New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-25
AT BREEZY SHELTER ISLAND
ONE OF THE MOST DELIGHTFUL RESORTS
WITHIN A SHORT DISTANCE
OF NETWORK.
ITS MANY NATURAL ADVANTAGES FOR oUr-oF
DOOR RECREATION AND ITS THREE
SUPERB HOTELS.

Midsummer of 1897 finds Shelter Island what 1t
always has been at a corresponding season of the
year, namely, of the grecnest, freshest, breeZ
est care-froe refugees from the heat and discomfort
of the city be found within three hours journey
of New-York. Shelter Island Is abundantly appre-
ciated and the three hotels. ample their ac-
commodatons even now comfortably filled. and
the calls for August entertainment promise full
houses. IL there were more hotels more people
would spend their vacation the green island
whose shores washed by the waters of Little
Peconic Bay and GARDENERS Bay. Shelter Island
lies off the extreme eastern end of Long Island 1t
may be reached from New-York in two ways-by
the Long Island Railroad. whose trains make the
Journey Of ninety-iiye miles TO Grecnport IN about
two and half hours. and transfer passengers TO
the little ferryboat that runs across TO the Island
that lies about half mile across Little Pc
comic Bay, or by the Long Island and BLOCK Island
steamers Shinnecock and Montauk. which leave
pier lO East River every afternoon. except Sunday
and Saturday. at o'clock, and on Saturday AT /
o'clock Steamers also run across the Sound from
New-London. making the trip In about TWO houih'
The man must be difficult indeed to please who
cannot find entertainment and recreation 10 MS
taste on Shelter Island. Shelter Island has the
rare advantage of country and marine scenery; ana
moreover the scenery IS not Of the sort that is
pleasant TO look at but good for very little else.
1t is what the stage manager would can prac-
ticablc scenery All sorts Of things be done with
il. The lover of driving riding finds IN Shelter
Island the good roads that he regards as essential
for well-ordered country home There are more
than forty miles Of these roads kept carefully IN
the best Of condition, and running inland through
dense woods through fertile fields and by ancient
but well-kept farmhouses. For those VINO are par
tiaI 10 the saddle-horse there are many miles of
bride paths across the country Wheelmon 100.
do rot complain of Shelter Island.
There is ample provision for the golf players
x,.lo bo IA .rfDn Of
st lntIy increasing at Shelter Island as elsewhere
The links lies at the of the gentle slope that
rises from Peconc Bay and overlooks the Due
waters of Gardeners Bay. Tie course Is Il nine
hole enc and nothing that expert judges or money
could do to make it perfect has been omitted The
links is supported By subscription and Is supplied
with a we-ordered clubhouse, from whose WIDE
verandas the course reaches away toward me sea
There are tennis courts. too both turf and dirt
and they are good ones and there is a baseball
field, wherein the rival hotel teams struggle ior
supremacy under the eyes of their partisans
There are plenty OF good boats. catboats, aIoops
and schooncrs, to be had at Shelter Island Deer
ing Harbor that portion of the sheltered bay Is
called that lies just between Little Pecohlc ana
GARDENERS bays is OF the safest haibors N 'he
world. There is always go1dly Meet oil pleasure
craft anchored there, varying in size from the uiy
skinner" to the stately steam yacht But, thoush
the harbor is so sheltered. there is almost always
good breeze, generally from the southwest that
not only sweeps the pidZzas of the hotels ana COZ
tages comfortinGy, but sends the sailing boats III
and out at good speed. Squalls are almost un-
known and the sailing parties are consequently
more numerous If there is any kind OF salt water
fishing found near watering places that Shelter
Island does not afford within easy sailing distance
that fact has yet to be discovered. Consequently
the modern Izaak Waitons are many ard enthusi-
astic and perhaps Il shade more partial to truth
than most Of their race.
There are two excellent bathing beaches on the
western side of the island; the eastern end is prac
tlcaly unpopuated. and at noon there Is plenty OF
sport both for the bathers and for the spectators
The spectators are in a minority, for there Is so
little surf and the water is 50 smooth that It"
women and children leave Shelter Island without
being able to swim, and swim wei. some Of mem
are canoe experts ats well and fcarlcssly navigate
the waters Of Deering Harbor III the'e H''''S'
shells '
The Manhansct House. the largest hotel en- smell
ts- leland IS one of the most perfectly appoihted
hotels 10 be found at any watering place. III us
o,ne,ruct,on every care has been taken 10 procure
for its guests the greatest possible comfort al"
TO the same end the owners have expended iarEe
Sums of MONEY It Is sufficient 10 say that the
roc,l, &c The NIanhanset House. The structure is
Ions, and low. and consequently large proportion
of the rooms overlook the sat water from the top
Of the grassy cminencc upon when lhe pu''u''s
stands The rooms themselves are big ana AIRY
most Of them supplied with private baths. ana are
reached by IA perfect elevator service. the hrst
floor indoors Is given up to the main halIs when
are spacious and airy. open on four sides. ana
which lead TO the big dance hall and numerous
cardrooms and parors. But Il large portlon OF the
first floor is out Of doors upon the extremely wide
pazzas along the entire front OF the hotel over
look the bay and almost surround the building.
After the dinner hour they are alive with guests.
Il large proportion of whom are young peop.e.
Dancing Is popular for an after-dinner diversion,
and the band and the floor metropolitan in their
excellence. Before their elders have quite finished
the children have the dance hall to themselves for
an hour and so from S to 1880 o'clock in the even
ing the musicians have plenty Of business.
There Is scarcely convenience or luxury to be
had al the best Ncw-York hotels that the Manhan-
Imperial There are III lizards and pool tables ana
good ones too; meals at almost any hour: special
disgrace table" by the guests who gct down to
breakfast after 1890 o'clock; menu that offers all
the dclicaces that NcwYork markets afford and
large corps Of weil-trained servants. The hotel
has its electric plant. that supplies electric
lights FOR the first floor and has a provision for the
extension of the system to ali parts of the building,
a plan that will soon be carried into effect. The
long experience Of The manager II. II. w. Lawson,
enables MIN to supply the wants OF his guests al
most before they are expressed.
At present there are about four hundred guests
commodations show that the few rooms
colony of itself and very happy one into the bar
gain. but the hotel never seems crowded because
OF tnc Hberdl Ines on Nncn II Is but. Among It's
guests, arr: George G. Clausen General Howard
Carroll. Walter G. Schuyler, J. G. Hattie II. A.
Maurer, r.. \. c. Smith. G. w. Merihew. Colonel
Stevenson Towle, William Carroll Mrs Richard
Laimbeer. Or. A.. l.. Romney Judge IIlnsdale Al
fred Sktt and Frank T. Robinson. OF New York;
W. II; Wallace and +. J. Logan, OF Brooklyn; by
ron Nuscnt, ID. G. Nugent. }. d. Bascom William
Duncan and y. S. Holmes. of St. Louis +. J. Hay
ward OF Baltimore T.. W. Gillette and John g.
Drake. of Chicago; Henry Balkon Of Pittsburg
and Samuel iiorner jr.. of Philadelphia. a portion
OF the Manhanset was burned last August. but K
has been rcbuilt more beautifully than ever
The Prospect House Is another large hosiery
on the island. 1t also is upon the western side
opposite GreonDOrt. and accommodates thr,c hun.
dred guests. 1t is the oldest hotel there and has
among It's patrons many families who have made II
their summer home for years. Its guests include
each year however, large number Of newcomers
ana many young people among tho number
It's manager is an old Ncw-York hotel man whose
experience insurcs to the guests the comfort and
ease that they find only IN the best hotels Tho
Prospect House Is situated upon what T. called
Shelter Island Heights. This ground Is owned hv
The Shelter Island Heights Association. tn prcsf