Year: 1873




STATEN ISLAND, August 81, 1873.


In q recent letter from Long Island commented
at some length on the neglect OF this interesting
place by our Summer wanderers, and now, alter
weeks sojourn on this beautiful island, during
which explored every part of have to further
express my surprise at their extraordinary want
OF appreciation OF Summer retreats within easy
reach OF the metropolis strong prejudice
against Staten Island has bee1-created Dy real es-
tate operators for their profit, so that thousands
associate the name with malari0us diseases and
discomfort In every form, while thousands more,
to whom the island should be as well and favorably
known as Brighton Is to the average Lon
doner, never heard Of 1t at all. Still, 1t
seems strange that people OF MEANS or even
people OF limited incomes, who annually ny from
the heat and dust OF the city for health and re-
cuperation, should overlook this charming island
in the bay. The only reasonable explanation that
can be suggested is that parties concerned in the
progress of other localities are better advertisers.
OF course, 1t Is not all COalIe de there ob
jections to Staten Island quite as weighty, per-
haps. as any your correspondents In the watering
places OF America during the summer, now fading
into autumn have not failed to record as charac-
terzing the most fast and fashionable retreats OF
the rich and well to do. What those faults are and
what the virtues that peculiarly distinguish Staten
Island propose to show in this letter; and il,
alter have concluded,


AN UNFOUNDED PREJUDICE


or too high opinion respecting the merits OF this
locality remains in the mind Of the reader am
mucn mistaken. 1t has ever been the curse OF
places like this, that ought, by their position,
capacity for Improvement and acknowledged
beauty, to be the favored resort of the city's
crowded thousands, that specuatlors in land have
been their only exponents When 1T suited
'bu" in real estate on Staten Island no language
was too extravagant to eXtOl the scenery; when
the state of the market and his immediate neces-
stiles made the same party "bear" he suffered
terribly from lever and ague, all his family and
other relatives were ''down," and the plaques of
Egypt made havoc among his relatives and friends.
No rampant Taurus of Wall street ever tossed gold
over the heads OF the multitude with more glee
than your real-estate man 'lOng" Of
land ''bulls" his property, nor has ever
the sulky bear prowng about the Stock Exchange
exceeded in profundity of growl the party anxious
to depreciate the value Of lots. With these, then,
have no sympathy whatever. l wish merely to
write Of the advantages and disadvantages OF Staten
Island as a summer resort for the people of New
York, and as future Mecca for citizens OF wealth
and taste who now in search of pleasure go farther
and fare worse.


"THE ISLAND IN THE BAY"


Staten Island Is peculiarly favored by nature.
Her waved lowlands and slopes Of green touch the
broken waves of the Atlantic where they come
white faced from Sandy Hook, are on the opposite
side watered by the washing tides, ever renewed
and fresh, from the inner bay; on one flank Is a
running estuary, and on the other the green waves
that dash on splendid stretch OF sand miles In
extent; while over and overlooking all are
hills OF verdure separated by valleys
Of surprising beauty. The roads-especially the
leading ones-are excellent The road from New
Brighton village way round to Fort wadsworth--
and indeed from there to where, at the race
course the Island faces the far Navesink mixing
with the clouds and gray in the sunlight-are all
that could be desired by lovers of fast driving.
Turning from a drive OF about eleven miles along
the north shore of the island BY one Of the now
opened, broad and well laid streets into the IN
terror, one is sensbly impressed with the beauty
Of the surroundings. Elegant residences mark
each few hundred Ieet, and cottages struggle to
view through groves Of trees and hedges made
odorous with nOwers. For miles ana miles the
scene extends; cultivation and Improvement
everywhere and evidences of wealth and taste
ab0unding. Beyond all question


THE DRIVE ALONG THE SPLENDID ROAD


that winds round the face of the island at its
northern side is in every respect the finest in the
United states. The waves that alter day or two



are here covered with ships of all Sizes styles and
nationalties; steamers are constantly passing to
and fro, while for background to the picture Of
lie and ANIMATION there Is the ever-varying panO
rama OF vessels coming and vessels going, which
the inner bay presents from the rising OF the sun
until the going down thereof To the poetry Of
the changing sea Is added the poetry OF motion.
An account OF an island with water 'front.' with
out mention OF its bathing facilities would be an
objectionable OMISSION Bathing can be had here
almost at any point. The cottages on the coast
line have, generally speaking, bathing boxes BY
n Vnn cor nj nnvn n0ki N no
and as Tor those who prefer


THE SHADED STRIP OF SAND


on the east side the modest waves ripping in, al
ways extend welcome. There Is no undertow
and father need never fear, as he must at certain
fashionable watering places wot OF, being sucked
into inextrlcable difficulties at which blue fish
laugh, but bipeds smile the smile Of death; or shud-
der at the thought OF having their life hammered
out by rollers Of great height and trenendous
iorce. The waves on the coast of this island are,
on the north shore. invisible toordnary sghtseers,
and on the opposite side, called Princes Bay, lol
laZy TO the sand In that wishy -washy, soft and in
slnuatng way so grateful to timid bathers. But
there Is Just enough OF surf uproar on this white
Deacn OF graveily sand to excite most adyenturers
In bathing dresses aud never enough-excep. when
the weather is TOO cold for bathlng-to deter the
most timid.


THE LowLANDs AND HIGHLANDS.
- ihe Island Is divided into two political parts.
TENDS To somewhat near Fort Wadsworth, and New
Brighton, which from the first landing stretches
round round 10 where the lap OF the island almost most
prses the village or commercial part, as commerce
ls here understood just now the latter the locality
OF wealth, the home OF the rich and cultured.
There is a wide difference between them. Edge.
water Is governed by q little ring OF very small
politicians who while trying to make hay while
the sun shines, manage TO conserve dunghill OF
corruption; New Brighton, on the Other nanu Is
we'll and wisely governed by Board Of trustees
fully alive to the wants OF the island and VINO
looked forward oftener than they look back. The
Edgewater people have still lingering anection
Tor cesspoos and tumble down tenements, but,
fortunately for the rest OF the island residents have
paragraph alluded to the depreciatory remarks
concerning the island stimulated and supported
by real estate men, aided by venal newspapers;
and for the purpose Of giving an example OF what