Year: 1868

hdence that his own particular boat Is the best
of the feet, and, fortunately, is not engaged.
On the salt pond along the edge Of which street of
tents and cottages has been built, there are many
row-boats hat bottomed and safe for children; and
along the margin Of the water you always see boys
fishing under these peculiarly advantageous crcum-
stances that they can't fail in and that they don't
come home smelling fIly, because they never catch
any .lng utout on the ocean side the sweet deli
cate blue-fsh is mg and abundant, and the solid
black fish popularity called tautog is there, and tire
shining porge and grovelng founder.


When evening sets in il is pleasant to watch the
girls putting away their balls and mallets, ana su-
peuntendng the boiling Of teakettles aud the
baking Of buscuits and still peasanter when
delicate young damsel tucks up her silk dress ana
bends tmidly over the openair fire to broii the org
blue-fsh which yondcT sunburned young iehoW
has brought home for supper. When the lamps are
lighted the family often gather around their door
and sing hymns, sometimes with melOdeOh accom-
pauiment and generally they sing very well Win
fuu harnOnies. The circescearcd spaces or
courts about 100 feet Ia diameter. with tents ana
cottages erected all around thcmare especially bril-


liant at night. with the lanterns swinging before the
doors paior lamps throwing out floods of light, and
neighbors 1tting to and fro TO visit one another.
certain short street of some 20 or so houses leading
ont of one of these circles, is completely planked
across and Illuminated with powerful rcflectors and
lamp posts at each end. The inhabitants here seem
10 take particular pains to make their dwellings as
cav as possible and the street looks ct night, WIN
the lads and lasscs chatting aud promenadlng Ioi Al
the world like fancy fair


This you say, is the picturesque side Is there no
reverseR Well suppose there must be back-Siums'
but cannot find them; squalor, no dirt no disor
der appears anywhere. A sanitary committee Keeps
watchful eye for everything offensive. and number
of men are constantly going the rounds with broom,
rake, shovel and cart removing every particle OF
dirt and the refuse of the kitchen. The whole camp
is like a paror The good order especially consider


ing how little real power the Association has is mar
velous In every tent and cottage light must burn
All night and pail of water must be kept in readi
ness in case of fire. While the religious exercises are
in progress and visitors are numerous strong police
force from the noghboring towns is in attendance;
and anybody found abroad after 10 o'clock at night
is halted and made to give an account of himself
Sunday of course, is strictly observed. The
games cease; the refreShment tents are de-
serted; the booths where photographs,
shells, pcture-frames, and curiosihes are
sold arc carefully closed, Nothing may be bought


except the absolute necessaries of life and they tell
an impressive story Of the awful fate which once
befeI a certain sinner who was caught selling
cigar on Sunday-how he was hailed before the


agent or the elders, the committee, or the Asso-


ciaton or tho supreme judge, or whoever 1t may DC


that wieds the scepter of tho camp and fined, lee
tured and ANONYMOUSLY driven forth. During the
religions exercises or for a period not exceeding


twelve consecutive days IN every year, the Legisla-
ture gives the Association full powers Of gov


ernment not only within their own gronnd,
but for mile all around it. Card-paying and
| hGuor-selling are forbidden at all times, and
| though the ominous word saloon is paraded
| over many tent you will find nothing more ex-


hilarang for sale than popped corn and baked beans
| The regulations of the governing committee are


printed distributed through the camp, and fastened


TO the trees; while announcements of an ephemeral


nature are promulgated by the mouth of q public
! crier This functionary is something of character
! in hIs way-a real marvel of eoquence. came upon
him once just az a soberlOoking brother was inter


ruptng his cry to inquire, with face OF concern
&" If anything hurt him muchp He was announcing
q steamboat excursion to an Indian encampment near
Edgartown where ladies and gentlemen could talk
with sauaw and look into his wigwam and see all
the natives in their original costume which hope
was mistake.


So far you see, there has been fun than
preaching at the camp and in fact most of the people
now on the ground have come here as to a Summer


waterng-place where at a cheap rate they can ENJOY


far more comfort and quiet than any of the fashiona


bic seaside resorts afford Many have been here
since May many gentlemen who do business in Prov
idence New Bedford and other adjacent cities, send
their families here for the Summer and run down
once week for a DAVIS rest. As the time for the
meeting approaches, quite number Of these regular
residents offer their cottages for rent, and GO
away But no tenant can move in without
the consent Of the officers of the Association
IL you want TO build buy, or hire q taber-
nacle in this blooming wilderness, you must make
application to the committee and present recon-
mediation from your church. If accepted you will
have ground rent 10 pay Of about So year for q
dwelling-tent s. for a cottage, and larger
sums-s0metmes as high as $j0-for shop. refresh
ment saloon, OF lodging house To get into a choice
locality you must also pay bOnus-sometimes as
high rs 500. The money thus obtained is expended
IN keeping the grounds in order lighting the avenues


and taking care of the cottages during the Winter
The rent of the dwelling for the meeting week varies
Of course very greatly They showed me rotten old
tent, with torn canvas and leaky floor, which was


offered for IS besides So ground rent it had furni-
ture whatever. ] saw a small but well arranged
Sibley tent which had been engaged for $25 and the
ground rent II you are not fortunate enough TO
have house OF your Own there is still chance of
your getting in clever gentleman named Dunbar


has threestoTy plank house at the entrance to the


grounds where you can be very decently lodged for
g. night The house innocent Of paint OF plaster


within and contains neither gas croton-water and


lady who went there the other day was heard TO ex


claim with horror, what, carpetW But, bless
you my dear madam, what would you have in


campi There is shelter from the rain, and a good


clean bed, and commodious tin washbasins at the
end Of the passage That ought to be enough for
anybody. There are one or two smaller establish
ments where dodgers are received, and / have just