Middletown transcript., 1895-08-10
Written for the TRANSCRIPT.
COTTAGE CITY, MARTHA's Vim
YARD, MASS.

At $50 one bright sunshihy Satul
day morning not very long ago, th
beautiful little steamer Martha's Vir
yard stopped at the "Highland" Whal
to take on crowd Of people who wer
unmistakably tourists bent on seein
everything there was to see and in tru
American fashion, see it in as short
time as possible. The popular cry a
Cottage City is, $50 much to see and s
little time to see it all in." A sail G
about half hour brought us to Fal
mouth Heights, a little summer settle
ment On the Cape Cod coast this pIac
is famous for nothing in particular
only the good time the summer peopl
have. From thence we went TO Wood
Hall where the large and interestin,
Fish Commission building and tank
are situated. We stopped there for
few mirutes only and then sailed bacl
toward the island and down the west
ern coast until we reached the extrem,
southwest. This was our objectiv,
point. We were bound for the famou.
Gay Head and our wildes: expectation.
were realized when the point was
turned and the brilliantly colored cliffs
broke on our sight. Oh !! those cliffs
they will always stay with me just as
they looked in the bright morning sun.
light, bands or strata of blood red.
bright yellow, soft grey, delicate green,
pure white and jet-black clay present
ing one of the most dazzling pictures
my reader can well imagine. These
cliffs rise to height of 100 feet above
sea level. They are almost perpindicu-
lar. 1t is from their brilliant color
that the town derives its name, Gay
Head.
The first thing that attracted the
observer after leaving the boat was the
curious conveyances ready to take the
tourists up to the slight" These
queer conveyances are worthy of men,
tion +; they are rude. two wheeled carts
entirely destitute of paint and drawn
by pair of patient, meek looking oxen,
the seats which run along the side were
provided with cushions, covered with
old-fashioned calico, such as our grand
mothers used in making their gowns
many years ago. These strange look
ing carts are driven by Indians. Be-
fore getting into one it would be we'll
to have ones bones insured as we never
feel certain what the result will be
whilst taking this smooth ~ and COM
Portable (?) ride upward. l have al
ways been told that the journey of life
going upward, was rough and full of
trials before the summit was reached.
One can fully appreciate that senti-
ment after ride upward in Gay
Head cart.
A word about the country. The
and is rolling, high hills and deep
valleys; one noticeable feature is the
ack of trees save few scrubby pines
scattered here and there. The downs
Ire covered with a fine growth of |
grass and beautiful grey moss; a pro-
'usion of wild roses and bright red
lilies growing among the grass, pre-
'ent most brilliant and attractive |
picture.
The houses are small and very primi-
i've in design, without ornament or
wen paint. they are occupied by an
exceedingly interesting type of human
,eings-Indians. There is only one
white family in the settlement-The
Keeper of the light. These people have
heir schools in winter but living so
ar away from civilization, only see
ng a few summer tourist they retain
he customs of their forefathers and /
ire really refreshing because of their |
ack of conventionality and ignorance
If the ways of the world. One of the
many odd things that attracted our
lttention was young man digging in
he garden; he wore knickeIbocker
rousers and was without either shoes
,r stockings save on one foot, l saw
in old shoe, it was the foot he used in
PRESSING down the shovel, truly, 'Ne-
;essity Is the mother of invention"
The lighthouse stands 173 feet above
he sea and is considered one of the
inest along the coast; it is flash light
which can be seen twenty miles out at
ea. Many booths where pottery made
rom the clay is sold and eating stands
scarcely large enough to be dignified
" the name of restaurant are found
scattered around every where.
I will ask you to stand with me for a
ew minutes upon a point 157 feet
.bove the sea and just to the south of |
he gay cliffs. Here we have the best
1iew of this marvellous geological con-
truction. The chalk white cliffs re-
ninding one of the famous chalk cliffs
,ff the Dover coast; away down below
Is lies the grand old sea, grand but
reacherous for huge boulders lie all
Trough the surf and vessels are some
lines driven in by strong winds and
wrecked, it was here about ten years
.go that the large steamer Columbia
vent down. A life saving station has
,een established here. the buildings
ire now being built.
All along the beach is found the
most beautiful sea moss, crimson,
brown, pink. all shades of green,
orange and pure white in color. After
,wo hours of the greatest delight and
perfect enjoyment we returned to the
steamer laden with specimens of clay
md sea moss and rich in pot terry bought