The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-07-25

| TO and fro; the merry chatter of maidens
| the soft glow of the moon and the mean
| descent lights at night-all this and these
served TO make man love himself and the
Pier and To thank his lucky stars that
he was in the land of the living. and
| particularly lounger In the casino.
Suddenly. as blight falls upon a rIpen-
! ing harvest; as the cyclone sweeps and
deVastates a city; as a plague descends
upon community and leaves -a-tlst+-4t
trail, the casino was wiped out OF ex-
istence. One day last September the big
Rockingham was burned That hostelry
was separated from the casino by a mar
row street only and with the big and
ugly wooden building went up I'm flame
and smoke the pride OF the Atlantic coast
for nowhere was there eXtant the equal
OF this casino.
Neither the hotel nor the casino has
been rebuilt. The hotel site Is fer sale
The casino property may he Improved
The grand arch over the highway and the
walls of the tower remain and can be
utilized and probably will be- for the loss
OF the casino is now recognized and there
rs a daily increasing demand for another
not SO large, not 50 expensive, perhaps.
but another social exchange
This demand comes from those who find
hotel life. without other diversions irk-
some They are perfectly content TO nav
their hotel bills no matter how monu-
mental; but they want place where they
can meet and dine and wine friendx. The
effort TO make good the casinos loss bv
erecting tents and marques on lawn. or
to fill In the bill by cellar and back yard
retectoriss, has been or no use The
people want and will have a casino or
they will have but little OF Narragansett
Pier.
The Pier patronage this season. out
side OF that OF the leasing OF cottages is
far from what was expected and what N
should be. There is not enough life; not
enough excitement; not enough gaiety TO
satisfy the restless unsuitable seekers
after something 10 distract their atteu-
tion from the affairs Of every day exist
ence
They want not rest and quietude. They
don't come to the Pier for any such ntir-
pose and they never did. What they want
is whoop-la time, with the popping of
champagne corks to emphasize this desire
for pleasure as they construe pleasure
TO be-
For the reason that they cannot fnd
this they are looking TO Newport To sun
ply their needs. IL there Is any doubt of
thls' Just question the hackmen. the shop
Keepers and the gentlemen with white
aprons who cater to mans aIl-consuming
thirst and who wait both for the man
and his thirst 10 materalize
Excursionists, however find the Pier n
pleasant place 10 visit The Casino was
ever closed to them and so were the ho-
tells up To four years ago. Now their
presence and their money is very well
come. The sail down the bay and across
the sea TO the Pier is n glorious one. and
the dip In the rolling surf worth all the
time II takes 10 reach the place. And
Tor those, who love the fields and woods
whosreyel In bits OF country scenery and
glory I'm vistas OF rambling farmhouses on
distant hills and shaded glens. n spin over
the electric road, via. the East Greenwich
line OF the Suburban railway. and the Sea
View, great treat is always to be had.