The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-06-24
Mr.. Townsend Replies to Eliot
Grsgoy's Criticism
OF FASHIONABLE NEWPORT
Cly by tha Sea Said 10 Have Developed
Intsa Focus Of toIIy Extravaganza and
Newspaper NoteTlsiy."

Mr.. James p. Townsend OF New York
has replied to the criticisms OF Newport
made by Eliot Gregory. He said;
Mr.. Eliot Gregory's graceful and re-
fined pen has II would seem. been a lit
tie too deeply dipped, and in too black
ink, I'm the picture that he draws in the
July Harper's OF Newport in Summer"
There is an absence OF shading save at
the very close OF the sketch. for 1t is 1T.
tie else, and SO the effect OF the picture
10 the general reader is too much that of
a monotone The author is a man OF such
wide experience OF social life, not only at
home, but abroad. that IL seems strange
he should not have considered his dia-
tribe against the follies, weaknesses and
Inconsistencies Of social life at Newport
more carefully, for Newport In summer
is simply the highest expression OF Ani-
erican social life.
There is no one English, French or Ger
man watering place most favored by the
people of wealth and leisure OF those
countries 10 which it answers, for while
distinctly and distinctively American IL
is yet cosmopolitan.
With a certain newness IL combines a
certain conventionality Of life and man
ners that only comes through long wears
or even centuries, OF highly developed
civilization. Newport is unquestionably
as Mr.. Gregory says. OBSERVATIONS I'm life,
In dress and i'm architecture" Bu5 the
ostentation of Newport in these and other
particulars is TO the rawness and vulgar
ity of newer portions OF the country, not
10 mention others only recently settled
AMI which are aspiring to a society OF
f1anfY L
Australia. etc. and Paris TO Cochin China
and Tonquin.
CAN FOLLOW AUTHOR.
And so. while ] can follow Mr.. Gregory
In his rapid sketch OF Newports develop
ment from a provincial seaport town into
focus OF folly, extravaganza and
newspaper notoriety, the fad of our
wealthiest plutocracy, and perhaps the
most advertised watering place on the
globe | cannot, with an intimate knowl-
edge of the place extending over mary
years. view with him it's defects with so
little liberation.
To the American who knows not New
port or even 10 the visiting foreigner,
would say, Go 10 the city by the sea, -
study its scenery, it's buildings see what
you can OF it's social life. and then tell
me where else i'm the world you VIII find
such "A combination of air and sky anl
sea, and, on the whole, such a beautiful
moving kaleidoscope picture OF well or
dered social life.
Does not this combination offset over
decorated "shingle cottages, palaces set
in two acres of ground. ar,u the indffer-
ence TO the beauties OF nature, and even
TO anything but the prevailing fad OF the
moment. on the part of the leaders of the
set which makes the movement and life
OF Newport Ina summer?
We can only improve In manners aul
customs slowly. 1t is impossible in this
comparatively new country to secure IN
a score OF years the poise and balance of
centuries of education In the arts and So
cial life.
II the social life of Newport I'm sum-
mer Is often seemingly vapid and "the
play and performers, costumes and Jest
ers remain discouragingly the same,
does not the same criticism apply to even
the larger society of London, OF Paris, OF
Berlin and OF Vienna?
Certainly the names that figure I'm the
entertainments and social life of the
Faubourg or i'm those of Brook street
Park lane and Grosvenor square during
the Paris and London seasons are the
same year after year. save when death
or mourning makes a gap. Mr. Kitchens,
I'm The Londoners" and The Slave"
those graphic pen pictures of modern
mistic note as does Mr.. Gregory In mis-
Newport sketch.
KTNDLIER MOOD WISHED.
could have wished, with other admir-
ers of Mr.. Gregory's graceful and polish
ed style and generally shrewd observa-
tions. that he had approached the paint
ing of his word picture OF Newport IN
Summer" in a little more cheerful or
kndlier mood.
Tie haS certainly borne ZOO hardly on
the summer city OF his adoption and oi
his life for many years. He admits him
self that modern Newport offers the Wis
itor brilliancy of summer pageantry
unseen I'm other parts of this country"
and that before all social functions. all
artificial allurements. must be placed the
natural beauties Of a place 10 which ma
ture has been more than prodigal OF her
good gifts"
America finds its summer court at New.
port and 1.-The play there performed with
many fair actresses, a sumptuous ballet
and an occasional bit OF tragedy" which
''singularly lacking In plot or anuthess."
as Mr.. Gregory well says, still as he him
self admits benefits the public"
" Newport offered nothing else than
this annual performance OF the best
gowned and best known exponents OF
modern American social life, i'm such
superb stage setting as It's sea washed
cliffs, its verdant lawns and stately villas
afford. its name and fame would be Sc
cure against the walls OF the pessimist
and the barbed shafts OF too conservative
critics.
Two Women Who Paw No Postage