Our Visitors At Martha's Vineyard

Miss Campbell's Entertaining Pen Picture of the Island

AWAY FROM STEAM CARS

With Only a Shaky Electric Line for Locomotion — Some of the Prominent Resorters

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There is no place like Martha's Vineyard for having a perfectly glorious summer, and although it will be good to see home friends again, all the pupils at the Bristol Summer School, as well as all other visitors here, feel regret at leaving. Very few people, who have never been here, realize that Martha's Vineyard is an island, and not a part of the mainland. The only way to reach this beautiful resort is by boat. There are no steam cars on the island. I have heard the whistle of a locomotive just twice through summer, and that was when the wind was in the right direction to bring the sound over from the mainland, two miles distant. There is an electric line which is not quite so good as the one in Ann Arbor. The track is loose-jointed so that when you look at it you wonder what makes the cars stay on. Yet they are supposed to run regularly every forty minutes. When we wish to make a cheap trip from West Chop to Cottage City, we walk a mile and a half down to Vineyard Haven, and take the car there, paying ten cents for the privilege of risking our lives, to say nothing of the risk to our pocket-books when we reach the attractive shops in Cottage City. 

Alas, for Martha's Vineyard, if steam cars and electric lines ever do strike her with full force, we do not want such things here. The peace and quiet which reign supreme add to the attractiveness of the place. When we wish to see the interior of the island, or go to South Beach for a clam bake, or visit the old whaling village of Edgartown, or the interior town called West Yisbury, or the queer place named Squibnoekett, nothing could be more pleasant than to get up a party and drive in a "barge," which by the way is not a boat, but a three-seated carriage with room for three persons on each seat. 

The roads on the island are splendid for driving or bicycling. There are many miles of state road, which is almost as hard as pavement. In the towns the streets are paved with asphalt. 

We have had many a pleasant picnic, driving in a "barge" to some picturesque part of the island, and having our lunch there. About a week ago we had a picnic at South Beach. When the surf rolls in, and the undertow is so strong that bathing is impossible. For this reason there are no hotels and no cottages at that place. However, it is the most fascinating place in which to spend a day. After we had eaten our bountiful lunch of lobsters salad, sandwiches, pickles, gingerale, cake and fruit, we all seated ourselves on the sand to watch the great waves roll in. 

The peace and quiet of Martha's Vineyard make it especially attractive to the busy people of the world, who want a restful summer. There are many prominent people here, right in our vicinity are the following: Horatio Parker, professor of music at Yale, and composer of "Hora Novissima;" Mr. Chadwick, the well-known composer, and director of the Boston Conservatory of Music. His cottage is on the extreme point of West Chop, near the light-house, and close to the foghorn. Mr. and Mrs. Theo. Toedt, soprano and tenor, who for many years have been soloists at St. Bartholemew's, New York. Mr. Tom Karl, formerly of the original Bostonians, Miss Lotta Crabtree, the celebrated actress, who, for many years, was so well known in children's parts, is at the cottage next Mr. Bristol's. She is the richest actress in the world. Although she is past fifty she appears to be about seventeen. Mr. Leland T. Powers has a cottage not far from Mr. Howland's. Rev. Dr. Stevenson, pastor of the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian church, New York, also lives near us. 

The summer school closes this week, so that next week West Chop will be quite deserted by the students of music. No doubt Prof. Bristol and Prof. Howland will be glad to have a little rest. As for the pupils, although they have worked hard, they feel that they have gained so much, and they have had such a good time that they are sorry the summer is over. As for myself I have been especially privileged in being permitted to listen to all of Prof. Bristol's lessons. I have spent whole days in his studio watching his treatment of all kinds of voices, with every sort of difficulty, and getting the advantage of his forty years' of experience, for Prof. Bristol is a man of about sixty-five years, yet with as much energy and animation as a young teacher. One reason for his great success is deep personal Interest which he takes in every one of his pupils. He seems to be especially proud of Mr. Howland, and I have [heard] him say that he is always only too glad to do anything in his power for Mr. Howland or any of Mr. Howland's pupils. 

There are several churches in Cottage City and Vineyard Haven whose choirs are made up of pupils from the summer school. These choirs give two concerts during the summer, one in Cottage City and one in Vineyard Haven. After the concerts all are invited to Prof. Bristol's house for a grand good time. 

At the Saturday evening musicales the pupils have an opportunity to meet some of the prominent people like Mr. Leland Powers, Miss Lotta, and many others, who are friends of Mr. Bristol. 

The summer is over now, and every boat is carrying people away, but those who own cottages spend September here if possible, for they say that is the most beautiful month of the year to be on the island. It is hard to believe that it could be any better than July and August have been. 

Very sincerely, 

ELIZABETH A. CAMPBELL

Martha's Vineyard, Mass. 

August 28th, 1903.