New-York tribune., 1908-08-22
or Interest ~
" TO 6Oome71.
NEWPORT THE MALIGNED.
Detraetors of It's Co1onists Scathed by
GouEerneur Morris.


The society columns of newspapers and special
articles by persons either have not the eyes
see the truth the desire tell responsible
for the bitterly envious contempt in which the
Newport set is held by the majority Of its fellow
countrymen, says Gouverneur Morris, in an article
on Newport the Maligned,'' in the September
number OF 'Everybody's Ma gazine''
I'VE given the impression Of q number of
people upon whose hands time hangs so heavily
that they are ready to snatch at any straw Of
amusement, ridiculous depraved. that Will free
them for moment from boredom. We are given
TO understand that rich leisure class is entirely
composed of fools, inbeciles and cocktail drinkers
OF both sexes in whom is no virtue and no breed
ing. Why is this? And what are the facts?
The facts, OF course. that the rich leisure
class contains perhaps. large percentage of
honest fathers, good mothers and well brought up,
dutiful children the poor working class or the
poor leisure Glass; that it has as have all socie-
ties. it's sprnkiing OF bad its foolish
wives and it's urfaithful husbands. Why. then. is
IL so constantly and malciously misrepresented? :?
Probably because class It Is so well bred and
decent that 1t wishes to mind its own business
Now, IL there Ia thing that the American
people cannot and viii not Of they help it)
stand, It is the person who endeavors TO live his
own life In his way and mind his own bust-
ness The American considers those who differ
from him in life, means, and point Of view not
merely inferior, but immoral characters
From the Newport set. says Mr. Morris. issues
many young who makes a success in busi-
ness or becomes prominent in games: many pretty
girls. with charming. unspoiIed manners and level
heads. who after time fall head in love-
and make splendid wives and mothers There is
indeed, he says small set that has managed TO
poison the repute OF the whole. But, happily,
they are more Newport than the painted. be-
dizened Inhabitants of the Tenderloin New
York.
As for the extravaganza with which Newport is
so often taxed Mr. Morris found little of IT, he
says II was not able to bring away many i'm
pressions of great expenditure from Newport Last
summer, indeed, the very rich, many Of them were
feeling very poor. The powers had fallen upon the
many and punished them for the misdeeds of the
few. And there were retrenehments. almost in evil
dence all along the line. Even prince failed to
loose pursestrings, and received but casual and
neighborly entertainment
The architecture and the landscape gardening in
Newport show desire the part OF the inhabit-
ants to live retired and mind their own business.
Most of the houses OF Bellevue avenue and its
vicinity alluringly hidden away, says Mr., Nor
ris. Hedges or stone walls brick velvety
green with anpelopsis and English ivy, bound the
little properties. and above them the heavy tops OF
elnls and oaks and beeches-trees that have not
Just been stuck into holes and left TO shift for
themselves but have received the care Of delicate
plants in gardens protection against winter
storms, scientific pruning of dead wood and water
sprouts, spraying against insects and disease, and
at least one good. honest, square meal year Ana
all the newer houses that begin where belsVuo
avenue ends and follow miles the bold curves
of the ocean drive, are rapidly going into the same
kind OF exquisite retirement. In a few years the
casual visitor TO Newport will see nothing OF It's
palaces save a hint here and there, far away
among trees.
Even those houses that have between them and
the ocean walk always open to the public are
fighting the winter winds and the barren SOIL
These too are inching out Of sight behind the new
leaves of successive springs. Certain owners not
content to wait upon mulching. manure and the
seasons have, to be the sooner private, counter
sunk the shore path, where it crosses their land'
SO that even from their Upper windows they can
not see those who go stroiling along II, nor De
seen by them"
Newport, says Mr.. Morris is a place where peo-
ple may live simply and have a pleasant lie;
place where the people who do not live simply eue
have much money and spend much, are neverthe-
less on the whole, decent, wei behaved beings
But the world will never believe it The poison
has been at work too long. The lying scandal is
believed while agreeable truths are not even lis
tened to-