Year: 1878

SKETCH OF REPRESENTATIVE PLACES IN THE
SOUTHERN, CENTRAL AND NORTHERN PARTs OF
THE ISLAND.


lFRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT THE TRIBUNE


PORT JEFFERSON, LII, July 5.-The New-YOrk
public appears TO be gradually awakening TO the many
advantages OF Long Isandthe Seawanhaka or sand OF
shells OF the ndans-as refuge from the dscomforts
Of city life during the heated term. While few persons
from NewYOrk and the New England States have been
eaptivaed by the beauty OF the prOmontOrles and
Islands at It's extremity the middle section Is
practically terra incOgnita to the travelling public,
and travellers in quest OF COOL healthy Summer resort
have left many old and quiet nook unexpored 1t is
only or late years that New-YOrkers have seriously
turned their attention to the rural beauty
that most easily within their reach. They
have wandered OF to the north, east and west,
and their happiness by the trouble they took
10 IT, They had made their minds that there
nothing worth having within certain literally es-
tmaed distance One two places. 1t Is true. with lit
tie to recommend them acquired aud still retain quasi
Importance from having been branded fashionable"
but hundreds OF Others far deserving Of notice are
persistenty ignored Among them the points from
which taken my three views Of Long Island They
are all within sixty miles Of New-York and chosen
representative OF many other places which present
the same diverstes OF location and character They
are moreover, especially recommended to the attention
Of two classes of citizens who seek the country in Sum-
mer those who have only short vacation to spend
and cannot afford the time lost in travelling greater dis
tances, and those whose business demands frequent
visits to the city.


At the head OF the easterly division OF bay with
narrow outlet between Mount Misery aud Oldheld's
Point hes the snug little village OF Port Jefferson,
formerly known Drowned Meadow, and to the
Indians sowassett The town is short distance from
the present terminus of the railroad and is perfect
type Of the villages lying in all manner OF lovely nOoks
along the Sound from NOrthpOt east to Mllers Place.
To the city resident the Summer days pass like long
succession OF Sabbahs There is enterprise but IL Is OF
the unobtrusve kind which disturbs the uxuri-
ous resul dream OF emancipation and peace. The bay
is lined with woods which come the seashore
either side and few miles of the sails Of the ships
passing up and down the Sound may be seen cleaning
In the sun. The beach is admirable for bath
ing; there Is abundance OF boats for
fishing and rowing; and thick and shady woods cover
the hills which all sides Of the town. Across the
prOmOnOry to the northwest the Sound be reached
by multitudnous paths through the woods, which
give the section the name Of OakwOod. Port JEFF
ferson in short all the advantages OF the sea-
side and the inland resort and Is not by any de-
void OF historical interest It may, In the most literal
possible be said TO repOse the seashore Should
the visitor be artist he will be charmed with the num-
beress views Of bay shore, woodland and should
he be poet either full-1edged only In embryo, dis
posed TO nourishiug youth sublime" he can there
summon mp all the should he be merchant. he
can there ind solace for dun times and learn content
ment should he be-Heaven preserve hima writer, he
may, with the poet, find something for which 10 be
thankful:


For thOught-crazcd wight like me


To smell again the Summer flowers


Beneath this Summer tree"


or all that be In its deep WOODS, and OF the
magnificent views from such eminences Cemetery
Ill., nothing need now be said. or Of the numberless
curious mementos OF foreign travel which Its seaiariDg
inhabitants have brought together The latter though
not 20 be classed among the attractions Of watering
place have an interest not 10 be gnsaid IL s for in
stance pleasure not 20 be experienced every day TO
drink tea out OF cup brought from China generations
ago. and decorated there by the hands OF Celestial art
ist with c0mca carcature Of the American eage-ex-
ecutod apparently before the Bird Of Freedom was fully
fcathefed.


To change the scene, move further inland either by
stage 70 Medfor. aud west by rail 10 Lakeland or by
rail IT. James and thence south by stage In either
case Lakeland Ronkonkama Pond be the objective
point Scenery and air are bOth completely changed
The lake about ny feet above the Sound and nestles
In all IT'S singular beauty In the most OF picturesque
section OF gently rolling country frnEed IN part WIN
woods II approached from the south bursts upon the
yew with startling audiences that doubles it's captl
waiting beauty. Although the railroad cars have heen
whirlug past II for years there are few who imag Inc
that lake of such surprising lOyeness Is within ttty
miles OF NewYOrk and there are probably more New
Workers. who are familiar with Lakes George and Cham,
| 1ain with the lakes OF Maine. even with Como and
Maggore than with this unprctentious pond lt iles
|
| dot It's dmpled surface. there are views OF the lake
which might leave the Impression that IL Is hidden
pars6ns it may be said generally that there are few
lakes which will bear comparison with Ronk0nkaina
Hordered and by high banks, there are
many points which command view OF It's entire sur
face and from each one ia placid quietude OF aspect
although It has long been by It's few frequeners
I'm the role Of the Neglected Beauty-is extremely win
ming. 10 Is said to be wei stocked WIN isn TO De IA
the babats Of the fox deer and several kinds 0f game
birds but looking at II solely "a refuge from city me-
| Iake Houk nntugcH
urement which leave 1t Without an equally accessible
| peer.


Turning again to the SOUTH there are several roads
running through the pnerles by which the southern
shore Of the island may be reached One Of these leads
10 sayye and another Patchogue where the southern
branch OF the railroad at present terminates Taking Say
VILE as representative OF the southern shore IL Is In
the first place entirely different in character from either
Port jefferson the Lake The country Is less pctur-
esquey broken and the shore ess rreguar na on the
north Yet IL Is In every way charming and Is for many
tryity 10 the sea H. OF course its greatest attraction
tt being the centre OF several beautiful drives Is hs
| which come bowiing over the natural breakwater
formed by Great South Beach and speeding across
the waters OF the bay, sayylo Is ree from tne s SUI
try heat OF summer Ii such wind from the sea that
Bryant addressed:


| "Tbou hast been out upon the deep nj play


Ronehenn aud scattering high their spray,
! And swelling the white sail"


The shore pebby, and there are many choice spots
for bathing Boating may be INDUCED In with compara-
tive safety as the bay is visited by the rough
storms OF the open sea- which thunders perpetualY on
the outside Of the beach The latter about five miles
distant and between It and the shore are the shallow
waters Of the bay dotted with row-boats and sailing
craft OF every kind from the catboat TO the stately
yacht The shore level aud rises In very gradual
| slope 20 the town. Much is necessarily LETT To m


ference from the few facts thus stated but enough mas
been said not only give faint indication OF the adyan-
tages OF fsayvllle-common TO IT, Blue Polnt Patchogue
| and Bellport and to many places westward towards
Babylon-but To point out the contrast between the
southern central and northern parts OF Long Island
| I have mentioned Port Jefferson aud Patchogue as
beng the termni Of two branches OF the Long Island