The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-08-24

fear of breathing infected dust or
dangerous malaria. Some come here
for rest, and there is nothing to him
der-unless they bring bad conscien-
ces with them-their getting it here,
since those day-noises and night
noises, hoarse throated boat signals,
street cries, screaching, putting
trains, experienced in vast toiling,
trading, rushing population, where
the roaring stream of activity scarcely
ceases even at midnight, are reduced
to insignificant minimum.
There is but one railroad-this less
than dozen miles in length,-con-
Meeting the Pier with Kingston,
which is on the main line between
New York and Boston. 1t runs it's
cars with almost the frequency of
weaver's shuttle and with hardly
more confusion. The little steamboat
passing several times day, on rough
waves occasionally-smooth enough
when we crossed-between the Pier
and Newport, nine miles, does not APP
pear to think it necessary to attempt
to split the ears of the whole commu-
nifty when it arrives and leaves,as too
many fussy crafts of the kind in too
many places are manifestly ambitious
to do.
Numerous sails, large and small,
and steam vessels, are often in sight
in and off theharbor, hundreds of them
today while 1 am writing, because
the famous sloops Vigilant and De-
fender are racing between Newport
and Block Island-but they all move
as noiselessly as thistledown in an
autumn sky. OF course space and
distance absorb the sound out there,
except those of the doleful fog-ho
which occasionally, at night, sadden
our ears like funeral knell. Really,
Narragansett Pier, on its water and
it's land, is one of the quietest places
I have seen; its tranquility is almost
that of an obscure out-of-the-way
hamlet. The stir and the tumult
have increased since the tide-just
now at its flood, I suppose, as the
dozen hotels and few cottages are
full-of visitors has increased; but
even in these more animated days one
may retire as early and rise as late as
one pleases, sleep as much as one
pleases, comparatively free of slum-
ber- breaking Interruptions. Even
the mosquitoes, worse than fog horns,
do not trouble us much.
Some come to benefit their health,
to mend their constitutions, broken or
worn out by incessant labor and care.
Narragansett Pier should be health
full spot, fronted as it is by the ocean
and backed by a rocky, sandy soil.
The water, however, supplied by the
town, is strangely deficient, in ny
| gienic aspect, or seems SO, for it con-
tains a visibly red, muddy matter
which in the glass and in the bath
tub has suspicious look; neverthe-
less many put it to their lips in con-
fidence, saying mo matter" and drink
it off. The hotels generally provide
their guests-and it is also brought
round in carts to the cottages to be
purchased-with" Gladstone (Spring)
Water" The conservative English,
if there be any, do perhaps refuse to
swallow that.
Some come to the Pier doubtless
for no reason, except that others come;
they consider it the thing to do,
and they find pleasure in fascinating
centres of fashion. Well, these per
sons may be gratified to limited ex-
tent here.
There is some excitement, for those
who seek it; some style which those
who can may initiate. A few of the
cottages are really mansions. Fine
turnout with sumptuouslooking &C.
cupants roll along the streets, and
hard. smooth country drives about.
The Casino, rather attractive archi-
tecturally, arching the "Ocean- Road"
looking right on the ocean itself, af-
fords entertainment to those who en-
JOY its music, its restaurant, dancing
and crowds.
Here are plenty of young people,
some love-making, evidently, also here
and yet there is a noticeable dearth
of young men,-young men above 20
and 25. There is sprinkling of gray
heads, of men who lean on canes and
walk slowly down their shortened and
shortening path of years. A good
many husbands who are not yet here,