Evening star., 1955-07-13


but provoke an analysis Of the
ne plus ultra resort of the
world. An effort to explain
this enigma of present-day life
is not only a favorite topic
with its most critical observers,
it even creeps into the CONVEX
sation Of its more objective
habitues.
The Dodge
II used to have to come up
here for the week end with five
pairs of white ducks" said Mr..
William Simpkins of New York,
q Newporter with a sense of
humor. Then I discovered I
could appear in an old blue
jacket with brass buttons and
a battered pair of gray fan
nels and everybody thought I
had just stepped off my yacht.
When they asked what boat I
was from, I would reply The
Dodge because that's what I
drove up in" He grinned,
THAT satisfied them"
Newport is the antithesis Of
the motto engraved in French
over the library fireplace in
its most palatial residence. The
Breakers: Little do I care
for riches, and do not miss
them since only cleverness pre-
walls in the end"
Newport is as distinterested
in wealth as a presidential
candidate is In votes. 1t can't
possibly preserve its character
without riches. And it isn't
prepared to be intelligent
about preventing physical de-
cline.
This is the first time I've
ever seen a town that needed
a psychiatrist." commented q
gentlemen visitor of last week
end.
New Newport
Mrs. George Henry Warren
and Mrs. Ottavio Prochet, So
cialite leaders of the Preserva-
tion Society of Newport, can't
even get the village merchant
interested in the new Newport
that would result from pre-
serving the old. The old town
has superb examples of every
period of American architec-
ture, beginning with the ia
cobean style of the late 17th
century, including, of course,
some houses George Washing
ton slept in.
Look what restoration did
for Williamsburg. and 1t had
to be rebuilt" despairs Mrs.
Warren. 1--WE only have to
restore" But there are no
offers to remedy the lack of
good accommodations nor the
lack of a single good restau-
rant. though elegant houses
can be had for a song.
Basically. the old guard sum-
mer colonists want to preserve
without change. The world
that revolves around Bellevue
avenue, Bailey's Beach, the
Casino. the Clambake Club
and the Reading Room-the
oldest resort club in America
looks outside of this world
with some distrust. The more
nouveau element may know
that it's all right. but If they've
just made the grade, they can't
afford to show it.
For, despite the decline of
its fabulous wealth, Newport
has managed to keep its look
Of elegant beauty. And by the
same token 1t has striven to
keep itself stronghold of
snobbism. You might even say
snobbism is its stock in trade.
Wrong Smile
Nobody, for instance, who
can get to Bailey's Beach
would be caught dead bathing
at any other. though Bailey's
boasts the most brackish water
of any beach in the vicinity.
And once there, comments a
socially accepted admiral,
"Everybody's afraid to smile
lest it land on the wrong per-
son."
The prevailing atmosphere
Of guarded casualness is Diff
cult to explain coming as It
does from people who presum-
ably think they have reached
the social pinnacle. The late
Frank Crowninshield once
rated Newport as the top rung
In the ladder Of social climb
ing.
It's as paradoxical as is the
~ - II. a n