The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-07-13

nation just as We Trojans would, under
similar circumstances use the cars, or
Californian would use his horse. i have
known a merchant saddle and mount
his mustang to go to the country store
but few rods distant, and To which he
could have walked long before he got
his horse ready. The same force of habit
frequently leads native of this little
State TO cover its insignificant distances
by water when brief walk would meet
the emergency In half the time. The
pleasure derived from yachting or row.
Ing is nowhere SO fully enjoyed as upon
this bay. Innumerable little sailboats
lie moored everywhere 10 the docks or
anchored in the coves. Everybody takes
daily sail, just as at most watering
places everybody takes carriage ride,
and the delightful invigoration derived
from morning scud out to sea or across
the bay is far more healthful and
pleasurable than any carriage ride affords.
l never saw such people as these Rhode
Islanders are for picnics and excursions
all by boat. Along the Providence river,
on either side for twenty miles from
resort places TO which fleet OF steam
boats make half-hourly trips all day long
and far into the evening.
"sHoRE DINNER"
At these river points the famous "shore
dinners, unknown elsewhere, but inn
mensely popular in Rhode Island, are
served at intervals OF fifteen minutes or
SO, from IL O'Clock a. IN. until about
o'clock Np. IN. every day during the
ner"? II not, there Is a luxury in store
for you that the acient Epicureans never
dreamed of. II is the regular practice of
hundreds OF Providence business men at
this time of year TO go aboard their yacht
or one OF the down-the river excursion
boats every noon, and ride over 10 Fields
Point, or some one OF the many nearby
resorts, to get "shore dinner Thou
sands Of exeursionists swell the crowds
that daily patronize these places, and it
Is sight at once unique and bewildering
TO see the swarms OF hungry and happy
peole gorging themselves with the good
things that make up a standard "shore
dlnner.' First comes clam-choWder
made and served as IL is only to be had
In Rhode island. Then follows that
great dish, baked clans. OF course il is
superfluous TO dwell on the exceptional
merits of Rhode Island clambake. The
CLAIMS and the methods of baking them
here are so superior TO what Is obtainable
or possible elsewhere, person may be
said to know nothing about the luscious
ness OF genuine clambake unless he has
partaken OF one in Rhode Island. After a
surfeit OF baked clans brought on fresh
and hot until the diner cries "enough,"
successive courses OF baked or broiled
fish, broiled lobster and all sorts of sea
food, accompanied by vegetables, and
closing with fruits of the season, served.
i tell you it's "a royal feast, fit for the
ancient gods, and IL there were no other
attractions TO draw summer visitors to
"Little Rhody" her "shore dinners"
alone are we'll worth coming from any
part of the United States TO get taste OF.
One may take round-trip excursion
from Providence to Newport by boat 1.-TWO
hours ride each way) for 90 cents, and
go almost any time of day. For 90
cents a round trip ticket including din
ner at any OF the riverside shore resorts,
can be bought, or for 81 one can go to
Block Island and back.
These, with plenty OF other excnrsions
l have not time to mention, will give
some idea of the number and variety of
opportunities offered Providence people to
take cheap day outings by water, and,
as above intimated, they availed them
selves of their boating privileges to an
extent we dwellers on the Hudson river,
who might profitably initiate their bent
for aquatic pleasures, know nothing of.
NEWPORT
has been so often described that its attrac-
tions as a watering place need not be
enumerated here. AS everybody knows,
1t is an aristocratic cottage resort and not
an aggregation OF hotels like Saratoga.
The old city of Newport antedates New
York as TO age, and, indeed, was the
commercial metropolis OF the colonies |
long before the little Dutch town on |
Island had assumed any prom |
Inence. Its location on the inner rim of !
! narrow crescent OF land was we'll chosen |
rs affording safe harborage and most |
site for seaport. Upon the |
outer rim of this neck OF land the open
sea beats against a range of cliffs, and
stretched along these for 10 or more
mics are the elegant country seats of our
American nobility that have given dis
,inctive character to modern Newport as
he most aristocratic summer resort in the
AS this part of the city is an
exclusive colony TO which no one not
lble to own million-dollar "cottage"
AN find admittanc'e, and as the obvious
purpose OF this open letter is to write up
| territory open to oil who may choose
20 come Rhode Islandward for short
summer stay at hotel or boarding house,
my further allusion TO Newport Is un-
necessary, except TO add that ii is, of
'ourse, the largest and most interesting
)oint on Narragansett Bay and as such
some mention. might also
here is one hotel OF some pretensions
nd two smaller inns that are for summer
'oarders, but neither of these houses
would suit travellers accustomed TO the
uxuries OF hotel life at our New York re-
orts. Grass grows in the narrow streets
II old Newport, and II Is a thoroughly un-
ttractive place, except to the student
II ancient history.
NARRAGANsETT PIER.
The fashionab le hotel resort of Nara
'ansett Bay Is "The Pier" The surf
,athing there is unquestionably the finest
long the Atlantic coast, while the
cean view is exceptionally grand and
Impressive. Stretched along fine ma
adamized street fringing the shore a
core or more of large hotels give the
main part of Narragansett Pier somewhat
he appearance of Long Branch, with
which resort most Trojans are familiar
nd everybody at the Pier noticeably SUI
erior TO those observed at the Branch.
Without attempting any detailed descrip-
ion OF Narragansett Pier and its superb
fractions as watering place, only lot
own my opinion here that il is the ideal
easide resort for fashionable folk and all
hose who like gayety, society and con-
act with the madding crowd.
FINALE.
The wind Is blowing in brislxly from
he bay as / close this letter That sunar. |