Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-15
AT HAMPTON BEACH
Beautiful Views, a Fine Surf and
Heat Forgotten.
4 TALE OF 4 STREET CAR TICKET
Historic Portsmouth Houses and
Their Artistic Treasures.
FRESCOES AND FURNISHINGS

| Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
PORTSMOUTH, N H., September 13. 1900.
This neighborhood has so many attrac-
| lions that few weeks stay does not ex-
haust them by any means, and every day
| offers some fresh pleasure excursion. One
| day only has been too warm here for COM
| fort. and that was spent in the house try
! ing without success, to keep COOL So,
| when the next morning the sun seemed
equally powerful. we took picnic luncheon
and started on the trolley car for Hamp-
| ton beach. near Salisbury, where Whittier
| long ago pitched his Tent on the Beach"
| The cooler air as soon as we left the town
proved the wisdom of the change, and
| through the woods when the heat had
| brought out the odor of the pines, it was
| delicious. We passed Rye and Little
| Bears Head and went on and on, until
| when we got to Hampton we were thor
oughly comfortable, and the tide was just
| right for the bath that had been in our
minds from the first. We had left fashion
| and wealth behind at Little Bears Head
| and had chosen this miniature Coney Island
| for that day. and we chose well.
After bath, with the sea breeze coming
| in, seated under a pavilion on the beach.
one can forget that intense heat Is pos
| sibility anywhere.
| big Names for Tiny Places.
Tiny cottages, with pretentious names.
| line the shore for some distance toward
| Little Bears Head with the Casino as a
| terminal. The trolley road runs on to AIMS
/ bury and thus on to Boston We saw a
young couple at Portsmouth that evening
| who had come from Boston that afternoon
| In four hours. We fancied they were taking
twentieth century wedding trip by troi-
ley from some remarks they made audible
| enough to all their immediate neighbors
Little Bears Head lies on blun extending
| out into the ocean somewhat further than
| Rye or Hampton, thus plainly visible from
| both. 1t Is a settlement of cottages, Mrs.
| Nathaniel White and daughter, who have
! spent the past few winters in Washington.
| having one of the most attractive. The
| Isles of Shoals lie out in the ocean ten
| miles as clear as an etching some days,
and again misty and poetical in their soft
ened outlines. Between Rye and Ports
mouth, following the shore. are several
| Jenness and Foss Beaches, all with board
| ing houses and cottages to some extent
| Rye is quite extensive, some OF the pref
| test places set quite inland with the green
of trees and lawn, adding to the. ocean at
| fractions. Near the hotel is pretty clup
| house, while little distance away on the
| sun-shaded country road Is gray stone
! chapel set in it's lawn, with the blue of SKY
| and ocean filtered through green leaves
| added to Its own attractions.
| Nothing Like Home.
Washington people are as widely scattered
| through the summer as those of any city in
| the country, probably, SO one IS liable TO
meet them anywhere. An amusing recog-
| nitiol. of Washington citizens as such &C.
Cured in a car the other evening coming
home from this Hampton trip As
| one of the ladies in our party opened
. her purse for car fare she drew out with
it a car ticket of our Washington Metropol-
| itan line, and laughingly held 1t up for her
companion to see. A gentleman just be-
/ yond gave it glance. and then smiiingiy
| said Il have the mate to that L think,
| and from his pocket came another of those
| useful little articles of that same car line
Having thus placed himself as a probable
| fellow citizen, he emphasized the fact by
| Offering his more advantageous seat to one
| of the ladies. and pointing out the various
places of interest the car passed After
| leaving the capital Washington woman
ceases to look for politeness on street cars,
| and In other cities expects to fend for her
| self, and stands, II necessary, or patiently
waits in undesirable seats, thinking of the
time when she shall be at home and again
baSking in all the amenities of street car
| courtesy of the men of her own city. It
was very pleasant, therefore, to recognize
| and enjoy 1t so far from home.
Back to the Old Days.
| The historic old houses Of Portsmouth
have more than local reputation, and
| especially during the past few years, when
interest in everything Of value which has
| come down to this modern time has been so
much enhanced. Pictures of and articles
about some of these places have appeared
| from time to time in the magazines.
| The present jewellers in these old homes
are almost without exception descendants
| of the builders former owners, and very
! generous they are In showing the treasures
| Of the old places to the visitors Of today
When the big brass knocker on one old door
| had announced our coming. and we had en-
| tered and enjoyed all the beauties of archi-
| lecture, furnishing and art contained in ii,
| our hostess said: "Of course, it is only
when strangers come as you do, introduced
| by friends. that L go about with them my
self and show all the house, but visitors are
! never denied and II we have no interest in
| them the maid shows them the lower rooms
and the hall. and no one leaves disap-
| pointed. Twelve callers have been here this
morning. she added, so one realize
that it is no sinecure to live in one of these
stately homes, which inspires such interest
| in all who see 1t.
The paneled drawing room. with its cor
ner fireplace, Is finely proportional, and
| on the walls, which are painted a soft
| fawn color, hang the portraits Of three gen.
eratiOns, the youngest several generations
back Of our time. but so sprightly and ami
| mated Is the girlish face and figure thar
she seems to still live one looks at the
| canvas.
| A Lucky Stain This.
In one of the wreaths of the old-time de-
sign in the carpet Is a dull brownish stain.
where Lafayette spilled some Of his wine,
at some gathering during his visit to Ports
| mouth in 1924. The furniture is all an
| tique and the principal pieces are in pairs;
| two charming small SOFAS with the cid
| covering Of black ground and gay bouquets
| scattered over, somewhat the worse for
wear, but with carving as perfect as ever
| There are two beautifully carved mahogany
| card tables, one closed and one open, an
| arrangement I saw In more than one OF
| the old houses. In the library opposite is
| a very large and handsome bookcase
which recognized at once from 4 maya
zine picture: here were more old tables
| old paper of rather small pattern on the
| wallss old mirrors, and most fascinating Of
all. a cupboard at the side Of the fireplace,
almost unnoticeable in the panelipg of that
side of the room. This is not opened except
to favored visitors, and is a joy to all such.
am sure. China, glass and silver are there
in brave array. and the treasures are
rare indeed. The dishes are very old,
from China, and of the Buffalo" pat
| tern, of which no more Is made. nor
has 1t been for many years, I be-
lieve All styles of ssiiver are there, of
the different generations. Some very heavy
and solid, in spite Of it's years Of service.
Some SO slender that It is a wonder the
ha N dies and hOyyls Of the small SPOONS have