaps allowing you TO |
HON ~ Nlfir gh mr.
day and tell he dear old sklppers n they'd only
make different deal Of it, give those who hire the |
50 to speak. it might be better in more ways than |
one In such case the element Of speculation would
enter into the thing: one might make something
ansa that %6 s 0d s Say fsa' paying
for the boat OF course. YOU wonln', catch lc9 |
be profitable: to opmistcally inclined the thing
would recommend itsef as a legitimate commercial |
he catch 1000 bluehsA and lose his own soleI mean
The fishermen here speak Of their catch as.
fare In this case didn't think It's fair. Nor /
is 1t theirs, either For my part, at this mature
want 70 get something for my time. to say moth
ins Of labor In boyho9d once accepted an invita-.
a mark but after finding that the mark was set
lay In our neighbors front yard. 1t dawned on
me that the boy who invited me was only securing !
the game and my Enjoyment Of Il came to an s end
speedily. Now | don't propose 10 FISH In the sun |
OF july afternoon for anybody-much as / love |
nshlng
Already I've referred 10 the way Nan
ee "Ss have r Veil 70 uss
again. had the other day baby show" at
the North Congregational Church Verify, II was
Il goodly sight and n pretty TO see 1t almost
set signing and singing:
Ia choose 10 be a baby.
And In the babies stand
With bib upon my bosom,
And a bottle at hand.
There were some very nice babies one in partcu-
lar not napt.y ncknamed the Major" 4 com
handing carriage don't mean the one ne was
wheeled In he had and forehead like Daniel
INnAsinr,y A nrnll siurIN liiln fellnv