The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-08-20
ON TIE ISLES OF SHOALS
HAPPY OATS SPENT THERE BY AN
 OBSERVING TRAVELER.

The Place Has Been Made Famous in Prose
 and Poetry Since the Death of Mrs. Celia
 Thaxter-A Day Amid the Flowers-Many
 Sadly egleoted Graves.
 To the Editor of tho JOURNAL AND COURIER Since the death of Mrs. Celia ThaXter last year everybody has taken to wrl- ting up the Isles of Shoals, which that gifted lady glorlfed with her garlands of poetry and prose-poetry Why should not correspondent of the Jour nal and Courier take his turn along with the rest of the writers? I have spent seven happy days among these romantic islands, have visited every one of them, there are eight in all, and have explored them historically and scientifically as we'll as could be done in one short week. First of all I had the privilege of a day amid the flowers, pictures and other attractions of the Thaxter cottage, Those who have read the 'Island Garden" can guess what that means by way of enjoyment. It never occurred to me that there could exist such glorious peoples and "ardent marigolds" as grow on these enchanted isles. Every variety grown in this country and in Europe was sought, and from them all those varieties were taken that proved to be best adapted to the locality. The soil and climate of the place appear to be peculiarly fitted to rear these dainty yet gaudy flowers, which not only adorn the famous island garden, but line the commonest walks and are scattered here and there in the most unexpected spots. The tints vary 1 through the entire series of the rain bow, and are mottled In every style of combination, while the leaves are sim pie or wrinl1led in every imaginable manner.
 There are very few trees on these is- lands; solitary elm, here and there a poplar, or young maple or stunted will low. There used to be cedars, and their stumps are found by way of proof. But whatever groves may have originally adorned these roek-bound shores were long ago sacrificed to the winds or the frosts or the fires. Even the turf has been torn from the rocks and dried for fuel until large areas are barren that once were green. But that was in the former days, when these sea-girt is- lands were inhabited by hundreds of | fishermen and others who made their home here the year around.
 It is hard to realize that the Isles of Shoals were once occupied by more l than six hundred permanent residents, who carried on extensive fisheries, maintained trade with Spain, had wind-mills, a great rope-walk, a brew cry, a distillery, besides a noted acade- my and a church that kept one eminent pastor for forty-one years. But aside from one or two cottages, and the dilap- idated "Gosport church, said to have been originally built of materials taken from wrecks, there Is nothing left of that busy population of a century ago except their sadly neglected graves. Some of the descendants of those an- cient people are wealthy, and the pres ent enterprising owners of the islands have ample resources; and it seems as | if some of them would have sufficient public spirit to put the old church in perfect repair, rebuild the cenotaph of the renowned Captain John Smith fence in and keep in order the cemete- ries worthy of such care, and resolutely erase the rest The locality Is now con- | fessedly but summer resort, and il does not add to the pleas sure of touris ts to go merrily stumbling over sunken graves with nameless headstones, nor | Ao ,r,F, ty1py 1ora ted.
 Tn am uninclosed space, a broken and fallen slab of Wales slate states that MT. Samuel Haley twas a man of great l ingenuity industry, honor and honesty true to his country, and a man who did a great publick good in building dock land receiving into his inclosure many a I poor distressed seaman and fisherman in distress of weather" This man was perhaps the most active, self-sacrificine and patriotic of the old race of island CTS. The house still stands from whose attic window he nightly displayed fol many years a. warning light for mari ners, long before there was any light. house in this vicinity. The admirable sea-wall still withtsands the storms which he built at his own expense g century ago, and on which the harbol to this day depends for its safety. Tho colony gave him as his reward for this masterly piece of engineering the is land of Appledore-while a gratefu posterity gives him only this broker slab lying amid the grass! Even the name of Haley Island has been changed to the absurd one of "Smutty-nose,' and nobody acknowledges blame.
 Well, it is none of my business, but have relieved my feelings any how Great credit is due to the present own. CTS of these charming islands for build ing elegant hotels with all mod. ern conveniences and kept al reasonable prices when one consider; the difficulties and the shortness of the season. The gardens, walks, drives and various embellishments indicate taste and public spirit. Repairs are al. ready begun on the old church; and doubtless all the rest will come in due time. Rome was not built in day.
 The Isles of Shoales are eight in num- Der, or nine if Duck Island is included which lies considerably apart from the rest, and is seldom visited on account of the dangerous reefs and breakers The others are named Appledore, Star Haley Cor Smutty-nose), Malaga, Cedar White, Seavey and Londoner There