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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0ca48c0 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #68998 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/68998) diff --git a/old/68998-0.txt b/old/68998-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index ebc3acd..0000000 --- a/old/68998-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,2312 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of Cape Coddities, by Roger Livingston -Scaife - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: Cape Coddities - -Author: Roger Livingston Scaife - -Illustrator: Harold Cue - -Release Date: September 16, 2022 [eBook #68998] - -Language: English - -Produced by: Steve Mattern and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team - at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images - generously made available by The Internet Archive) - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAPE CODDITIES *** - - - - - - -CAPE-CODDITIES - -[Illustration] - - - - - CAPE - CODDITIES - - _By_ - DENNIS and MARION - CHATHAM - - _WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY_ - HAROLD CUE - - [Illustration] - - BOSTON AND NEW YORK - HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY - 1920 - - COPYRIGHT, 1920, BY HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY - - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED - - - - -[Illustration] - -_FOREWORD_ - - -These essays—thumbnail sketches of Cape Cod—should not be taken as a -serious attempt to describe the Cape or to delineate its people. They -merely express a perennial enthusiasm for this summer holiday land, -to-day the playground of thousands of Americans, three hundred years ago -the first “land of the free and home of the brave.” - -Acknowledgments are here given to the _Atlantic Monthly_ for permission -to include “A By-Product of Conservation” and “Scallops,” to _The -Outlook_ for the same courtesy for “A Blue Streak,” and to _The House -Beautiful_ for “A Casual Dwelling-Place.” - - THE AUTHORS. - -_January, 1920._ - - - - -[Illustration] - -_CONTENTS_ - - - I. _A Message from the Past_ 1 - - II. _The Casual Dwelling-Place_ 10 - - III. _The Ubiquitous Clam_ 27 - - IV. _A By-Product of Conservation_ 38 - - V. _Motor Tyrannicus_ 51 - - VI. _“Change and Rest”—Summer Bargaining_ 69 - - VII. _A Blue Streak_ 87 - - VIII. _A Fresh-Water Cape_ 97 - - IX. _Al Fresco_ 112 - - X. _Models_ 122 - - XI. “_A Wet Sheet and a Flowing Sea_” 132 - - XII. _My Cape Farm_ 140 - - XIII. _Scallops_ 154 - - _Aftermath_ 166 - - - - -[Illustration] - -_CAPE-CODDITIES_ - - - - -I - -A MESSAGE FROM THE PAST - - -Is it not strange that people who dwell in the same city block from -October to May, enjoying with mutual satisfaction the life which touches -them equally, should from May to October show such varying opinions that -argument is futile? These people who have wintered so happily together -may be placed in three classes—those who claim for the State of Maine the -exclusive right to the title of “God’s Own Country,” those who think of -the North Shore and Paradise as synonymous, and those other fortunates -whose regard for Cape Cod places it second only to heaven itself. - -Therefore, it is interesting to read the following passages and to find -these same divergent views of the Cape in earliest times. - -Captain John Smith in his account of New England in 1614, in a passing -reference to Cape Cod, says it “is a headland of high hills of sand -overgrown with shrubbie pines, hurts and such trash, but an excellent -harbor for all weathers. This cape is made by the maine sea on one -side and a great bay on the other, in the form of a sickle. On it doth -inhabit the people of Pawmet and in the Bottome of the Bay, the people of -Chawum.” Scant praise. - -Bartholomew Gosnold, writing to Raleigh in 1602, through the medium of -his associate, John Brereton, said, “We stood a while like men ravished -at the beautie and delicacie of this sweet soil”; and later, “truly the -holsomnese and temperature of this climat doth not only argue this people -(Indian) to be answerable to this description, but also of a perfect -constitution of body, active, strong, healthful and very wittie.” - -Here spoke the original summer visitor and the founder of that colony -which dots the coast from Marion to Manomet. - -If Gosnold could see the Cape on the present day, he would doubtless -show profound disappointment, unless he had chanced to invest in shore -property, for the forests teeming with game have disappeared, and no -trace of the wit he describes can be detected among the few Indians who -still cling to the shores of Mashpee Pond. But the broad waters, the -sloping sands, and above all the soft climate which Mr. Brereton tells -us did so much for the aborigine, and which now transforms our children -into veritable little red men, remain. - -Despite the depredations which the Cape has suffered at the hands of -both natives and summer residents, its flavor has been maintained, and -the very fact that it is largely inhabited serves well in these days of -friendly intercourse and indulgent habits; for we all of us must live -happily in summer, and to do so means comfort, food, and drink. And so we -find each town, however diminutive, possesses its Butcher and Baker and -Candlestick-Maker. - -The latter, to be sure, is employed by the local electric light plant, -and often his trade includes a knowledge of simple plumbing. The Baker -more often is both Postmaster and Grocer, while the Butcher may be -found to be the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen. But all are true to -the type, and that wit which Gosnold so happily mentions may often be -detected among these simple people, some of whom are sea captains whose -taciturnity has been transformed into a shrewd cynicism coupled not -infrequently with a delightful optimism. Rarely will a native Cape-Codder -get the worst of a repartee and still more rarely will you find him the -first to terminate a conversation. He is as tenacious in conversational -competition as he is lax in business aggression. In fact, he would far -rather stand on the corner and describe to you, in detail, the amount of -work that has been shouldered upon him by So and So and So and So’s wife, -than to make the slightest attempt to accomplish any of the sundry duties -imposed. And yet he knows, and so do you, if you are at all versed in -Cape ways, that he will receive ample financial return for his slightest -service. - -There is no such word as hurry in the bright lexicon of Cape Cod, but -I confess it with some trepidation, for my many Cape friends will take -violent exception to my statement, true as it is. And yet I do not blame -them. I believe it is thoroughly accounted for by the climate; for when I -first visit the Cape in the spring or early summer, I always experience -a languor which makes the slightest effort seem a task of large -proportions. In short, I am lazy and prefer to see some one else do it. -This feeling generally passes away with the sheer joy of vacation days, -days of freedom and fresh air; but I realize that the climate breeds a -lack of ambition, to which I doubtless would succumb were I to live on -without interruption amid the Cape-Codders. - -And therefore I prefer to think of the Cape as a playground for the -initiate, a wonderland for children, and a haven of rest for the tired of -all ages, a land where lines and wrinkles quickly disappear under the -soothing softness of the tempered climate. - -Joseph Lincoln has told us of the people; Thoreau has written of the -place; but no one will really know the Cape unless he becomes a part of -it. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -II - -THE CASUAL DWELLING-PLACE - - -Is there a reader who has not at one time or another gloated over the -terrors, the thrills, and the mysteries which, in fiction, invariably -lie hidden in an unoccupied house? When one stops to think of it nearly -all the literature of roguery, as so clearly set forth in former days by -Wilkie Collins, Gaboriau, down to Conan Doyle and Mary Roberts Rinehart, -possesses as its most important stage-setting an untenanted mansion. It -may be one of those familiar villas generally located somewhere near -Hampstead Heath, a house set apart from its neighbors and surrounded -by a hedge; a house with every appearance of having been closed for -several years and now showing the first signs of decay; or it may be one -of those somber brownstone houses situated in one of the many New York -residential streets, where every house so closely resembles its fellows -as to court mischief to all who may return late at night; or again, it -may be one of those palatial country houses set among lawns and gardens -which are invariably described with broad, magnificent porticoes toward -which spotless limousines are continually approaching at top speed for no -apparent reason. Such a setting is perhaps the commonest, and the time is -always just before the family arrive for the season or just after they -have left for other equally expensive quarters. Now and then the novelist -will modestly cast the fate of his story in the seclusion of a deserted -cottage by the sea or a lonely hut among the hills, but rarely does this -occur nowadays. The mystery story is as dependent upon luxury of setting -as is the modern bachelor upon his creature comforts. And, therefore, -if the devotee of fiction chose to apply himself to this theme, he -would find that nearly all novelists, great and small, from Dickens -to Oppenheim, from Hawthorne to Anna Katharine Green, have utilized -the empty house to bring about the climactic point in the weaving of -some gruesome tale. So clear are these fictional features that, by the -association of ideas, one’s fears and apprehensions are invariably -aroused whenever the occasion arises when an unoccupied house or even an -untenanted apartment must be entered. - -With that unmistakable odor of mustiness comes afresh this uncomfortable -sense of trepidation (hardly fear, perhaps), and with it a conviction -that rats and mice are hidden spectators, and that the darkness and gloom -could well hide crime as well as the thieves themselves. This entire -mental state is largely caused by the aforesaid novelists, who I doubt -not would have the same hesitancy in opening the door of a darkened -chamber or in groping down the cellar stairs of a house long left to -disintegration. - -In short, reading has trained us all to regard empty houses with -suspicion, an absurd state of mind which should be quickly dispelled, for -in the case of nine out of every ten, yes, or ninety-nine out of every -hundred houses, there is no cause whatever for suspicion. - -There is a sunny little house on the shores of Buzzard’s Bay which -remains unoccupied except for ten weeks in the summer. Its shutters are -closed and fastened long before the oaks have turned to their gorgeous -fall colorings or the marigolds and phlox have lost the freshness of -their bloom. - -The soft, salty breeze, rippling the waters, the dancing rays of the -September sun through the swaying pines, give a joyous setting to this -cottage by the water, courting as it were an occupant. The hardiest of -that overworked class of readers who rely upon mystery stories would -find it difficult to conjure up a tragedy for such a spot. The native -Cape-Codders, knowing the owners, always glance over toward the cottage -as they pass by in the hope of finding a blind open or a light through -the trees, to show that some of “ther fam’ly be down for Sunday.” For -this is one of the important services which this particular cottage -renders to its owners. As the scion of the family (aged ten) once sagely -remarked, “We use the cottage more when it’s closed than when it’s open.” -And to each and every member of this house its welcome is always the -same. The family reach the house after dark on a Saturday night. The lock -readily responds to familiar fingers, the door creaks a friendly welcome -as the family grope their way through the hall in good-humored rivalry -to see which shall be the first to secure the box of matches always kept -on the right-hand corner of the mantelpiece in the living-room for this -emergency. Then, as the lamps are lighted, the old familiar objects -appear precisely as they had been left, perhaps six months before, with -a coating of dust, to be sure, but nothing which a few moments and a -dustcloth could not remove; for dust in this region is little known. -True, the chairs, or at least such of them as possess cushions, are -shrouded in covers. The sofa is a bulging conglomeration of cushions, -gathered from all hammocks and piazza furniture; but a few deft passes -by the fairy godmother of this establishment, and presto, the cushions -are distributed and the sofa offers a cozy retreat for the entire party. -Otherwise the living-room is livable. A fire ready laid is only waiting -for a match and a turn of the hand to open the flue. Such is a cottage by -the sea if it has been planned and built as it should be, not alone for -summer use, but also for spring and autumn holidays. - -The little cottage in question is a very ancient affair. A long line -of sturdy Cape-Codders dwelt in it, uncomfortably, for generations. It -was not until a few years ago that it was entirely renovated, enlarged, -and equipped for summer use. Much care and thought were given to its -convenience, and it stands to-day as a model for perennial use as a -casual habitation. But it has certain drawbacks; as, for instance, -plaster. Such a cottage, to secure the maximum comfort with the minimum -of expense, should be unplastered, and without a cellar so that the -circulation of air will keep the house free from dampness. There should -be a kerosene cooking-stove in the kitchen so that the cooking can be -done without jeopardizing the water coil or boiler. Furthermore, unless -one’s family and friends are experts in the culinary art, the usual stove -fire is built regardless of the cost of coal or kindlings, and the -fire itself is apt to take a good deal of time in the making, several -trials often being necessary before the coals kindle into a respectable -glow. The problem of water is perhaps the most troublesome. No house, of -course, can be left with the water on during the winter season. These -Cape cottages are no exception to the rule, and every pipe is carefully -drained and the faucets greased to prevent rust. - -To go to the trouble of turning on the water system for an occasional -Sunday or holiday was manifestly out of the question, and so the owner of -this particular cottage solved the difficulty in true backwoods fashion. -A small stone tank, placed in the closet behind the stove, holding not -over five gallons of water, was always religiously filled. This served as -lubricant for a hand pump at the kitchen sink. One of the first duties in -starting in housekeeping was to heat a pail of this water, thaw out the -pump, and thus secure the supply which adequately filled the family needs -for the day or two of camp life to be enjoyed. - -You will ask what of bedding and blankets? They are there at hand. As -a matter of fact, the less one puts away the better for each and every -article. All blankets hung upon ropes stretched across the attic are dry -and ready for use. Upon such occasions as the one noted, the family do -without sheets and sleep fully as soundly. The blazing of the fire logs -and the warmth of the living-room have given to all a drowsy feeling -which defies wakefulness when once the head touches the pillow. - -If any one should contemplate making use of his summer house in this -fashion, there are certain suggestions which it would be well to follow; -points which any yachtsman or camper would never overlook. - -First of all, there should be a place for everything and everything -should be in place. You can never tell when you will return. Perhaps you -may be delayed and not arrive until after dark, chilled and hungry from -a long motor ride. At such times a fire ready laid, with a good store of -dried wood, is essential to happiness and comfort. - -There should always be a list of provisions left at the house so that -you may avoid duplication in purchasing supplies. Besides food, there -should also be such necessaries as soap, matches, and candles. These -should always be left in the boxes to prevent the mice and squirrels -from robbing one. A good scheme is to build a zinc-lined cupboard in the -pantry in which to keep such perishables. - -Kerosene is dangerous to leave about, and it is well to bring this with -you for the cook-stove; furthermore, it is hard to remember whether -enough has been left at the house for twenty-four hours’ use. - -Care should always be taken to leave the small water tank filled unless -you plan to secure your supply from a friend or neighbor. - -Your pots and pans, cutlery, dishes, and glasses should always be washed -and put away in order before leaving, ready for instant use. - -A little system will make all the difference in the world in the comfort -and enjoyment of such an outing, and will save labor, so that your actual -work will be done in much less time and the daylight hours can be given -over to the outdoor life which endears the place to each and every -member of your family. - -Whether it be a canoe, a knockabout, a gun, or a fishing-line, the -life outside the cottage will be a reflection of that within and -your enjoyment will come from the facility with which you manage the -essentials of simple living. And so after you have enjoyed your day in -the open, you will return to the cottage and discover that the simple -comforts which it offers, while perhaps lacking the luxury of your daily -routine at home, will be enjoyed with a relish far beyond that existence -in a brick block, amid a mass of bric-à-brac and surrounded by servants. -In its place you will devour an unusual amount of food which tastes the -better because you have cooked it, and later you will fall asleep with -the wind singing in the trees, and the waves lapping the shores. The -occasional barking of a dog will arouse no apprehension, and the dread of -haunted houses, of mysterious deeds accomplished behind closed shutters, -will have vanished until you are safe home again with a “thriller” to -pass away the time before it is seasonable to retire. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -III - -THE UBIQUITOUS CLAM - - “They scattered up & down ... by yᵉ waterside, wher they could - find ground nuts and clams.” (William Bradford, _History of - Plymouth Plantation_, II, 130.) - - -Surprising as it may seem, the clam, at least under his own name, -does not appear in the Encyclopædia Britannica. And yet the clam is -proverbial, metaphorical, and substantial, so substantial, in fact, -that individuals of uncertain digestion have been rendered distinctly -unhappy after a hearty encounter. But what is more surprising to the -average person, and especially to the novice in clamming, is where all -the clams come from for the unending clam-bakes, clam-chowders, and the -various concoctions necessitating a generous supply of these silent -shellfish. A journey to the beach at low tide (for all clammers know from -the reference to that animal’s joyous spirit at high water that clamming -is useless at that period) generally fails to accomplish more than a -very lame back, muddy feet, and a paltry dozen or more specimens of the -clam family, generally of immature age. The profusion of empty shells -scattered about encourage the clammer into the belief that here, at -least, is a favorable locality for his first efforts, and he grasps his -fork and bends low, thrusting the implement into the black ooze with keen -anticipation that the mud will disclose a whole family of clams, ready -at hand for capture; but, instead, he is rewarded by finding a number -of white shells, seemingly clams, but in reality merely their shells -held closely together by mud and sand, the skeletons of former bivalves -whose souls have fled to other worlds and whose bodies have long since -disappeared the way of all flesh. And so he seeks another spot, and the -same process is repeated. Each time he is conscious of an increasing -stiffening of the back, recalling former twinges of lumbago, and after -an hour or so the tide forces him to retreat, and he returns dejectedly -to partake of a thin clam-broth, upon the top of which, as a consolation -prize, his wife has tactfully placed a little whipped cream. - -And yet the clam is ubiquitous, once you know him, and the clammer, -himself, has been immortalized by Mr. William J. Hopkins in several -delightful stories with which certain readers are familiar. The -enthusiast soon learns their favorite haunts and on favorable tides he -gathers these bivalves by the pailful. For chowders and for bait alike he -digs, constructs a wire cage in which to keep his precious clams from -day to day, and week to week, and thus they become, as it were, almost a -part of his summer _entourage_. - -The clam is a numerous family (_Mya arenaria_, were one to become -scientific). The ordinary mud clam which inhabits the tidewater harbors -of our coasts; the quahog, whose young, termed “little necks,” are -served, uncooked, as appetizers; and the sea clam, are very familiar in -appearance and habits; but all varieties are secured in different ways -and in varying localities, and therein lies an added charm to the pastime -of clam-digging. - -There is a certain portion of the coast line in a very attractive -section of Cape Cod, which shall be nameless, where all varieties of -these mollusks abound, and it is difficult at times to decide which -variety to pursue. The ordinary mud clam is generally sought on the -especially low tides so kindly afforded by the moon at stated intervals. -It is then that the tide line resembles miniature trenches—first-line -defenses, if you will—so many and so persistent are the pursuers, -who look for all the world as if they were digging themselves in in -anticipation of a machine-gun attack. - -The quahog is more secure, for he lives in No Man’s Land, beyond the -trenches and just under the surface of the mud. If one is walking up a -salty, muddy creek—and surprising as the fact may seem, one often does -follow this watery by-path—the foot will continue to disclose these big -fellows. In the course of an hour of this method of locomotion, a full -pail of quahogs may be secured without further discomfort than a pair -of wet legs and two very muddy feet. The fishermen, however, regard -such efforts as time lost. They manipulate two long-handled rakes bound -together at the bottom, and with this implement a sort of hand-dredging -process is performed which apparently yields better results. But it is -only the native fisherman, with his knowledge of tides and currents, of -sandy or muddy bottoms, of channels and shoals, who can successfully -locate the choice spots where these quahogs lie hidden beneath water, -seaweed, and mud. - -The sea clam is as immaculately clean as his harbor cousin is muddy. -He is likewise found just beneath the surface of the water, buried in -firm white sand over which the white-crested breakers foam on the beach. -These clams are not greatly valued as food. They are gamy and tough in -comparison to their brethren and a sharp contrast in appearance, with -their delicate, smooth shell of an exquisite _café au lait_ color, and it -is for this reason, perhaps, that only the most enthusiastic of clammers -or fishermen after bait know of their whereabouts. - -Along the beaches where thousands of Americans may be seen in -impressionistic attire, disporting themselves by bobbing up and down -in the waves, one could easily secure a pailful of these fascinating -creatures by wading out and groping in the sands. No more exhilarating -pleasure can be secured from surf bathing than in this pastime, which -calls for agility in dodging the breakers as they roll in. While you are -in the act of dislodging a fine fat specimen, your pail grasped in one -hand, the other embedded in the sand seeking your prey, your body is -swept first in, then out, by the waves. In order to regain your balance -you lose your hold, just escape being toppled over by the next wave -rushing toward its finish on the sands, and miss the clam; and so the -process begins all over again. - -The “little necks” have their own places of abode close to the surface of -the mud in sequestered inlets. Now and again the plebeian clammer will -come across a stray family of little fellows while in quest of the common -variety, but as a pastime digging for “little necks” has but little zest. - -And now, after realizing the fascination of clamming, why be surprised -if, when you run down to the Cape for a week-end, your host grips you -with a hand, cold and moist from submersion—a “clammy hand”; and why be -surprised if on the following day, instead of the routine of golf and -tennis, you are initiated into this simple sport? The surprise would come -to the writer of this slight dissertation if he should find you callous -to the delight of clamming or disrespectful of the occupation of the -clammer. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -IV - -A BY-PRODUCT OF CONSERVATION - - -The torrent of conservation surged over our community in war-time with -a mighty roar, carrying with it all thought of flowers and lawns, and -making chaos of our cherished plans for a summer garden. With a velocity -which only social enterprise could initiate, New England became a market -garden from Eastport to Greenwich. Conservation developed back yards -and vacant lots into gardens, and bank clerks into farmers, enthusiastic -at the prospect, and innocent of the coming torments which weeds and -pests would soon bring with them. And so, for this same reason, our -flower garden on the Cape simmered down to a few nasturtiums and whatever -blossoms of a perennial nature cared to show themselves, while our spring -borders, usually a riot of color, were given over to vegetables. - -What, then, should we have in our vases to reflect the profusion of the -outdoor season? For a room without flowers in summer is as devoid of -character and charm as a man without a necktie. The solution, naturally, -was soon found by many in the wild flowers, and if conservation has -accomplished nothing else, its gift to us of an appreciation of the -beauty and variety of these exquisite plants will more than repay our -efforts to grow potatoes, beans, and corn at exorbitant prices with -doubtful success. - -The last days of school for the children and certain affairs at the -office, together with fixed habits which tyrannize over the household, -kept us from leaving for the Cape until late in June, so that we missed -the mayflowers which have made Cape Cod famous for generations. The iris -and violets, too, had disappeared, as well as the dogwood with its -delicate and generous pink-and-white petals. A few short hours after our -arrival, my little daughter discovered near by some exquisite specimens -of the wild lupine growing just as I had last seen it upon the slopes -of Mount Tamalpais near San Francisco, although perhaps not in the same -profusion. - -From that first day until well into September, our living-room was made -joyous by a succession of flowers as delicate and graceful as ever came -from the highly cultivated gardens of the idle rich—a term which will -soon vanish and justly so. - -The wild roses were late and never more plentiful or more perfect. The -daisies, arranged amid clusters of shiny bayberry and huckleberry leaves, -were transformed into stately decorations. The broom, as it is often -called, which abounds in certain sections of the Cape, planted there -in past years without doubt, gave one a sense of having been ferried -across the sea overnight, while our own columbine and wild geranium made -a pleasing variety, especially when arranged with the soft green of the -wild sarsaparilla. - -With the coming of July, the _Hudsonia_, or beach heather, clothed our -foreground with brilliant yellow spots, touches of the sun here and -there, while the low wild shrubs and grasses seemed to grow overnight -in their desire to hide our view of the water. After a week of rain -in which we were confined to the flowers about the house—succulent -clover, Queen Anne’s lace, and a wide variety of tall grasses, which, -mingled with pine branches, form admirable wall decoration—our desire -for botanical information led us to scour the near-by country, not with -guide-book, motor-maps, or even a copy of “How to Know the Wild Flowers,” -but to journey simply forth, either on foot or tucked tightly into -our Ford car. To come unexpectedly upon one of the many ponds dotted -with lilies and fringed with a variety of flowering shrubs caused as -delightful a sensation as the same sight a few years ago would have -aroused, only then it would have stimulated a very different desire—the -thought of a possible bass, lazily drifting below the surface, to be -tempted, perhaps, by a fly, would have been uppermost. But this summer -our sport lay in securing wild flowers, a harmless and charming pastime -in which for the first time all the members of the family found equal -enjoyment, and even our near neighbors, confirmed golfers, admitted the -fascination of our newly acquired sport. To return laden with lilies, -wild clematis, marsh mallows, delicately pink upon their tall, stately -stems, cat-tails, red lilies, the fragrant clethra, and a variety of -other flowers whose names are to be discovered in the winter over a -“complete botanical guide,” savored of a veritable triumph. - -Our growing interest in this wild garden was amply rewarded, for now in -August the flowers were at their height and it became doubly interesting. -Whether the discovery of new varieties or the satisfaction of gathering -and arranging the commonest weeds brought the greater pleasure, it is -hard to judge. The recollection of a tall, graceful copper vase filled -with the despised chicory and bouncing Bet, the blue of the one and the -delicate, pinkish purple of the other blending charmingly and supported -in contrast by a few sprays of sumac leaves, lingers as one of the -floral discoveries of the summer. A mass of fireweed, interspersed with -slender sprays of salt grass in full bloom, is another. - -And yet to the sportsman or the embryonic scientist, individuals of very -similar characteristics, an excursion into the back country through the -woods, a good, long, honest tramp in pursuit of new floral game, and the -finding, now a clump of cardinal-flowers and again the deadly nightshade -(for the sportsman and scientist alike are fearless), is keen pleasure. - -At times we would return with little booty to show for our trouble, a -gathering of St. John’s-wort, perhaps, or a few stalks of mallow or -one-eyed daisies, but never empty-handed and always with the exhilaration -of the thought that here was a garden without limit, without weeds, and -without the cares and expenses to which we were accustomed. - -In arrangement, it must be confessed that discussion often arose. Certain -members of the family, who shall be nameless, preferred a few blooms -alone in each vase, while others clamored loudly for garnishings of salt -grasses and other green decorations. Upon such flowers as butterfly-weed -and tansy, such discussions nearly ended in riots, and only a tactful -distribution of these blooms to those who had gathered them with full -authority as to arrangement secured peace. - -The goldenrod made its appearance earlier than usual, the handsome, -sturdy variety which grows close to the tidewater being especially fine. -With it came the purple and white wild asters, which are in reality so -much more beautiful than the cultivated kind, and the sea lavender vying -with baby’s-breath in its delicacy. - -In this September a pleasant surprise came in the discovery of a flower -which we called—and possibly incorrectly so—the wild primrose, growing -close to the coast among the pines and scrub oaks; and blooming at this -same time was the beach pea, a long, climbing vine of a pinkish-violet -color, luxuriating amid the desolation of the sand-dunes. - -Close upon the heels of these blossoms, which both seemed to belong to -the springtime, the turning of the leaves, the crispness of the air, -the short evenings, and the aforesaid three governing reasons, school, -office, and domestic domination, decided us with more reluctance than -ever to close the cottage. It was not until our luggage was packed and -ready that our final gatherings of the season’s wild flowers were removed -and the vases put away against the coming of next spring. - -It still remains to be seen whether conservation will ultimately lead to -a saving in the cost of food (for Americans are more given to preaching -than to practice) but it has served us well in our appreciation of -certain of the good things in life. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -V - -MOTOR TYRANNICUS - - -In the dim days of a decade ago—a generation might well have passed, -for time is measured by the march of events rather than the procession -of years—I remember yearning for the possession of an automobile. It -mattered not what make, or shape or size or year. I was oblivious to the -merits of six cylinders as opposed to four. I laughed at the enthusiast -who reckoned upon the length of wheel-base as deciding his comfort or -the question of demountable rims as governing his decision as to which -make to select. All I coveted was something on wheels (preferably four) -of my own which might go or even might not go, for so rampant was the -possessive desire in my heart that the chief thing in the world seemed -to me at that time to be able to say “My motor” in an utterly casual, -matter-of-fact tone, and back it up by nodding my head in the direction -of the barn, which after the fashion of marriages had suddenly changed -its name overnight by the possession of a master, and so became my -“garage.” - -This ridiculous state of mind is easy to account for. In winter we lived -in the suburbs where it seemed to both my wife and to me that every -friend we had owned a car. In summer we sojourned upon Cape Cod, where -the motor had replaced the runabout so completely that our old horse -looked like a prehistoric relic of the Stone Age. Added to this was the -ignominy of knowing that the Butcher and Baker both possessed machines -and had that mythological person the Candlestick-maker abided in our -town, doubtless he also would have honk-honked his way by our door. - -In short, the thing got so badly on our nerves that finally, with full -knowledge of the financial iniquity involved, I purchased one of those -hopelessly plebeian affairs which travel under so many opprobrious -pseudonyms—a Ford. From that day to this I have owned some sort of a car -and have thought myself a wise and a fortunate man, and subconsciously I -have felt myself rather more of a person because of this possession, for -such is the frailty of human nature. - -To-day, however, marks a turning-point, a milestone, a crisis in my -career. Personally I consider this day one of triumph—I have sold my car. -I have no independent means of transportation other than my own good -legs—or, at least, they were so until I neglected them—and I rejoice in -my motorless state. I feel a sense of exhilaration in my freedom from -Fords, from the bondage of Buicks, from captivity in my Chandler Sedan. -Such exhilaration is doubtless hard to understand because precisely the -same conditions now exist which originally drove me into buying that -first “Universal Car,” only in a more exaggerated degree. My children -(and now there are more of them) are always clamoring for rides, even for -the short distance of a few blocks which separates our house from school. -My wife (and I must confess there is now more of her too) still plies her -trade of exchanging visits and buzzing about town all day long, never -thinking of walking, and for myself, I have become mutely accustomed -to the rôle of family chauffeur when not attempting that increasing -impossibility, the attempt to make both ends meet. - -And yet, is it after all so hard to understand this relief? In the first -place, the car, no matter what variety, either goes or it does not go. -If by chance it goes, you must go with it. If it does not go, you must -make it go or get some one who knows more about it than you do, and who -costs more than you do, to mend it. That means that you go upstairs into -your own room and change into old clothes reserved for this purpose, go -down again and out to the garage, where you stand in contemplative mood -for some moments before crawling under the machine. When you are safely -landed in a dripping pool of oil, your children and your neighbor’s -children come trooping in from play and ask you why you are there and -what you are doing. This in itself is disconcerting, for you generally -don’t know. Having successfully found that out you slowly emerge from -your cramped quarters, which compare only with an upper berth, return to -your room, resume the garb of a successful business man, and take the car -to a garage and there wait until some one makes it _sound_ all right. -This individual vies with the tax collector in separating you from all -excess cash. - -This does not happen every day, I admit, but there is a sensation in the -back of the mind of nearly every motorist which is more or less constant. -You know that you worry when the car does not go. There is no ground for -speculation upon this point. You worry about what the matter is, and when -you find you can’t mend it, and take it to a garage to be repaired, you -worry as to whether you have taken it to the right garage, or the right -man in the garage. You fuss over the cost and you continually wonder -whether the repairs have been properly done or whether the blamed thing -won’t break out in the same place the next time you take the car out. And -during this whole period you feel in the bottom of your heart that you -could have mended it just as well yourself. - -Then there are the worries when it _does_ go. You wonder when the tires -are going to give out, whether they are too flat or too inflated, -whether you put in gas before you started, and how the water is. You are -continually guessing whether you have too much or too little oil, and you -generally guess wrong. - -These, however, are all mere trifles, the superficial maunderings of a -sensitive organism. Your major worries may be classified under three -headings: - -First: the worry of changing cars. Every year the question comes up for -family discussion, competing valiantly with the problem of when we are -to move to the Cape. Shall we turn in the old car and get a new one? If -so, what kind?—and then follows a month of violent discussion in which -my wife and the children take one side and I the other. By instinct I am -a modest man and by habit cautious. I do not like changes, especially -sudden changes, and so my inclination is either to stick to the old -car for another year or buy a new one like it. My family—why I cannot -say—seem to be oppositely inclined. My wife avers that So-and-So has had -great luck with a ⸺. Billy, my eldest, backs her up with several lengthy -anecdotes told him by So-and-So’s son, proving the excellence of that -make above all others. I am sufficiently shaken in my opinion to consult -with the garage-man from whom I bought my car, only to be shown a car of -the variety mentioned in deplorable condition awaiting the mechanic’s -skill. Poor engine, inadequate something or other,—I can’t remember the -name,—and so it goes. My office is thronged with automobile salesmen so -that work is impossible, while the evenings are passed in futile argument -until the final verdict is given, resulting generally in a compromise—a -new car is purchased of a trifle better type at a considerable advance -in price and the old car sacrificed for a song. Those days of budding -greenness for which we have longed through all the cold, useless days of -winter are utterly ruined by this fearful problem. - -The second worry comes with breakfast daily. Who is to use the car during -the day? The day being balmy, I had thought of going to town in it, -especially as I wanted to make a call on the way home. My wife, it seems, -had planned to go to the dressmaker. I should have guessed it. Billy, -who has just arrived at the legal age which foolishly permits youth to -endanger the lives and liberty of American citizens, had planned to take -a number of his cronies to St. Mark’s School to see a ball game. Billy, -as can be readily imagined, wins out. - -This daily observance takes the entire breakfast period and often leads -to slight feeling. I say slight because I rarely ever secure the car -myself unless it needs repairing. - -The last worry may perhaps be more likened to fear. “What next?” I -generally remark—for this third division concerns our friends. In -that happy decade, now but a dream, we used to live in a delightful -community, surrounded by friends who dropped in and then dropped out -again, both happy incidents in our daily life. But now, who has time to -see his neighbors when every one is frantically motoring to some distant -acquaintance miles away? What can you do when some friend at the end of -nowhere invites you to dinner because she knows you have a motor? You go -because your wife explains that this sort of thing is what a motor is for. - -Is this not a matter for worry?—to work in an office until five; to -journey home with the knowledge that in exactly thirty minutes you start -out, in a car which needs oiling and when one of the tires should have -more air, for a distant suburb, where you are to meet a number of people -you do not know and never care to see again. That this sort of thing is -going to increase just as long as you have a pesky car is more than a -cause for worry. It is a calamity. - -In a trice all this vanished, for I sold my car. I remember hearing the -story of a Southerner whose property was taken from him during the Civil -War and who later was robbed of all the money on his person. He confessed -to a feeling of intense joy and relief, for with his loss of property -went his feeling of responsibility, and care-free he entered the army and -fought a gallant fight. - -And so upon that day I walked with elastic tread, head up, chest out, -delighting in the discovery of freedom. I care not that my friends -all possess cars. I’ve had one—several in fact—and I can afford to buy -others, but I am not going to. That is, not yet (and here I remember -my family, somewhat dubiously). I plan to renew the pleasures of daily -rambles over the beautiful hills of my own town. I plan to renew old -friendships with my neighbors near by. I look forward to an occasional -Sunday at home. In short, I picture the joy of being without a motor. - -As a matter of fact, however, this vision was short-lived. In the first -place, the ramble over the old familiar hills made me so beastly lame -that my Sunday at home was a painful one, and the day was punctuated -by the complaints of each and every member of the family over the loss -of the car. I ventured out, still painfully, to call upon one or two of -my old neighbors, just for a run in and out again, but they, it seemed, -were out in their motors, and so I returned dejectedly to the sad-faced -group in my own living-room, where we managed to exist until bedtime, -conversing upon our prospective move to the Cape, and what it meant to -the various members of the family to be—as my daughter puts it—a million -miles away from every one with no means of ever leaving the house. And -so it was the Cape and its appeal which broke my defenses, for I must -confess our seasonal trips there were a delightful part of our existence, -to say nothing of the joys of our summer life. - -The next day I took an early train to town, and I came home that evening -somewhat sheepish, but reasonably happy, for I came in a new car, which -bids fair to be the best one yet; it is certainly the most expensive. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -VI - -“CHANGE AND REST”—SUMMER BARGAINING - - -Although on the surface Cape Cod seems to offer a haven of refuge to that -much overworked appendage to the modern man, the pocket-book, there are -dotted here and there upon the highways and byways many comparatively -innocent pitfalls. - -To a close student of these danger spots, they may be grouped under the -heading “Tea-Rooms, Arts and Crafts Stores, and Antique Shops.” - -I know of no greater relief than to escape from town and come to the -Cape. Once there, the daily routine of office, the absence of any -assigned duty, the leisure hours passed in or on the water or idly -knocking about the golf links, tend to merge one day into another, so -that time flashes past at an alarming rate. But every now and again comes -a day when some member of the family suggests that we take the motor and -extend our vision. It is upon such occasions that we test the financial -astuteness of the aborigines. - -One never visits the Cape without discovering how effectively the climate -stimulates the appetite. What wonder, therefore, that every village and -hamlet possesses a Tea-Room of varying attraction? - -The stop is made and the Tea-Room visited, only to find that the family, -in addition to ordering the tea, with its accompaniment of toast and -cake, or, for the younger members, a bottle of ginger ale or an ice-cream -cone, are bent upon securing a souvenir. The Tea-Room is generally -furnished with an assortment of articles intended for just such gullibles -as ourselves. There are, for instance, baskets of assorted sizes and -colors, for flowers, or fruit, or sewing, or pine cones; in fact for -everything that should be thrown away, but isn’t. We have several such -baskets at home, but that does not prevent some member of the family -from buying another. It will do for a Christmas present. Then there -are varieties of other things made far away and designed to lure the -cheerful motorist, such as charmingly decorated match-cases for elderly -people, noisily painted tin pails for the children, dainty knockers, and -all manner of knick-knacks for the women of the party. The invariable -assortment of what, to a man, seems the essence of uselessness, and yet, -I confess it, attractive to an insidious extent. - -The pocket-book is touched, not severely, to be sure, but there is a -perceptible shrinkage as we file out to continue on our harmless junket. - -For a few miles we bowl along over a delightfully smooth road and give -ourselves over entirely to the view. Now a long stretch of pine woods -gives just a glimpse of the water glistening through the trees; here and -there a little farmhouse, snugly tucked among a clump of lilacs close -to the road, with visions of larger establishments in the distance, -out toward the sea, the homes of summer residents boldly exposed to -the refreshing southwest wind; then a long stretch of marsh and dune -brilliant in the sun. Suddenly we come upon a more thickly populated -district where many of the old houses have been purchased and renovated -to fit the needs of city people, who, with the assistance of some modern -architect, oftentimes make enticing homes of these structures by the -simple addition of porches and piazzas, with bright touches of paint here -and there on blinds and doors, and the whole garnished well with bright -flowers, climbing roses, and cozy hedges. - -It is generally near such a settlement that we come upon the Arts and -Crafts in all their glory. - -Compared to the Tea-Room, the Art-Shop is a veritable mine of treasure. -From a variety of toys which would do credit to Schwartz to a complete -set of hand-painted furniture such as one might expect to find in the -window of the largest furniture store in Boston during the months of May -and June, seems a far cry for a small shop occupying a converted bungalow -in a modest Cape town; but this sort of thing exists, and between these -items there is an almost endless list of what for a better term may be -called “specialties,” and even I, who scorn the newness of furnishings -as they are displayed in town, fall a victim first to an exceptionally -soft-toned rag rug, oval in shape and comfortable to the tread, and also -to a set of doilies made of a light, colorful variety of oilcloth with -dainty pattern that my wife says will save washing; and lastly to a pair -of bayberry candles, olive green and a full eighteen inches high, which -it seems to me will give an admirable touch to our living-room mantel. - -The shrinkage in the pocket-book is easily discernible; in fact I am led -to say briskly that I think we had better be getting along home, and so -we put our new treasures into the car and proceed homewards by a new -route more inland. - -It is always interesting to try the lesser known roads even if they are -a bit rougher. They are little traveled and for this reason pleasanter -in midsummer; one rarely loses the way, for signs are plentiful, and so -we wind about the higher stretches which form the backbone of the Cape, -along sandy roads which at times diminish to mere cart-paths, but at all -times are passable. - -Emerging from this forest district on one such excursion, we came quite -suddenly upon the forking of two roads where a clump of neat-looking -farmhouses, a schoolhouse, and a diminutive church indicated a real town. -Here my eye was arrested by the magic sign “Antiques” stuck into the lawn -in front of one of the houses. - -While I do not admit the slightest lure in the sign of a Tea-Room except -when hard-pressed by hunger, and but scant attraction in the Art-Shop, -there is something about the word “antique” that whets my appetite -for exploration, and especially so when found in a quiet little hamlet -off the beaten path and probably not familiar to the many hundreds of -tourists whose smoothly running motors of ample proportions bespeak -well-filled pocket-books. Consequently I grasped the emergency brake and -came to a sudden stop in spite of a feeble protest from my daughter and a -heavy sigh from my wife on the back seat. - -Where antiques are concerned, I take the lead, or, to be more accurate, -I stand alone, and so proceeded to the back door of the house; for those -who know Cape-Codders well enough realize the inconvenience and delay -which a knock at the front door provokes. - -Seeing a middle-aged woman bending over the stove in the kitchen, I -called a merry “Good-afternoon” by way of salutation. - -“Good-afternoon,” she replied as an echo might have thrown back my words. - -“I saw your sign ‘antiques’ and thought perhaps I might have a look at -them,” I continued, nothing daunted. - -“Mister Eldridge ain’t to home, but if you want to go out to the barn you -can see what he’s got,” she replied, without even turning her head to see -what sort of a second-story man I might be. - -Here was luck, however, for I could look over the stock in trade of this -ambitious couple to my heart’s content, and I made haste to the barn, -which I found converted into one of the most amazing junk-shops it has -ever been my pleasure to explore. - -Crowded together without rhyme or reason, and with no thought of display, -were the goods and chattels of generations of Cape-Codders; tables, -chairs, beds, sofas, ice-chests, a parlor organ, curtain rods, bits of -carpet, crockery in all stages of dilapidation. On one of the tables a -variety of hardware was strewn about, on one of the stiff-backed chairs -reposed three old brass lanterns. A Rogers group on a kitchen table -was flanked by a White Mountain ice-cream freezer on one side and a -fine old fire bucket on the other. A four-poster, of apple-wood, with -fluted posts terminating in pineapple tops, the wood in an excellent -state of preservation, was the repository of a half-dozen pictures, -three face-down, while one of the others disclosed itself as a really -good copy of the engraving of Washington and his family. But to the -casual observer, there seemed scarcely a piece of furniture or, in fact, -anything which was sufficiently in repair to survive the journey to my -house; furthermore, the rank and file of articles were of recent date and -had no charm for the collector. - -However, the very hopelessness of the quest whetted my appetite, and to -the utter disgust of my family, I spent a good half-hour rummaging about, -not only in the main part of the barn, but also in the stalls, and even -in the hayloft, for the whole building was bulging with what seemed the -cast-off furnishings of the entire Cape. - -The result of my examination was a really fine ship’s lantern which I -found in the loft; a pair of old pewter pepper pots, reclining in an old -soap dish, and a couple of straight-back rush-seated chairs, a trifle -rickety, but with the seats in excellent condition with the original rush -plaiting, which is unmistakable. - -For fear of mislaying my selection, I had brought them outside the barn, -and at that moment a lanky, middle-aged farmer drove up in a buggy and -slowly got out. - -“Is this Mr. Eldridge?” I asked. - -“Thet’s me,” he replied. “Been havin’ a look over the department store? -I ain’t got in my elevators, an’ the outing department [here he looked -at my golfing tweeds] ain’t much to brag about, but I’ve got ’most -everything in thar except the town hearse an’ I’m savin’ that for my -mother-in-law.” - -By George! I thought, here’s one of the real old-timers, nothing taciturn -about him, and I pointed to the modest selection I had made and asked -him what the price was. - -“Well, as to price,” he replied, taking off his hat and meditatively -scratching his head, “that’s the worst of the business. I never just know -what my things are worth. Them chairs came from old widow Crocker’s, over -by Forestdale. She’d never sell ’em till she died, an’ then she couldn’t -help herself an’ her son-in-law cleaned the place out, an’ I got quite -a lot of stuff an’ paid him for the lot. What d’you say to a couple o’ -dollars apiece?” - -I said, “Yes,” as soberly as I could. I would have given much more. - -“As to that lantern, it’s a good ’un and the glass is all right. I shall -have to get at least four dollars.” - -“All right,” said I, cheerfully, for I had seen a smaller one in Chatham -go for eight just a few days before. “And how about the pepper pots?” - -“Oh, you kin have ’em for—let’s see—’bout seventy-five apiece.” And I -agreed. - -“What do you do with all this stuff?” I asked, as he helped me to dispose -of my treasures in an already well-filled car. - -“Oh, mostly I sell to the Portugees that come here farmin’ and -cranberryin’. Now an’ then I get some old stuff same as you jest picked -up, but generally it’s the newer kind they like the best. I jest set -that there sign up ’cause I see every durn fellow ’long the road what -has a toothpick or a shavin’ mug to sell puts up a sign, an’ so, says I, -guess I’ll stick up one too.” - -And that is the way I became acquainted with Silas Eldridge, dealer -in antiques, who has sold me many a real treasure, but I keep his -whereabouts as secret as possible, for of all the fascinating places for -picking up astonishing bargains on Cape Cod, his old dilapidated barn -offers the most surprises. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -VII - -A BLUE STREAK - - -Slang is both the curse and the delight of the English language, and that -form of slang which our British friends term “Americanisms,” and which we -have now largely adopted as our national mode of communication, is not -confined to the youth of to-day by any means. In the home, in business, -and of course in sport, slang has found its way and has spread like the -weeds in the garden of the over-enthusiastic commuter. I remember hearing -a clergyman of national reputation and advancing years say a short time -ago, after a satisfying excursion of some sort, that he had “had more fun -than a goat,” and I defied him to elucidate that time-worn phrase to my -satisfaction. - -The derivations and origins of American idioms and colloquial expressions -are vastly interesting, not only in showing the resourcefulness of our -people in cutting wordy corners and in the development of a certain -form of humor which I do not defend, but in shedding real light upon -the whys and wherefores of our universe down to its smallest detail. A -temperamental curiosity has led me from time to time to look up certain -of the commoner expressions, and I am indebted to this eccentric hobby -for several pleasurable experiences. - -Many years ago—so many in fact that the memory is distasteful—I went to a -horse-race where the winner passed our stand at a pace which my companion -described as “going like a blue streak,” a familiar term with which I -ignorantly agreed at the time. I suppose that since then I have heard it -repeated many hundred times, but it was not until last summer when my son -applied it to a motor-boat passing out of the harbor, that I thought of -inquiring into its origin, and discovered, much to my surprise, that it -applied to the illusive and disconcerting movements of the ordinary sea -crab, often called the “blue claw.” - -The discovery piqued my curiosity and I determined forthwith to -investigate the locomotory accomplishments of these retiring animals. -This was not as easy a task as I had expected. The crab is not socially -inclined, and the term “crabbed” is soon apparent. He is only to be found -at low tide, and generally near the mouth of a salty creek where the -bottom is muddy and sparsely covered with seaweed and eelgrass. There in -the late summer and fall he can be seen from canoe or rowboat, if one is -patient and watchful, and the expression to “go like a blue streak” fits -him like a glove. - -Having provided myself with a net of the butterfly variety, I determined -to secure a specimen, and began my search among the creeks, so numerous -along the shores of Cape Cod. Although we came upon quite a number, it -took the entire morning to capture four. - -When unmolested, these creatures crawl slowly and deliberately about -their business, sluggish in manner and shabbily dark in appearance, -grubbing about on the bottom, now in, now out of the seaweed, but the -instant that danger is threatened, they undergo a transformation. The -claws, from sprawling about on the mud at every angle, are drawn in, and -like a flash—or, far better, “like a blue streak”—the particular crab -that you have selected for capture darts away at an angle that leaves -you helpless with wonder at the suddenness of his departure and at the -blueness of his appearance. - -As soon as you have spotted your prey the excitement begins. Armed with -the net, you crawl quietly to the bow of the boat and in whispers direct -the rower, now this way, now that, following the route taken by the -capricious crab. Sometimes the water is deep enough to permit the use -of the oars, at others it is necessary to pole the boat in and out among -the rocks covered by seaweed, your journey always attended by silence and -stealth as if the slightest noise would precipitate in flight this wily -crustacean. - -At last when you are within striking distance, the net is plunged in -among the grass and brought up, alas! empty, and the hunt continues as -before. - -When, after repeated trials, your patience is rewarded and a fine big -fellow is caught, the greatest care must be taken to prevent him from -crawling out of the net and escaping before he is landed in the boat, -for his activities are ceaseless. - -Indeed, even after he is flung deftly into the pail, his savage struggles -may succeed in freeing him from captivity. And so it is only with -infinite caution and patience—qualifications necessary in every game—that -you are able to land your prize, and it is only then that you will find -the explanation of the color quality of his passing. As the crab is taken -from the water, its mud-colored shell appears a dark ultramarine blue, -the claws of a lighter shade, the under part shading to white tinged with -pink; its entire surface seems metallic in the intensity of its coloring -as it leaves the water. From a slow, lazy animal of peaceful habits, the -crab has become a veritable monster, savage and fiercely aggressive, and -woe to the unfortunate within reach of his claws. - -His capture is a real experience and a distinctly sporting event. So -interesting and mysterious is the search, so active and adventurous -the pursuit, and so exciting and satisfying the actual catch, that one -is tempted to place crabbing among the big events of a summer at the -seashore. - -I know a college professor who annually devotes the better part of his -vacation to this pastime, and several of my athletic friends, whose -prowess on the football field was a matter of international comment -in the papers, confess to the delights of a crab hunt; but it is a -surprising fact, nevertheless, that the majority of those who visit the -seacoast each year have never even heard of the extraordinary fascination -of hunting the originator of the “blue streak.” - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -VIII - -A FRESH-WATER CAPE - - -To the majority of people Cape Cod spells sea breezes, a tang of salt in -the air, scrub oaks, tall pines, stretches of sand, and a large appetite. -To the few who know the Cape from more intimate acquaintance there is -added to this picture a swelling country densely wooded in sections and -spotted with ponds. It is a source of never-ending wonder how these -ponds exist in a country where the soil is so porous that a few minutes -after a shower there is no trace of the rain. In almost every instance -they are fed from springs beneath the surface, and the solution has been -offered and quite generally believed that much of this fresh water flows -in subterranean channels having their source far distant in the White -Mountains. - -So plentiful is the supply that wells and pipes, driven a few feet into -the soil at almost any spot, furnish clear, pure water in ample supply -for household needs. A more remarkable fact is that at low tide in many -of the harbors and inlets fresh water can be found between the high and -low stretches, oozing through the salty surface of sand and mud. And so -the Cape, for all its salt qualities, has fresh water in profusion and -ponds without number. In Plymouth County alone there are 365 ponds, many -of them of substantial size, while the lower Cape is almost equally well -provided. - -A generation ago, many of the residents of Plymouth passed their summers -on the largest of these—Long Pond. Having the salt breezes most of the -year they wisely sought a change to inland waters. - -Last year I met a gentleman fishing in Wakeby Pond—made famous by -Cleveland and Joe Jefferson—who told me he came on from Chicago every -year to pass a month bass fishing. He was probably ten miles from the -coast, and might have been a hundred for all the good it did him; but on -the other hand, why not a pond on the Cape as well as a Rangeley Lake -in Maine? The life is much the same—the air refreshing and the scenery -delightful. - -These larger ponds are fully as large as many of the Maine lakes. Long -Pond at Plymouth is said to be ten miles long, and I have seen the water -at Great Herring Pond as rough as one would care to have it when canoeing. - -To be sure the fishing is not perhaps so very exciting—few trout, except -in the occasional streams which have been stocked, but land-locked -salmon, perch, and pickerel to be had with a little patience, and a -shrimp or so. The real pleasure which these ponds offer is the surprise -and delight of coming upon them as one does frequently and quickly while -motoring through the less-frequented roads. From Plymouth down the Cape -through Sandwich nearly every road and by-path leads to some picturesque -little sheet of water often closely wooded to its shores and without a -sign of habitation. - -From Wareham or Cotuit, from Pocasset or Falmouth, from Hyannis or -Chatham—in short, from nearly every one of the many Cape towns, a ride -of fifteen or twenty minutes will take one to a pond which might as well -be fifty miles from any center of human activity. One rarely meets other -adventurers upon such trips, and the silence and peace which reign form -excellent foils to the summer life so near at hand. - -Those who are wise in Cape ways possess small canoes mounted upon two -wheels, which are fastened on behind their cars, so that, when touring -the ponds, they are not limited in their fishing to the shore or to the -chance of finding a boat. - -There are a number of gentlemen who have built small camps upon certain -of these secluded spots for casual excursions and for spring and fall -use. They are wise. By leaving Boston at noon they can always be in camp -by sundown ready to enjoy a full Sunday, while the mighty fisherman who -depends entirely upon the Maine lakes or the more remote places must plan -a week’s vacation, with the chance of better sport, to be sure, but no -better life, for the life of a sportsman in the open is much the same. -The great outdoors is universal in its appeal to the sane-minded and -healthy-bodied. - -I have experienced as much heat and poorer fishing in Nova Scotia during -July as I have on our ponds of the Cape, and in addition I have noticed -more mosquitoes and midges to the cubic inch in Canada than on these same -ponds; but of that perhaps the less said the better. - -I have in mind a little excursion which illustrates these extremes of -Cape life, and it is but one of many. In early July, when the children, -freed from school restraint, were on the rampage, and our cottage was -bearing the brunt of an onslaught of youthful visitors, each of our -neighbors having one or two boys and girls as guests for their children, -life seemed to me an unending series of activities coupled with ceaseless -slang. In fact, I was “fed up” with it all, so that when my classmate -and old friend R⸺ telephoned to say that he was going up to the pond for -a day or so, I clung to the receiver in my joy to escape. - -The preparations for such a trip are simple—a blanket, a change of -clothing, a toothbrush, no razor, food enough to fill a small basket, -and—yes, I suppose it must be confessed—a bottle. - -My fishing tackle is always ready. The bait, however, is more difficult -to secure. With net and pail I hastened to the creek which enters the -harbor near our cottage, and, it being fortunately low tide, I was able, -in the twenty minutes left before R⸺’s arrival, to secure a fair supply -of shrimp. That was all there was to it. We were off well within an hour -from the time of his message, and well within another hour we had arrived -at his little shack perched high above the shore of one of the loveliest -ponds on the Cape, and were settled for the night. - -The camp was well stocked with wood and simply furnished with camp beds, -the ordinary cooking-utensils, and such comforts as may be gathered about -a broad hearth and a roaring fire. - -Outside, the wind had died down and not a ripple disturbed the mirrored -surface of the water, which reflected the delicate outline of cedar, -pine, and oak, a lacy filament which shielded the setting sun from the -already silvered reflection of the half-moon. - -“A perfect time of a perfect day, in a well-nigh perfect spot,” I said, -by way of expressing the joy of my escape. - -“Such a burst of eloquence demands a toast,” remarked my friend. - -So we forthwith resorted to the aforesaid bottle, and then turned to and -prepared supper—the inevitable scrambled eggs, deviled ham, bread and -marmalade, and coffee. - -“To think of that howling mob at home only twenty minutes away,” I mused, -puffing contentedly at my pipe and reveling in the silence. - -“To think of what a motor will do!” replied my friend, who was not -unaware of my opinion of cars. - -I muttered something incoherently, and squirmed a bit at the thought of -some of my notions. - -The next morning we were up with the sun, and after a hasty bite, put our -canoe into the water and set about our main task. - -We were both fairly familiar with the haunts of the wily bass. In summer -they lie close to the bottom, the laziest of fellows, sucking in the -bait, if they notice it at all, in a dreamy fashion, but, once hooked, -they show their mettle, and so, when I finally felt a slight strain on my -line, I held back until I was sure of my fish. Yes, I had him, and a good -big one at that. - -There is little or no casting in midsummer, so that I had brought a -stouter trolling-rod, and it was just as well. I played that fellow for -ten minutes, and when R⸺ finally netted him for me, we sat and looked at -each other speechless. - -“By gad, he’s a five-pounder!” said my friend excitedly. - -“Hum—about four and three quarters,” I replied in a matter-of-fact tone -to cover my excitement. - -We caught twelve that morning, several weighing two pounds or -more,—splendid fishing, the best we had ever had on the pond. - -When we reached the camp and weighed my prize, he tipped the scales at -five and three ounces—a record fish. - -Late in the afternoon the clouds began to gather and the wind turned -northeast, so we decided to run for cover. - -I was at home in time for dinner, and found the spell broken. It was I -who did the talking, an amazing amount of it, while the youngsters sat -open-mouthed when my bass was brought onto the table in a platter all -to himself, garnished by our cook, who, so says my wife, is proud of my -ability as a provider. - -What more versatile land of summer, then, can one imagine than the -seashore with an almost permanent breeze, with a chain of inland ponds -remote and wild in character almost at one’s back door, motorively -speaking? - -If variety is truly the spice of life, what better seasoned offering has -any locality to show than Cape Cod? - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -IX - -AL FRESCO - - -Before you pass judgment upon any man or woman of your acquaintance, ask -him or her to a picnic. Then if you are not ready to form a decision, -they will probably have made up their minds about you. A picnic, so -the Dictionary has it, is an entertainment in a grove, an ominous and -hazardous place at best for a good time, and one to be avoided except -by sentimental couples, and therefore the Dictionary may be considered -narrow-minded in naming the locality. Furthermore, its advice is rarely -followed in these days, and the picnics which I prefer, and they are -countless, are held upon the seashore and, for the most part, in the sea -itself. - -There is a white, sandy beach of a mile or more, banked by great -sand-dunes and bordering a section of Buzzard’s Bay which is -comparatively unknown, where there are no houses, not even bath-houses, -and where the delighted squeal of the noisy girl or the guffaw of the -blatant youth is rarely heard. It is here that we frequently gather with -a few good friends upon pleasant warm days, for an impromptu meal _al -fresco_, preceded by a joyous bath in water as clear as crystal, warm and -yet with a spiciness that clears the head from all drowsiness and whets -the appetite to a keen edge. - -There are problems to every picnic. The conventions of life grip hard, -and yet it is curious and sometimes amusing to see how thin the veneer -really is when the primitive necessities of a picnic are faced. - -The sand-dunes are conveniently rolling, every now and then dipping into -bowl-like formations, and in these sequestered or semi-sequestered nooks -we don our bathing-suits and sally forth to the sea. One of our friends, -a man somewhat particular as to his appearance and the soul of modesty, -was directed to the appointed place, but his love for the view led him up -the slope, so that, innocently turning our gaze shoreward, the feminine -portion of our gathering was considerably disconcerted to see the apostle -of Beau Brummel in nature’s garb innocently viewing the horizon and -giving little heed to his natty bathing-suit, a black and orange affair -with immaculate white belt which lay at his feet. - -The women, too, those who but a few moments before would have tried -in every way to conceal a hole in their stockings, were glad to borrow -bathing-dresses of any reasonable style if by chance they had forgotten -to pack their own, and stockings seemed of no importance. - -To line up twenty or more on the beach and rush for a plunge, to breast -the billows or to grope amid the sands for sea clams, to race along -the beach for the sheer joy of life, is the glad part of what I call -a picnic. And then the food! No meal which must be coaxed along by a -cocktail or other appetizer, to prepare the way for course after course -of indigestible concoctions planned by fertile-minded chefs, but honest -beef and chicken and ham sandwiches, delicately prepared and tastefully -arranged. Sandwiches of lettuce and cheese and paprika; sandwiches with -sardines, with olives; graham sandwiches with a thin layer of marmalade -or guava intended for the children, but partaken of by all. And stuffed -eggs, the variety only to be found at a picnic and eaten in two gulps, -the one place where such table manners are tolerated. - -And it is on picnics that the thermos bottle is most thoroughly -appreciated. The miracle of hot bouillon, hot coffee, iced tea, and a -variety of beverages, suitably chilled or heated, seems ever to be a -source of fresh surprise and pleasure. - -Toward autumn, the picnics offer a new variety, for the children thrill -at the expectation of cooking their own dinner. The joys of a bonfire, -the excitement of burying potatoes, corn, and clams in seaweed, the -frying of ham and eggs, and the occasional treat of flapjacks when one -of our nautical friends happens to be of our number. These are but a few -of the pleasures of a picnic such as one encounters on the shores of -Buzzard’s Bay in August and September. - -It must be admitted that there are certain drawbacks which seem serious -to the individual of fixed habits, tender feet, and uncertain digestion. -There is, for example, the beautiful white sand, glistening in the -sun, smooth as a billiard table and fine as powder. It must be admitted -that after the bath one is conscious of the pervading quality of its -particles. It is in one’s hair, one’s shoes, and often elsewhere about -the person. It is discovered invading the aforesaid sandwiches, which -seem well named at such times. A brisk wind slaps it into your eye or -your mouth in disconcerting fashion, and you become aware of its grating -presence. Then, again, there are clouds upon the horizon. To those who -are seriously affected by the sand, these clouds look ominous. They may -forebode a storm and a wetting. A certain clamminess of hands and feet, -occasioned by the bath, remind one that a change in the weather precedes -a cold in the head. These feelings mark the man of creature comforts and -he fails to join in the part-singing which comes after the hearty meal, -when pipes are lighted and the entire gathering stretch themselves upon -the sands for a lazy half-hour before the inevitable cleaning-up process -begins. This same individual declines to tell his best story, and should -a ball game be suggested, he will be found callous to all coaxing. He -has enough sand in his shoes as it is, or he has eaten too much for -exercising, or possibly the clouds on the horizon lower more formidably. - -Yes, a picnic discloses the strength and weakness of character which -mark our friends, and yet, after all, it does more, for it brings out the -best in most of us, and few, even of our habitually conventional friends, -fail to respond to the delights of a seashore picnic or lack in the -essential philosophy of an outdoor, care-free existence. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -X - -MODELS - - -Long before the Old Colony Railroad thought of running a line to Cape -Cod—although that in itself was not so very long ago, well within the -memory of man—there was one charm of the Cape which is fast vanishing and -entirely unknown to the casual visitor and unappreciated by the perennial -summer residents. In those days there was a host of rugged, sturdy men, -intelligent, courageous, upright, and keen-minded. They were the Cape -captains, the men who grew up among the sand-dunes, to the rote of the -sea. The men who carried the good name of Cape Cod to the ends of the -earth and who brought back with them the fortunes which made the little -towns, dotted here and there along the shore, havens of comfort and rest. - -Such men could tell stories which would vie with those of Conrad and -Stevenson, but for the most part their deeds go unrecorded except in -their ships’ logs, for they were a simple, reserved company. Of this -epoch there remains but one relic which is sought after by the present -generation, and it savors of the antique. In fact, it is the antiquarian -rather than the adventurer who ransacks the Cape at present for ships’ -models. - -In those early days there were months at a time when the ship’s company -were idle, and it grew to be a custom for those clever with their hands -to fashion models of the schooners in which they sailed or of seacraft -notable for beauty of line or complexity of rig. - -Many an old sea captain would pass his idle moments in fashioning these -miniature boats, and many members of the ships’ crews became adept at -the hobby, for a knowledge of tools was almost an essential for every -man on the Cape, where the trades of carpenter, painter, and plumber -were generally performed by the householder. Furthermore, a sailor would -infinitely prefer to whittle out a model than to swab down the deck, and -frequently a clever mechanic would be relieved by his captain from this -menial work, if he devoted his time to the perfection of a model which -was destined for the mantel of the captain’s best parlor. - -Therefore, in the old days, there was scarcely a Cape family of saltwater -ancestry which did not boast of at least one model and often more, the -trademark of an honorable and hazardous occupation and a relic of former -days of plenty when the Cape was peopled only by the native Cape-Codders -and before steam took from them the vocation to which they were reared. - -To-day the captain of a full-rigged ship is as hard to find as the -vessel herself, and the Cape exists upon the summer residents and upon -the less productive occupation of fishing, which is largely in the hands -of the Portuguese, who have come in droves to settle upon our land of -Bartholomew Gosnold and his company of adventurers. And so the interest -in ships and in tales of the sea has disappeared along with those who -upheld the trade; and the models, familiar sights to the descendants, -have been relegated to the attic or have been sold as curiosities to the -ubiquitous dealers in antiques, who persistently come to the Cape for old -furniture, pewter, china—anything, in fact, which can be palmed off on -that voracious type of collector, the lover of antiques. - -During the last few years, for some reason or other, these models have -become very popular. Just why it is not easy to explain. It is true -that they typify a lost trade which was full of adventure. It is also -true that they are decorative, many of them, but that hardly explains -the ravenous appetite which many collectors of antiques have recently -developed to obtain a genuine model. Dealers have secured agents in -every town on the Cape who are ransacking their neighborhoods for models, -half-models, pictures of boats made in bas-reliefs, weather vanes in the -shape of ships, and the prices are increasing by leaps and bounds. In -fact, so popular has this fad become that ex-sailors and carpenters with -some slight acquaintance with the sea are now developing quite a business -in fashioning models of special designs or of former famous ships. A few -years ago the model of a schooner about two feet in length fully rigged -would bring in the neighborhood of twenty-five dollars; to-day the same -model could not be secured for less than one hundred dollars. Often the -smaller, more exquisitely made specimens will bring more. The descendants -of the old captains have lost any sentimental regard for these relics -and gladly part with them for a comparatively small sum, but only to the -patient and skillful, who know Cape ways and Cape people, and so it is -almost impossible for the tourist to secure a model except from a dealer. - -Should the casual summer visitor attempt to bargain with his native Cape -neighbor, he would find him a wily bird, suspicious of being imposed upon -and as likely as not to put an absurd valuation upon his possession; and -yet that same Cape neighbor might part with the model the next day to a -total stranger for a smaller sum, for such is the nature of the denizen -of the Cape. This contrary-mindedness and disinclination to do a favor is -not unusual, but as against this trait, he will be found to be a genial -host and a kindly acquaintance often generous beyond his means. - -And so to-day we witness the passing of the models, last relic of the -olden days, the golden days of Cape Cod, from those tiny Cape cottages -built by these same sturdy sea captains to the comfortable mansions of -the summer people whose knowledge of the sea is secured in July and -August by an occasional dip, a sail in a knockabout, and a glimpse of a -glorious sunset over the shining waters of the Atlantic Ocean. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -XI - -“A WET SHEET AND A FLOWING SEA” - - -In my youthful days I often wondered at the regularity with which elderly -people would go out to drive day after day, sitting in the same seat in -the same carriage, behind the same horses, driven by the same coachman -along the same roads. It seemed to me a lamentable waste of time. And now -I have more or less (less as the years advance) the same feeling toward -those couples whose chief relaxation is a spin along the state roads of -their district in a well-appointed limousine, for I belong to that class -of motorists who use their cars purely for convenience and prefer the -fresh-air variety. - -Yet, when it comes to sailing, for some reason which I am at a loss to -explain, my views are diametrically opposite. I am content to clamber -into my knockabout and to perform the routine labor of pumping “her” out, -unfurling and hoisting the sail, and casting off, then to cruise lazily -about our harbor, sailing over the same course day in and day out with -little variation, and to do this either alone or with a kindred spirit -as the case may be. - -To many these cases may seem parallel, but to me they are widely variant. -There is a formality to a drive or a motor ride which starts with the -costume worn and ends with the character of conversation. - -On a boat—and I am speaking entirely of small boats—the costume is of a -heterogeneous variety and the conversation of the freest. In fact, there -is something so thoroughly unconventional about life on the water that -even the stiffest of Brahminian Bostonians may occasionally be heard to -indulge in slang and to assume a rakish attitude, perched upon deck. - -But such criticism, or rather comparison, is highly superficial. There -is more to it than external appearance; for sailing brings out the best -in human nature, encourages philosophy, develops independence of thought -and act, and largely so because those who sail shed their coating of -reserve and allow their natural feelings fair play. There is no quicker -way to know and size up one’s friends than to go on a cruise for a few -days. There is no better way of enjoying and extending one’s friendships -with both sexes than spending a few afternoons sailing together, skirting -along the shore with a fair breeze, nor is there any quicker way of -learning the weaknesses of certain individuals than by observing their -conduct under perhaps less peaceful conditions at sea. For the best of -skippers cannot predict weather conditions, and there are times when wind -and storm will come upon one with surprising quickness. - -Here in New England, the sailing fraternity may be divided into those -who prefer the Maine coast and those who cling to the Cape and Buzzard’s -Bay. As one of the latter class, I always claim our supremacy by stating -two points which I believe to be true: first, that we have more wind, and -second, that we have less fog. To me this is convincing. The southwest -wind which cools the Cape, blows nearly every day in summer and with a -strength that often requires reefing. Rarely between ten in the morning -and five at night will the mariner find himself becalmed in Buzzard’s -Bay. In fact, the stranger is generally amazed to see girls and young -boys sailing without the presence of an older person, in what looks to -him a three-reef breeze. - -They have been brought up to it and realize that vigilance must always be -exercised on the water, and they know the qualities of their boat and the -power of the wind. I know of no better training for youngsters who are -proficient in swimming than to learn to sail and race their own little -boats. The development of a power of observation, accurate judgment, -prompt action, and steady nerve comes more quickly with the handling of a -boat than in any other way for those who lead our kind of life. - -Sailing is confined to boats, but boats are not by any means confined to -sailing, for latterly there are almost as many motor-boats to be found -chugging along the shores of the Cape as there are sailboats, although -I personally always pity the groups in the stern of one of these modern -affairs which makes its noisy passage leaving an odorous wake of oil and -smoke. But doubtless I am extreme in my views and old-fashioned in my -taste. - -Give me a knockabout—a fifteen-footer for real comfort for a daily sail, -a stiff member of the twenty-one-foot class for cruising along shore. -Give me a comfortable catboat, broad of beam, for a family boat or for -a day’s fishing, or let me idle about in one of our little twelve-foot -Herreshoff class with my small son. In any one of them I shall find the -same sense of freedom, the same sort of pleasure, and the same love for -the salt sea, and from each I shall look at the windy, sandy shores of -the Cape with the same loyal affection. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -XII - -MY CAPE FARM - - -If I have thought of it at all, I have thought of myself as a sociable -cuss. Not that I like sociables; I hate them, and that is probably why -they have gone out of fashion. What to my mind defines sociability is the -quality of enjoying and giving enjoyment to others, singly, in pairs, or -in groups; and in present days sociability is generally put to the test -either at dinners or at week-end parties, for these are the principal -points of contact between friends. - -Latterly, however, my social bent has been somewhat warped by the growing -desire on the part of my friends to boast of their success as producers -of food. Whether it be premature senility, the result of conservation, or -merely the acquisition of wealth, which is being rapidly returned to its -own through the purchase of land and the ingenuity of gardeners, it is a -fact that at dinners of the cut-and-dried variety or a family gathering, -or, more especially, over a week-end, my host invariably calls attention -to the asparagus with a modest cough as prelude, or my hostess mentions -the number of eggs the farmer brought in yesterday to be put down in -water-glass. Sometimes it is not asparagus, but peas, or corn, or perhaps -a chicken, or even a ham. This the host. His wife more generally dilates -upon the milk products and the preserving end of the bill of fare; but, -for whatever cause, the thing got a bit on my nerves, so that I found -myself thinking of reasons for not visiting So-and-So or for not dining -with the Thing-um-Bobs on Friday week, when I knew we hadn’t a thing on -earth to do. - -This frame of mind was, of course, all wrong. In the first place, these -friends were as good and as loyal as they were ten years ago, when, -if they had any garden at all, it consisted of a half-dozen radishes -that no one could eat without summoning a physician within four hours. -Furthermore, the aforesaid asparagus, with its accompaniments, was -better than the ordinary variety which has decorated the entrance to the -greengrocer’s establishment for the better part of a week. And lastly, as -I had no garden myself, why not enjoy the best and be thankful? - -Probably the reason was envy and the season spring, when, contrary to -budding nature, one’s own physical being is not as blooming as it should -be. - -Be this as it may, the final result has probably made me more of a bore -to my friends than they ever were to me, for to get even with them I -conceived the happy idea of catering to their epicurean tastes from my -own farm, which consisted of a scant two acres of shore line in that -section of Cape Cod which is renowned for its scarcity of soil. - -The idea came to me soon after we had moved down for the summer months, -and my wife became so enthusiastic that it really became our hobby for -the season. We had planned for a succession of week-ends, and many of -these agricultural intimates were coming to us for return visits. We -would feed them upon the fat of our land or in this case largely the fat -of the sea. - -It is interesting and instructive to learn just what varieties of food -can be secured from the immediate vicinity of any place, and to me -especially so of our Cape Cod. - -During the entire summer I felt so personal an interest in our section -of the country that my small son exclaimed one day that I talked as if I -owned the entire Cape. I know I felt a proprietary interest in certain -fishing grounds, the whereabouts of which I would not confess even on -the rack. And it amuses me now to think of the circuitous routes I used -in getting to certain berry patches and stretches where mushrooms grew -overnight. In variety our dinners, or high teas (as we always called -them), were infinite as compared with those of our asparagus associates. - -I remember one little repast which pleased me mightily, because it came -at the end of one of those hot days—they are rare on the Cape—when the -wind refused to blow from the southwest. We had had our swim, but even -golf was a bit too strenuous and food does not have its usual appeal on -such occasions even on the Cape. It also happened that our friends of -this particular week-end were literally congested with land and its more -generous offerings, and so when I practiced the usual humiliatory cough -and remarked that our simple repast came from my Cape farm and they must -excuse its simplicity, I was just a trifle nervous. - -The melons were a gift from my plumber, a curious combination. If only -the plumber could plumb as well as he grows melons upon his barren -sandpile, our summer comfort would be increased by fifty per cent. No -better melons can be found than these little fellows. The clam-broth, -from my own clam-bed, was an appetizer. I seriously believe that there -is real energizing value in such clam-broth as this, boiled down almost -to a _liqueur_ from newly dug clams. Then came scallops plucked that -day from the seaweed, where they lie at low tide blowing like miniature -whales. We all know how delicious they are in the autumn served with -_tartare_ sauce, but have you ever tasted them creamed with a dash of -brown sherry and served with fresh mushrooms? - -Just as the plumber supplies us with melons, so the fishman is the local -authority on lettuce. Our salad, therefore, came from Captain Barwick, -crisp and white with slices of early pears from a near-by tree, and with -it my favorite muffins of coarse, white cornmeal toasted, thin, and eaten -with beach-plum jam made from our own bushes in the bramble patch close -by the lane, and cottage cheese which our cook positively enjoys making. - -My wife had felt this to be a rather scant repast for those used to -dinners of six or eight courses, and so the dessert was a substantial -huckleberry pudding served cold from the ice-chest with whipped -cream, and to take the chill off we had a small glass of my home-made -wild-cherry brandy with our coffee; and while there are other beverages -which are preferable I confess it gave us a delightfully comforting -sensation. - -The hearty, genuine praise from my guests gave me a fleeting feeling of -shame at the way I had criticized their asparagus and numberless eggs, -but the pride of success carried me with it. - -“Oh, this is not anything; wait until to-morrow and let me show you the -varieties which my farm offers. In the catboat, I have a well in which we -keep fish alive. What say you to a butterfish for breakfast? For dinner -we can either go out to the fishing grounds for something with a real -pull to it, or we can motor over to Turtle Pond for a try at a bass, or -we can golf and take a couple of lobsters out of my pots bobbing up and -down out there by the point.” - -“Hold on,” my friend interjected. “What I want to know is whether every -one on the Cape lives in this way, for if they do I think I shall be -moving down here by another season.” - -“No,” I replied, “very few. In the first place, most people continue to -do just what their neighbors do—tennis, golf, swimming, sailing. The -fishing is poor unless you know where to go. The natives are not helpful -unless you know how to take them, and that is why I call it all _my_ -farm, because I have taken it all unto myself and I reap a reward much -richer than I deserve. - -“I pass much of my time hunting up new fishing grounds or the lair of -the soft-shell crab, or even the quiet, muddy recesses of the ‘little -necks.’ I wander about the country exploring new berry patches, for there -is a great variety of these. And if you must know, I fraternize with -certain delightfully conversational individuals who sell me delicious -fruit and vegetables as well as ducks and chickens and a variety of odds -and ends, as, for instance, that little model over there. But you could -not buy them. No, sir, not until you learned the art of negotiation to -perfection. You may manage your estates to the Queen’s taste, but when it -comes to managing a Cape-Codder, ah, that’s not done so easily.” - -I see my friends leading the conventional summer life and wonder at -times how they can come to the Cape year after year and yet be strangers -to its real fascination, because it has many other hidden allurements -besides this quest for food. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -XIII - -SCALLOPS - - -Sport, according to our highest authorities, is “that which diverts -and makes mirth,” and from this general interpretation the term has -been applied to games, and to the various forms of hunting and fishing -commonly known, but I have yet to hear the word applied to the pursuit -of the scallop. And yet, scalloping more nearly approaches the original -meaning of sport than most of the games which are commonly classed under -this heading, for not only does the scallop divert and provoke the mirth -of his pursuer, but the pursuer in turn evokes a similar feeling and -impression upon those who chance to see him in action. Those who have -never tasted the joys and excitement of a scallop hunt have not completed -their education as real sportsmen. It is true that Badminton does not -devote a volume to this particular pastime; it is equally true that the -progressive American journalist, whose duty it is to supply the sporting -columns of his paper with all the news of current athletic events, -invariably ignores this important item, and our mighty Nimrods fail to -include scalloping among their feats of prowess; but in each case the -cause of the omission invariably can be traced to ignorance, and to the -fact that your scallop-hunter is a wary fellow who says but little and -boasts less, fearing inadvertently to disclose the favored haunts of his -favorite prey. And so, for these and divers causes, the pursuit of the -scallop lies in obscurity. - -On the other hand, the scallop has been a friend to man for generations -in many and varied ways. In the days of the Crusaders, the pilgrims -returning from the Holy Land wore scallop shells, gathered upon the coast -of Palestine, as a badge or mark of the success of their wanderings. -At an equally early period the scallop shell became an important factor -in design, from architecture, through the various stages, to the -adornment of women’s clothes. The scallop shell is discovered embedded -in the capitals of many famous columns. It will be found chiseled upon -the keystones of countless arches. Scarcely a theater but possesses it -among its mural decorations. Upon the title-pages of books it serves in -an equally decorative capacity, while the scalloping upon the hems of -dresses brings the scallop’s shell familiarly into our family life. - -In addition to all this, certain families of ancient lineage have -adopted the shell as a part of their crest. Heraldry traces the cause to -the days of the Knights of the Holy Land. - -The scallop, therefore, has been sought by generations, and is no marine -upstart basing his claims to popularity upon his flavor as a savory dish -for a modern Lucullus. In short, the scallop is historic, artistic, -decorative, and delicious. In real life, however, he is one of the -numerous marine bivalve mollusks of the genus _Pecten_, and to those who -have not already recognized the symmetrically ribbed shells so often -found upon our beaches, a dictionary is recommended. - -Although his past is buried in the annals of the Holy Land, in Ægean -waters, and upon the banks of the Red Sea, just at present he is rampant -upon the shoals of Cape Cod, and it is here that our scallopers pursue -him during the weeks previous to early autumn days, when the Cape -fisherman wages destruction with sea-rakes, seines, and nets. - -Imagine the tide running low, disclosing the bright, sandy bottoms of -countless inlets, the ripple of the waters making dim the outlines of -the corrugated surfaces of the submerged shore. At such times, and in -certain localities which shall be nameless, the wily hunter issues forth -in bathing-suit or rubber-booted, or even—in the enthusiasm of the -moment—fully clothed, with pail or basket sometimes attached to his waist -by a cord. He wades in at a slow pace, gazing searchingly into the depths -of the water for a sign of his prey, choosing at first the shoals where -it is easier to see, and as likely a spot as others for fine shellfish. -And here a curious phenomenon is discovered; his eye catches the glint -of a shining shell and he stoops to secure it, only to find a half shell -without life. The brighter the shell, the less chance of its being -inhabited. The scallop covers himself when possible with a few strands -of seaweed, or buries himself in the mud or sand, and therefore, when -in the full bloom of life, he looks like a hoary, hairy thing of past -history, an encrusted shell from which life might have departed a century -ago. If, by good fortune, the hand comes in contact with him, however, -his vitality is made quickly evident by a savage snap of his shell, as -the large muscle expands and contracts in self-defense, and should a -finger become caught between the upper and lower shells, the hunter is -in for a sharp nip. The quest leads from spot to spot, from shoal water -out into deeper parts, until one finds one’s self waist-deep, bending and -stooping, raking the bottom with frenzied hand groping for these tufted -prizes, and when one is fortunate to secure a good spot, the hand never -fails to bring up one, two, and sometimes more, of these irate creatures -whose antics evoke admiration and whose strength seems almost abnormal. - -There are bright, warm days in the latter part of August when on many -parts of the shore may be seen men, women, and children by scores, -curiously and wonderfully garbed, grotesquely postured, wading the -waters in this fascinating pursuit, which, after the quiet glamor of -clam-digging, possesses the excitement of big-game hunting. Were it not -for a strict law these same hardy hunters would, undoubtedly, be found in -dories, plying a small net for the same purpose, but the very crudity -of the chase has its advantages, for one comes close to the life of the -sea bottom, and all that goes on there, from the waving masses of seaweed -of many varieties to the countless forms of life clinging to the rocks, -embedded in the mud or darting through the water. The sea bottom is as -busy as Broadway, and as full of mystery. - -The reader must not for a moment imagine the scallop, however, as -belonging to a sedentary type of life. Often he is found moving at a high -rate of speed through the water, propelled by this same muscle which -provides his defense. By opening and closing his shell he moves forward -and upward or downward, apparently at will, digging himself into the mud -and effectually hiding himself from his pursuers. He deserves the respect -of his superiors in the animal kingdom, and at the same time proves -himself fair game by his prowess. - -And so one is led out and out still farther, until, bent upon securing -one more victim, a mouthful of water and smarting eyes give notice that -those beyond are safe for the time being, and the successful hunter -returns to his boat with a full pail, while the sun, enormous and a deep -orange red, is just touching the horizon. - -The conquest is not complete, for it is no easy task to open these -snapping bivalves, and thus to extract the muscle that is the edible -portion, and the full reward is by no means reaped. That is left for the -evening meal, when the scallop becomes the _pièce de résistance_ cooked -in one of a hundred ways. But of this let a _cordon bleu_ convince you, -whose best efforts are secured and deserved by the scallop. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -_AFTERMATH_ - - -And now comes the fall of the year with days gorgeous in coloring, from -the clear crystal blue of the sky reflected in sparkling waters to the -flame-tinted stretches of woodland watched over by tall pines and guarded -by stately cedars. The sandy roads glisten in the distances, marking off -sections of the Cape country as a huge picture puzzle. The atmosphere -seems purged of all imperfection, giving to every town and hamlet a -spotless appearance bright with late flowers and fresh fruit awaiting -the harvest. Azure days of October, the most perfect of the year. It is -then that regretfully we say “au revoir” to our beloved Cape in all its -glory. - - - - - The Riverside Press - CAMBRIDGE. 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Thus, we do not -necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper -edition. - -Most people start at our website which has the main PG search -facility: www.gutenberg.org - -This website includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/old/68998-0.zip b/old/68998-0.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index c58a169..0000000 --- a/old/68998-0.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/68998-h.zip b/old/68998-h.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index fe1bc43..0000000 --- a/old/68998-h.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/68998-h/68998-h.htm b/old/68998-h/68998-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index 6498760..0000000 --- a/old/68998-h/68998-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,3980 +0,0 @@ -<!DOCTYPE html> -<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> - <head> - <meta charset="UTF-8" /> - <title> - The Project Gutenberg eBook of Cape coddities, by Dennis and Marion Chatham. - </title> - - <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover" /> - - <style> /* <![CDATA[ */ - -a { - text-decoration: none; -} - -body { - margin-left: 10%; - margin-right: 10%; -} - -h1,h2 { - text-align: center; - clear: both; -} - -h2.nobreak { - page-break-before: avoid; -} - -hr.chap { - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; - clear: both; - width: 65%; - margin-left: 17.5%; - margin-right: 17.5%; -} - -img.w100 { - width: 100%; -} - -div.chapter { - page-break-before: always; - margin-bottom: 1.5em; -} - -.chapter p { - font-size: 90%; -} - -p { - margin-top: 0.5em; - text-align: justify; - margin-bottom: 0.5em; - text-indent: 1em; -} - -table { - margin: 1em auto 1em auto; - max-width: 40em; - border-collapse: collapse; -} - -td { - padding-left: 2.25em; - padding-right: 0.25em; - vertical-align: top; - text-indent: -2em; -} - -.tdr { - text-align: right; -} - -.tdpg { - vertical-align: bottom; - text-align: right; -} - -.center { - text-align: center; - text-indent: 0em; -} - -.figcenter { - margin: auto; - text-align: center; -} - -.larger { - font-size: 150%; -} - -.pagenum { - position: absolute; - right: 4%; - font-size: smaller; - text-align: right; - font-style: normal; -} - -.right { - text-align: right; -} - -.smaller { - font-size: 80%; -} - -.allsmcap { - font-variant: small-caps; - font-style: normal; - text-transform: lowercase; -} - -.titlepage { - text-align: center; - margin-top: 3em; - text-indent: 0em; -} - -.x-ebookmaker img { - max-width: 100%; - width: auto; - height: auto; -} -.illowp100 {width: 100%;} -.illowp56 {width: 56%;} -.x-ebookmaker .illowp56 {width: 100%;} - /* ]]> */ </style> - </head> -<body> -<p style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Cape Coddities, by Roger Livingston Scaife</p> -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online -at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you -are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this eBook. -</div> - -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: Cape Coddities</p> -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Roger Livingston Scaife</p> -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Illustrator: Harold Cue</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: September 16, 2022 [eBook #68998]</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</p> - <p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; text-align:left'>Produced by: Steve Mattern and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)</p> -<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAPE CODDITIES ***</div> - -<p class="center larger">CAPE-CODDITIES</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="figcenter illowp56" style="max-width: 32.8125em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus01.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<p class="titlepage larger">CAPE<br /> -CODDITIES</p> - -<p class="titlepage"><i>By</i><br /> -<br /> -DENNIS and MARION<br /> -CHATHAM</p> - -<p class="titlepage"><span class="smaller"><i>WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY</i></span><br /> -HAROLD CUE</p> - -<div class="figcenter titlepage illowp56" style="max-width: 9.375em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus02.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p class="titlepage"><span class="smaller">BOSTON AND NEW YORK</span><br /> -HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY<br /> -1920</p> - -<p class="titlepage smaller">COPYRIGHT, 1920, BY HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY</p> - -<p class="center smaller">ALL RIGHTS RESERVED</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus03.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="FOREWORD"><i>FOREWORD</i></h2> - -</div> - -<p>These essays—thumbnail sketches -of Cape Cod—should not be taken as -a serious attempt to describe the Cape -or to delineate its people. They merely -express a perennial enthusiasm for -this summer holiday land, to-day the -playground of thousands of Americans, -three hundred years ago the first -“land of the free and home of the -brave.”</p> - -<p>Acknowledgments are here given to -the <i>Atlantic Monthly</i> for permission to -include “A By-Product of Conservation” -and “Scallops,” to <i>The Outlook</i> for -the same courtesy for “A Blue Streak,” -and to <i>The House Beautiful</i> for “A -Casual Dwelling-Place.”</p> - -<p class="right allsmcap">THE AUTHORS.</p> - -<p class="smaller"><i>January, 1920.</i></p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus04.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak"><i>CONTENTS</i></h2> - -</div> - -<table> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">I.</td> - <td><i>A Message from the Past</i></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#I">1</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">II.</td> - <td><i>The Casual Dwelling-Place</i></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#II">10</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">III.</td> - <td><i>The Ubiquitous Clam</i></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#III">27</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">IV.</td> - <td><i>A By-Product of Conservation</i></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#IV">38</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">V.</td> - <td><i>Motor Tyrannicus</i></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#V">51</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">VI.</td> - <td><i>“Change and Rest”—Summer Bargaining</i></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#VI">69</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">VII.</td> - <td><i>A Blue Streak</i></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#VII">87</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">VIII.</td> - <td><i>A Fresh-Water Cape</i></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#VIII">97</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">IX.</td> - <td><i>Al Fresco</i></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#IX">112</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">X.</td> - <td><i>Models</i></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#X">122</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">XI.</td> - <td>“<i>A Wet Sheet and a Flowing Sea</i>”</td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#XI">132</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">XII.</td> - <td><i>My Cape Farm</i></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#XII">140</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">XIII.</td> - <td><i>Scallops</i></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#XIII">154</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr"></td> - <td><i>Aftermath</i></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#AFTERMATH">166</a></td> - </tr> -</table> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_1"></a>[1]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus05.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h1><i>CAPE-CODDITIES</i></h1> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="I">I<br /> -<span class="smaller">A MESSAGE FROM THE PAST</span></h2> - -</div> - -<p>Is it not strange that people who -dwell in the same city block from -October to May, enjoying with mutual -satisfaction the life which touches -them equally, should from May to -October show such varying opinions -that argument is futile? These people -who have wintered so happily together<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_2"></a>[2]</span> -may be placed in three classes—those -who claim for the State of -Maine the exclusive right to the title -of “God’s Own Country,” those who -think of the North Shore and Paradise -as synonymous, and those other -fortunates whose regard for Cape -Cod places it second only to heaven -itself.</p> - -<p>Therefore, it is interesting to read -the following passages and to find -these same divergent views of the -Cape in earliest times.</p> - -<p>Captain John Smith in his account -of New England in 1614, in a passing -reference to Cape Cod, says it -“is a headland of high hills of sand -overgrown with shrubbie pines, hurts<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_3"></a>[3]</span> -and such trash, but an excellent harbor -for all weathers. This cape is -made by the maine sea on one side -and a great bay on the other, in the -form of a sickle. On it doth inhabit -the people of Pawmet and in the -Bottome of the Bay, the people of -Chawum.” Scant praise.</p> - -<p>Bartholomew Gosnold, writing to -Raleigh in 1602, through the medium -of his associate, John Brereton, said, -“We stood a while like men ravished -at the beautie and delicacie of -this sweet soil”; and later, “truly the -holsomnese and temperature of this -climat doth not only argue this people -(Indian) to be answerable to this description, -but also of a perfect constitution<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_4"></a>[4]</span> -of body, active, strong, healthful -and very wittie.”</p> - -<p>Here spoke the original summer -visitor and the founder of that colony -which dots the coast from Marion to -Manomet.</p> - -<p>If Gosnold could see the Cape on -the present day, he would doubtless -show profound disappointment, unless -he had chanced to invest in shore property, -for the forests teeming with game -have disappeared, and no trace of the -wit he describes can be detected among -the few Indians who still cling to the -shores of Mashpee Pond. But the broad -waters, the sloping sands, and above -all the soft climate which Mr. Brereton -tells us did so much for the aborigine,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_5"></a>[5]</span> -and which now transforms our children -into veritable little red men, remain.</p> - -<p>Despite the depredations which the -Cape has suffered at the hands of both -natives and summer residents, its flavor -has been maintained, and the very fact -that it is largely inhabited serves well -in these days of friendly intercourse -and indulgent habits; for we all of us -must live happily in summer, and to -do so means comfort, food, and drink. -And so we find each town, however -diminutive, possesses its Butcher and -Baker and Candlestick-Maker.</p> - -<p>The latter, to be sure, is employed -by the local electric light plant, and -often his trade includes a knowledge -of simple plumbing. The Baker more<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_6"></a>[6]</span> -often is both Postmaster and Grocer, -while the Butcher may be found to be -the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen. -But all are true to the type, and -that wit which Gosnold so happily -mentions may often be detected among -these simple people, some of whom -are sea captains whose taciturnity has -been transformed into a shrewd cynicism -coupled not infrequently with -a delightful optimism. Rarely will a -native Cape-Codder get the worst of -a repartee and still more rarely will -you find him the first to terminate a -conversation. He is as tenacious in conversational -competition as he is lax -in business aggression. In fact, he -would far rather stand on the corner<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_7"></a>[7]</span> -and describe to you, in detail, the -amount of work that has been shouldered -upon him by So and So and So -and So’s wife, than to make the slightest -attempt to accomplish any of the sundry -duties imposed. And yet he knows, -and so do you, if you are at all versed -in Cape ways, that he will receive ample -financial return for his slightest -service.</p> - -<p>There is no such word as hurry in -the bright lexicon of Cape Cod, but I -confess it with some trepidation, for -my many Cape friends will take violent -exception to my statement, true as it -is. And yet I do not blame them. I -believe it is thoroughly accounted for -by the climate; for when I first visit<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_8"></a>[8]</span> -the Cape in the spring or early summer, -I always experience a languor -which makes the slightest effort seem -a task of large proportions. In short, I -am lazy and prefer to see some one -else do it. This feeling generally passes -away with the sheer joy of vacation -days, days of freedom and fresh air; -but I realize that the climate breeds a -lack of ambition, to which I doubtless -would succumb were I to live on -without interruption amid the Cape-Codders.</p> - -<p>And therefore I prefer to think of -the Cape as a playground for the initiate, -a wonderland for children, and -a haven of rest for the tired of all ages, -a land where lines and wrinkles quickly<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_9"></a>[9]</span> -disappear under the soothing softness -of the tempered climate.</p> - -<p>Joseph Lincoln has told us of the -people; Thoreau has written of the -place; but no one will really know -the Cape unless he becomes a part of it.</p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus06.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_10"></a>[10]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus07.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="II">II<br /> -<span class="smaller">THE CASUAL DWELLING-PLACE</span></h2> - -</div> - -<p>Is there a reader who has not at one -time or another gloated over the terrors, -the thrills, and the mysteries -which, in fiction, invariably lie hidden -in an unoccupied house? When one -stops to think of it nearly all the literature -of roguery, as so clearly set -forth in former days by Wilkie Collins, -Gaboriau, down to Conan Doyle<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_11"></a>[11]</span> -and Mary Roberts Rinehart, possesses -as its most important stage-setting an -untenanted mansion. It may be one of -those familiar villas generally located -somewhere near Hampstead Heath, a -house set apart from its neighbors -and surrounded by a hedge; a house -with every appearance of having -been closed for several years and -now showing the first signs of decay; -or it may be one of those somber -brownstone houses situated in one of -the many New York residential streets, -where every house so closely resembles -its fellows as to court mischief to -all who may return late at night; or -again, it may be one of those palatial -country houses set among lawns and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_12"></a>[12]</span> -gardens which are invariably described -with broad, magnificent porticoes toward -which spotless limousines are -continually approaching at top speed -for no apparent reason. Such a setting -is perhaps the commonest, and the -time is always just before the family -arrive for the season or just after they -have left for other equally expensive -quarters. Now and then the novelist -will modestly cast the fate of his -story in the seclusion of a deserted -cottage by the sea or a lonely hut -among the hills, but rarely does this -occur nowadays. The mystery story -is as dependent upon luxury of setting -as is the modern bachelor upon his creature -comforts. And, therefore, if the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_13"></a>[13]</span> -devotee of fiction chose to apply himself -to this theme, he would find that -nearly all novelists, great and small, -from Dickens to Oppenheim, from -Hawthorne to Anna Katharine Green, -have utilized the empty house to bring -about the climactic point in the weaving -of some gruesome tale. So clear -are these fictional features that, by the -association of ideas, one’s fears and -apprehensions are invariably aroused -whenever the occasion arises when -an unoccupied house or even an untenanted -apartment must be entered.</p> - -<p>With that unmistakable odor of -mustiness comes afresh this uncomfortable -sense of trepidation (hardly -fear, perhaps), and with it a conviction<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_14"></a>[14]</span> -that rats and mice are hidden -spectators, and that the darkness and -gloom could well hide crime as well -as the thieves themselves. This entire -mental state is largely caused by the -aforesaid novelists, who I doubt not -would have the same hesitancy in -opening the door of a darkened chamber -or in groping down the cellar -stairs of a house long left to disintegration.</p> - -<p>In short, reading has trained us all -to regard empty houses with suspicion, -an absurd state of mind which should -be quickly dispelled, for in the case of -nine out of every ten, yes, or ninety-nine -out of every hundred houses, there -is no cause whatever for suspicion.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_15"></a>[15]</span></p> - -<p>There is a sunny little house on the -shores of Buzzard’s Bay which remains -unoccupied except for ten weeks in the -summer. Its shutters are closed and -fastened long before the oaks have -turned to their gorgeous fall colorings -or the marigolds and phlox have lost -the freshness of their bloom.</p> - -<p>The soft, salty breeze, rippling the -waters, the dancing rays of the September -sun through the swaying pines, -give a joyous setting to this cottage -by the water, courting as it were an -occupant. The hardiest of that overworked -class of readers who rely upon -mystery stories would find it difficult -to conjure up a tragedy for such a spot. -The native Cape-Codders, knowing the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_16"></a>[16]</span> -owners, always glance over toward -the cottage as they pass by in the hope -of finding a blind open or a light -through the trees, to show that some -of “ther fam’ly be down for Sunday.” -For this is one of the important services -which this particular cottage renders -to its owners. As the scion of -the family (aged ten) once sagely remarked, -“We use the cottage more -when it’s closed than when it’s open.” -And to each and every member of -this house its welcome is always the -same. The family reach the house -after dark on a Saturday night. The -lock readily responds to familiar fingers, -the door creaks a friendly welcome -as the family grope their way<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_17"></a>[17]</span> -through the hall in good-humored rivalry -to see which shall be the first to -secure the box of matches always kept -on the right-hand corner of the mantelpiece -in the living-room for this -emergency. Then, as the lamps are -lighted, the old familiar objects appear -precisely as they had been left, perhaps -six months before, with a coating -of dust, to be sure, but nothing which -a few moments and a dustcloth could -not remove; for dust in this region is -little known. True, the chairs, or at -least such of them as possess cushions, -are shrouded in covers. The sofa is a -bulging conglomeration of cushions, -gathered from all hammocks and piazza -furniture; but a few deft passes<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_18"></a>[18]</span> -by the fairy godmother of this establishment, -and presto, the cushions are -distributed and the sofa offers a cozy -retreat for the entire party. Otherwise -the living-room is livable. A fire ready -laid is only waiting for a match and a -turn of the hand to open the flue. -Such is a cottage by the sea if it has -been planned and built as it should be, -not alone for summer use, but also for -spring and autumn holidays.</p> - -<p>The little cottage in question is a -very ancient affair. A long line of -sturdy Cape-Codders dwelt in it, uncomfortably, -for generations. It was -not until a few years ago that it -was entirely renovated, enlarged, and -equipped for summer use. Much care<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_19"></a>[19]</span> -and thought were given to its convenience, -and it stands to-day as a -model for perennial use as a casual -habitation. But it has certain drawbacks; -as, for instance, plaster. Such -a cottage, to secure the maximum -comfort with the minimum of expense, -should be unplastered, and -without a cellar so that the circulation -of air will keep the house free -from dampness. There should be a -kerosene cooking-stove in the kitchen -so that the cooking can be done without -jeopardizing the water coil or -boiler. Furthermore, unless one’s family -and friends are experts in the culinary -art, the usual stove fire is built -regardless of the cost of coal or kindlings,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_20"></a>[20]</span> -and the fire itself is apt to take -a good deal of time in the making, -several trials often being necessary -before the coals kindle into a respectable -glow. The problem of water is -perhaps the most troublesome. No -house, of course, can be left with the -water on during the winter season. -These Cape cottages are no exception -to the rule, and every pipe is -carefully drained and the faucets -greased to prevent rust.</p> - -<p>To go to the trouble of turning on -the water system for an occasional -Sunday or holiday was manifestly out -of the question, and so the owner -of this particular cottage solved the -difficulty in true backwoods fashion.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_21"></a>[21]</span> -A small stone tank, placed in the -closet behind the stove, holding not -over five gallons of water, was always -religiously filled. This served as lubricant -for a hand pump at the kitchen -sink. One of the first duties in starting -in housekeeping was to heat a -pail of this water, thaw out the pump, -and thus secure the supply which adequately -filled the family needs for the -day or two of camp life to be enjoyed.</p> - -<p>You will ask what of bedding and -blankets? They are there at hand. -As a matter of fact, the less one puts -away the better for each and every -article. All blankets hung upon ropes -stretched across the attic are dry and -ready for use. Upon such occasions as<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_22"></a>[22]</span> -the one noted, the family do without -sheets and sleep fully as soundly. The -blazing of the fire logs and the warmth -of the living-room have given to all -a drowsy feeling which defies wakefulness -when once the head touches -the pillow.</p> - -<p>If any one should contemplate making -use of his summer house in this -fashion, there are certain suggestions -which it would be well to follow; -points which any yachtsman or camper -would never overlook.</p> - -<p>First of all, there should be a place -for everything and everything should -be in place. You can never tell when -you will return. Perhaps you may be -delayed and not arrive until after dark,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_23"></a>[23]</span> -chilled and hungry from a long motor -ride. At such times a fire ready laid, -with a good store of dried wood, is -essential to happiness and comfort.</p> - -<p>There should always be a list of -provisions left at the house so that -you may avoid duplication in purchasing -supplies. Besides food, there should -also be such necessaries as soap, -matches, and candles. These should -always be left in the boxes to prevent -the mice and squirrels from robbing -one. A good scheme is to build a -zinc-lined cupboard in the pantry in -which to keep such perishables.</p> - -<p>Kerosene is dangerous to leave about, -and it is well to bring this with you -for the cook-stove; furthermore, it is<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_24"></a>[24]</span> -hard to remember whether enough -has been left at the house for twenty-four -hours’ use.</p> - -<p>Care should always be taken to leave -the small water tank filled unless you -plan to secure your supply from a friend -or neighbor.</p> - -<p>Your pots and pans, cutlery, dishes, -and glasses should always be washed -and put away in order before leaving, -ready for instant use.</p> - -<p>A little system will make all the difference -in the world in the comfort and -enjoyment of such an outing, and will -save labor, so that your actual work will -be done in much less time and the daylight -hours can be given over to the -outdoor life which endears the place<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_25"></a>[25]</span> -to each and every member of your -family.</p> - -<p>Whether it be a canoe, a knockabout, -a gun, or a fishing-line, the life -outside the cottage will be a reflection -of that within and your enjoyment will -come from the facility with which you -manage the essentials of simple living. -And so after you have enjoyed your -day in the open, you will return to the -cottage and discover that the simple -comforts which it offers, while perhaps -lacking the luxury of your daily routine -at home, will be enjoyed with a -relish far beyond that existence in a -brick block, amid a mass of bric-à-brac -and surrounded by servants. In -its place you will devour an unusual<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_26"></a>[26]</span> -amount of food which tastes the better -because you have cooked it, and later -you will fall asleep with the wind singing -in the trees, and the waves lapping -the shores. The occasional barking of -a dog will arouse no apprehension, -and the dread of haunted houses, of -mysterious deeds accomplished behind -closed shutters, will have vanished -until you are safe home again with a -“thriller” to pass away the time before -it is seasonable to retire.</p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus08.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_27"></a>[27]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus09.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="III">III<br /> -<span class="smaller">THE UBIQUITOUS CLAM</span></h2> - -<p>“They scattered up & down ... by yᵉ waterside, -wher they could find ground nuts and clams.” -(William Bradford, <i>History of Plymouth Plantation</i>, -<span class="allsmcap">II</span>, 130.)</p> - -</div> - -<p>Surprising as it may seem, the clam, -at least under his own name, does not -appear in the Encyclopædia Britannica. -And yet the clam is proverbial, metaphorical, -and substantial, so substantial, -in fact, that individuals of uncertain<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_28"></a>[28]</span> -digestion have been rendered distinctly -unhappy after a hearty encounter. -But what is more surprising to -the average person, and especially to -the novice in clamming, is where all -the clams come from for the unending -clam-bakes, clam-chowders, and the -various concoctions necessitating a generous -supply of these silent shellfish. -A journey to the beach at low tide -(for all clammers know from the reference -to that animal’s joyous spirit at -high water that clamming is useless at -that period) generally fails to accomplish -more than a very lame back, -muddy feet, and a paltry dozen or -more specimens of the clam family, -generally of immature age. The profusion<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_29"></a>[29]</span> -of empty shells scattered about -encourage the clammer into the belief -that here, at least, is a favorable locality -for his first efforts, and he grasps -his fork and bends low, thrusting the -implement into the black ooze with -keen anticipation that the mud will disclose -a whole family of clams, ready -at hand for capture; but, instead, he is -rewarded by finding a number of white -shells, seemingly clams, but in reality -merely their shells held closely together -by mud and sand, the skeletons -of former bivalves whose souls have fled -to other worlds and whose bodies have -long since disappeared the way of all -flesh. And so he seeks another spot, and -the same process is repeated. Each time<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_30"></a>[30]</span> -he is conscious of an increasing stiffening -of the back, recalling former -twinges of lumbago, and after an hour -or so the tide forces him to retreat, and -he returns dejectedly to partake of a -thin clam-broth, upon the top of which, -as a consolation prize, his wife has -tactfully placed a little whipped cream.</p> - -<p>And yet the clam is ubiquitous, once -you know him, and the clammer, himself, -has been immortalized by Mr. -William J. Hopkins in several delightful -stories with which certain readers -are familiar. The enthusiast soon learns -their favorite haunts and on favorable -tides he gathers these bivalves by the -pailful. For chowders and for bait alike -he digs, constructs a wire cage in which<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_31"></a>[31]</span> -to keep his precious clams from day -to day, and week to week, and thus -they become, as it were, almost a part -of his summer <i>entourage</i>.</p> - -<p>The clam is a numerous family -(<i>Mya arenaria</i>, were one to become -scientific). The ordinary mud clam -which inhabits the tidewater harbors of -our coasts; the quahog, whose young, -termed “little necks,” are served, uncooked, -as appetizers; and the sea -clam, are very familiar in appearance -and habits; but all varieties are secured -in different ways and in varying localities, -and therein lies an added charm -to the pastime of clam-digging.</p> - -<p>There is a certain portion of the -coast line in a very attractive section<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_32"></a>[32]</span> -of Cape Cod, which shall be nameless, -where all varieties of these mollusks -abound, and it is difficult at times to -decide which variety to pursue. The -ordinary mud clam is generally sought -on the especially low tides so kindly -afforded by the moon at stated intervals. -It is then that the tide line resembles -miniature trenches—first-line -defenses, if you will—so many and -so persistent are the pursuers, who -look for all the world as if they were -digging themselves in in anticipation -of a machine-gun attack.</p> - -<p>The quahog is more secure, for he -lives in No Man’s Land, beyond the -trenches and just under the surface of -the mud. If one is walking up a salty,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_33"></a>[33]</span> -muddy creek—and surprising as the -fact may seem, one often does follow -this watery by-path—the foot will -continue to disclose these big fellows. -In the course of an hour of this method -of locomotion, a full pail of quahogs -may be secured without further discomfort -than a pair of wet legs and -two very muddy feet. The fishermen, -however, regard such efforts as time -lost. They manipulate two long-handled -rakes bound together at the bottom, -and with this implement a sort -of hand-dredging process is performed -which apparently yields better results. -But it is only the native fisherman, -with his knowledge of tides and currents, -of sandy or muddy bottoms, of<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_34"></a>[34]</span> -channels and shoals, who can successfully -locate the choice spots where -these quahogs lie hidden beneath -water, seaweed, and mud.</p> - -<p>The sea clam is as immaculately -clean as his harbor cousin is muddy. -He is likewise found just beneath the -surface of the water, buried in firm -white sand over which the white-crested -breakers foam on the beach. -These clams are not greatly valued -as food. They are gamy and tough -in comparison to their brethren and -a sharp contrast in appearance, with -their delicate, smooth shell of an exquisite -<i>café au lait</i> color, and it is for -this reason, perhaps, that only the -most enthusiastic of clammers or fishermen<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_35"></a>[35]</span> -after bait know of their whereabouts.</p> - -<p>Along the beaches where thousands -of Americans may be seen in impressionistic -attire, disporting themselves -by bobbing up and down in the waves, -one could easily secure a pailful of -these fascinating creatures by wading -out and groping in the sands. No more -exhilarating pleasure can be secured -from surf bathing than in this pastime, -which calls for agility in dodging the -breakers as they roll in. While you -are in the act of dislodging a fine fat -specimen, your pail grasped in one -hand, the other embedded in the sand -seeking your prey, your body is swept -first in, then out, by the waves. In<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_36"></a>[36]</span> -order to regain your balance you lose -your hold, just escape being toppled -over by the next wave rushing toward -its finish on the sands, and miss the -clam; and so the process begins all -over again.</p> - -<p>The “little necks” have their own -places of abode close to the surface -of the mud in sequestered inlets. Now -and again the plebeian clammer will -come across a stray family of little -fellows while in quest of the common -variety, but as a pastime digging for -“little necks” has but little zest.</p> - -<p>And now, after realizing the fascination -of clamming, why be surprised -if, when you run down to the -Cape for a week-end, your host grips<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_37"></a>[37]</span> -you with a hand, cold and moist from -submersion—a “clammy hand”; and -why be surprised if on the following -day, instead of the routine of golf and -tennis, you are initiated into this simple -sport? The surprise would come -to the writer of this slight dissertation -if he should find you callous to the -delight of clamming or disrespectful -of the occupation of the clammer.</p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus10.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_38"></a>[38]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus11.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="IV">IV<br /> -<span class="smaller">A BY-PRODUCT OF CONSERVATION</span></h2> - -</div> - -<p>The torrent of conservation surged -over our community in war-time with -a mighty roar, carrying with it all -thought of flowers and lawns, and -making chaos of our cherished plans -for a summer garden. With a velocity -which only social enterprise could initiate, -New England became a market -garden from Eastport to Greenwich.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_39"></a>[39]</span> -Conservation developed back yards and -vacant lots into gardens, and bank -clerks into farmers, enthusiastic at the -prospect, and innocent of the coming -torments which weeds and pests would -soon bring with them. And so, for -this same reason, our flower garden -on the Cape simmered down to a few -nasturtiums and whatever blossoms -of a perennial nature cared to show -themselves, while our spring borders, -usually a riot of color, were given -over to vegetables.</p> - -<p>What, then, should we have in our -vases to reflect the profusion of the -outdoor season? For a room without -flowers in summer is as devoid of -character and charm as a man without<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_40"></a>[40]</span> -a necktie. The solution, naturally, -was soon found by many in the wild -flowers, and if conservation has accomplished -nothing else, its gift to us -of an appreciation of the beauty and -variety of these exquisite plants will -more than repay our efforts to grow -potatoes, beans, and corn at exorbitant -prices with doubtful success.</p> - -<p>The last days of school for the children -and certain affairs at the office, -together with fixed habits which tyrannize -over the household, kept us -from leaving for the Cape until late -in June, so that we missed the mayflowers -which have made Cape Cod -famous for generations. The iris and -violets, too, had disappeared, as well<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_41"></a>[41]</span> -as the dogwood with its delicate and -generous pink-and-white petals. A few -short hours after our arrival, my little -daughter discovered near by some exquisite -specimens of the wild lupine -growing just as I had last seen it upon -the slopes of Mount Tamalpais near -San Francisco, although perhaps not -in the same profusion.</p> - -<p>From that first day until well into -September, our living-room was made -joyous by a succession of flowers as -delicate and graceful as ever came -from the highly cultivated gardens of -the idle rich—a term which will soon -vanish and justly so.</p> - -<p>The wild roses were late and never -more plentiful or more perfect. The<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_42"></a>[42]</span> -daisies, arranged amid clusters of shiny -bayberry and huckleberry leaves, were -transformed into stately decorations. -The broom, as it is often called, which -abounds in certain sections of the Cape, -planted there in past years without -doubt, gave one a sense of having been -ferried across the sea overnight, while -our own columbine and wild geranium -made a pleasing variety, especially -when arranged with the soft green of -the wild sarsaparilla.</p> - -<p>With the coming of July, the <i>Hudsonia</i>, -or beach heather, clothed our -foreground with brilliant yellow spots, -touches of the sun here and there, -while the low wild shrubs and grasses -seemed to grow overnight in their desire<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_43"></a>[43]</span> -to hide our view of the water. -After a week of rain in which we were -confined to the flowers about the house—succulent -clover, Queen Anne’s -lace, and a wide variety of tall grasses, -which, mingled with pine branches, -form admirable wall decoration—our -desire for botanical information led us -to scour the near-by country, not with -guide-book, motor-maps, or even a -copy of “How to Know the Wild -Flowers,” but to journey simply forth, -either on foot or tucked tightly into -our Ford car. To come unexpectedly -upon one of the many ponds dotted -with lilies and fringed with a variety -of flowering shrubs caused as delightful -a sensation as the same sight a few<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_44"></a>[44]</span> -years ago would have aroused, only -then it would have stimulated a very -different desire—the thought of a -possible bass, lazily drifting below the -surface, to be tempted, perhaps, by a -fly, would have been uppermost. But -this summer our sport lay in securing -wild flowers, a harmless and charming -pastime in which for the first time all -the members of the family found equal -enjoyment, and even our near neighbors, -confirmed golfers, admitted the -fascination of our newly acquired sport. -To return laden with lilies, wild clematis, -marsh mallows, delicately pink -upon their tall, stately stems, cat-tails, -red lilies, the fragrant clethra, and a -variety of other flowers whose names<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_45"></a>[45]</span> -are to be discovered in the winter over -a “complete botanical guide,” savored -of a veritable triumph.</p> - -<p>Our growing interest in this wild -garden was amply rewarded, for now -in August the flowers were at their -height and it became doubly interesting. -Whether the discovery of new -varieties or the satisfaction of gathering -and arranging the commonest -weeds brought the greater pleasure, -it is hard to judge. The recollection -of a tall, graceful copper vase filled -with the despised chicory and bouncing -Bet, the blue of the one and the delicate, -pinkish purple of the other blending -charmingly and supported in contrast -by a few sprays of sumac leaves,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_46"></a>[46]</span> -lingers as one of the floral discoveries -of the summer. A mass of fireweed, -interspersed with slender sprays -of salt grass in full bloom, is another.</p> - -<p>And yet to the sportsman or the -embryonic scientist, individuals of very -similar characteristics, an excursion -into the back country through the -woods, a good, long, honest tramp in -pursuit of new floral game, and the -finding, now a clump of cardinal-flowers -and again the deadly nightshade -(for the sportsman and scientist -alike are fearless), is keen pleasure.</p> - -<p>At times we would return with little -booty to show for our trouble, a -gathering of St. John’s-wort, perhaps,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_47"></a>[47]</span> -or a few stalks of mallow or one-eyed -daisies, but never empty-handed and -always with the exhilaration of the -thought that here was a garden without -limit, without weeds, and without -the cares and expenses to which we -were accustomed.</p> - -<p>In arrangement, it must be confessed -that discussion often arose. Certain -members of the family, who shall be -nameless, preferred a few blooms alone -in each vase, while others clamored -loudly for garnishings of salt grasses -and other green decorations. Upon such -flowers as butterfly-weed and tansy, -such discussions nearly ended in riots, -and only a tactful distribution of these -blooms to those who had gathered<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_48"></a>[48]</span> -them with full authority as to arrangement -secured peace.</p> - -<p>The goldenrod made its appearance -earlier than usual, the handsome, sturdy -variety which grows close to the tidewater -being especially fine. With it -came the purple and white wild asters, -which are in reality so much more beautiful -than the cultivated kind, and the -sea lavender vying with baby’s-breath -in its delicacy.</p> - -<p>In this September a pleasant surprise -came in the discovery of a flower -which we called—and possibly incorrectly -so—the wild primrose, growing -close to the coast among the pines and -scrub oaks; and blooming at this same -time was the beach pea, a long, climbing<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_49"></a>[49]</span> -vine of a pinkish-violet color, luxuriating -amid the desolation of the -sand-dunes.</p> - -<p>Close upon the heels of these blossoms, -which both seemed to belong to -the springtime, the turning of the -leaves, the crispness of the air, the -short evenings, and the aforesaid three -governing reasons, school, office, and -domestic domination, decided us with -more reluctance than ever to close -the cottage. It was not until our luggage -was packed and ready that our -final gatherings of the season’s wild -flowers were removed and the vases -put away against the coming of next -spring.</p> - -<p>It still remains to be seen whether<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_50"></a>[50]</span> -conservation will ultimately lead to a -saving in the cost of food (for Americans -are more given to preaching than -to practice) but it has served us well -in our appreciation of certain of the -good things in life.</p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus12.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_51"></a>[51]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus13.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="V">V<br /> -<span class="smaller">MOTOR TYRANNICUS</span></h2> - -</div> - -<p>In the dim days of a decade ago—a -generation might well have passed, for -time is measured by the march of events -rather than the procession of years—I -remember yearning for the possession -of an automobile. It mattered not what -make, or shape or size or year. I was -oblivious to the merits of six cylinders -as opposed to four. I laughed at the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_52"></a>[52]</span> -enthusiast who reckoned upon the -length of wheel-base as deciding his -comfort or the question of demountable -rims as governing his decision as to -which make to select. All I coveted -was something on wheels (preferably -four) of my own which might go or -even might not go, for so rampant -was the possessive desire in my heart -that the chief thing in the world seemed -to me at that time to be able to say “My -motor” in an utterly casual, matter-of-fact -tone, and back it up by nodding -my head in the direction of the barn, -which after the fashion of marriages -had suddenly changed its name overnight -by the possession of a master, and -so became my “garage.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_53"></a>[53]</span></p> - -<p>This ridiculous state of mind is easy -to account for. In winter we lived in -the suburbs where it seemed to both -my wife and to me that every friend -we had owned a car. In summer we -sojourned upon Cape Cod, where the -motor had replaced the runabout so -completely that our old horse looked -like a prehistoric relic of the Stone -Age. Added to this was the ignominy -of knowing that the Butcher and Baker -both possessed machines and had that -mythological person the Candlestick-maker -abided in our town, doubtless -he also would have honk-honked his -way by our door.</p> - -<p>In short, the thing got so badly on -our nerves that finally, with full knowledge<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_54"></a>[54]</span> -of the financial iniquity involved, -I purchased one of those hopelessly -plebeian affairs which travel under so -many opprobrious pseudonyms—a -Ford. From that day to this I have -owned some sort of a car and have -thought myself a wise and a fortunate -man, and subconsciously I have felt -myself rather more of a person because -of this possession, for such is the frailty -of human nature.</p> - -<p>To-day, however, marks a turning-point, -a milestone, a crisis in my career. -Personally I consider this day -one of triumph—I have sold my car. -I have no independent means of transportation -other than my own good -legs—or, at least, they were so until<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_55"></a>[55]</span> -I neglected them—and I rejoice in -my motorless state. I feel a sense -of exhilaration in my freedom from -Fords, from the bondage of Buicks, -from captivity in my Chandler Sedan. -Such exhilaration is doubtless hard to -understand because precisely the same -conditions now exist which originally -drove me into buying that first “Universal -Car,” only in a more exaggerated -degree. My children (and now -there are more of them) are always -clamoring for rides, even for the short -distance of a few blocks which separates -our house from school. My wife -(and I must confess there is now -more of her too) still plies her trade -of exchanging visits and buzzing about<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_56"></a>[56]</span> -town all day long, never thinking of -walking, and for myself, I have become -mutely accustomed to the rôle -of family chauffeur when not attempting -that increasing impossibility, the -attempt to make both ends meet.</p> - -<p>And yet, is it after all so hard to -understand this relief? In the first -place, the car, no matter what variety, -either goes or it does not go. If by -chance it goes, you must go with it. -If it does not go, you must make it -go or get some one who knows more -about it than you do, and who costs -more than you do, to mend it. That -means that you go upstairs into your -own room and change into old clothes<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_57"></a>[57]</span> -reserved for this purpose, go down -again and out to the garage, where -you stand in contemplative mood for -some moments before crawling under -the machine. When you are safely -landed in a dripping pool of oil, your -children and your neighbor’s children -come trooping in from play and ask -you why you are there and what you -are doing. This in itself is disconcerting, -for you generally don’t know. -Having successfully found that out -you slowly emerge from your cramped -quarters, which compare only with an -upper berth, return to your room, resume -the garb of a successful business -man, and take the car to a garage and -there wait until some one makes it<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_58"></a>[58]</span> -<i>sound</i> all right. This individual vies -with the tax collector in separating -you from all excess cash.</p> - -<p>This does not happen every day, I -admit, but there is a sensation in the -back of the mind of nearly every motorist -which is more or less constant. -You know that you worry when the -car does not go. There is no ground -for speculation upon this point. You -worry about what the matter is, and -when you find you can’t mend it, and -take it to a garage to be repaired, you -worry as to whether you have taken -it to the right garage, or the right -man in the garage. You fuss over -the cost and you continually wonder -whether the repairs have been properly<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_59"></a>[59]</span> -done or whether the blamed thing -won’t break out in the same place the -next time you take the car out. And -during this whole period you feel in -the bottom of your heart that you could -have mended it just as well yourself.</p> - -<p>Then there are the worries when -it <i>does</i> go. You wonder when the tires -are going to give out, whether they -are too flat or too inflated, whether -you put in gas before you started, and -how the water is. You are continually -guessing whether you have -too much or too little oil, and you -generally guess wrong.</p> - -<p>These, however, are all mere trifles, -the superficial maunderings of a sensitive -organism. Your major worries<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_60"></a>[60]</span> -may be classified under three headings:</p> - -<p>First: the worry of changing cars. -Every year the question comes up for -family discussion, competing valiantly -with the problem of when we are to move -to the Cape. Shall we turn in the old car -and get a new one? If so, what kind?—and -then follows a month of violent -discussion in which my wife and the -children take one side and I the other. -By instinct I am a modest man and -by habit cautious. I do not like changes, -especially sudden changes, and so my -inclination is either to stick to the old -car for another year or buy a new one -like it. My family—why I cannot -say—seem to be oppositely inclined.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_61"></a>[61]</span> -My wife avers that So-and-So has had -great luck with a ⸺. Billy, my eldest, -backs her up with several lengthy -anecdotes told him by So-and-So’s son, -proving the excellence of that make -above all others. I am sufficiently -shaken in my opinion to consult with -the garage-man from whom I bought -my car, only to be shown a car of the -variety mentioned in deplorable condition -awaiting the mechanic’s skill. -Poor engine, inadequate something or -other,—I can’t remember the name,—and -so it goes. My office is thronged -with automobile salesmen so that work -is impossible, while the evenings are -passed in futile argument until the -final verdict is given, resulting generally<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_62"></a>[62]</span> -in a compromise—a new car is -purchased of a trifle better type at a -considerable advance in price and the -old car sacrificed for a song. Those -days of budding greenness for which -we have longed through all the cold, -useless days of winter are utterly ruined -by this fearful problem.</p> - -<p>The second worry comes with -breakfast daily. Who is to use the car -during the day? The day being balmy, -I had thought of going to town in it, -especially as I wanted to make a call -on the way home. My wife, it seems, -had planned to go to the dressmaker. -I should have guessed it. Billy, who -has just arrived at the legal age which -foolishly permits youth to endanger<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_63"></a>[63]</span> -the lives and liberty of American citizens, -had planned to take a number -of his cronies to St. Mark’s School to -see a ball game. Billy, as can be readily -imagined, wins out.</p> - -<p>This daily observance takes the entire -breakfast period and often leads to -slight feeling. I say slight because I -rarely ever secure the car myself unless -it needs repairing.</p> - -<p>The last worry may perhaps be -more likened to fear. “What next?” I -generally remark—for this third -division concerns our friends. In that -happy decade, now but a dream, we -used to live in a delightful community, -surrounded by friends who dropped -in and then dropped out again, both<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_64"></a>[64]</span> -happy incidents in our daily life. But -now, who has time to see his neighbors -when every one is frantically -motoring to some distant acquaintance -miles away? What can you do -when some friend at the end of nowhere -invites you to dinner because -she knows you have a motor? You -go because your wife explains that this -sort of thing is what a motor is for.</p> - -<p>Is this not a matter for worry?—to -work in an office until five; to journey -home with the knowledge that in -exactly thirty minutes you start out, in -a car which needs oiling and when -one of the tires should have more air, -for a distant suburb, where you are to -meet a number of people you do not<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_65"></a>[65]</span> -know and never care to see again. -That this sort of thing is going to increase -just as long as you have a -pesky car is more than a cause for -worry. It is a calamity.</p> - -<p>In a trice all this vanished, for I sold -my car. I remember hearing the story -of a Southerner whose property was -taken from him during the Civil War -and who later was robbed of all the -money on his person. He confessed -to a feeling of intense joy and relief, -for with his loss of property went his -feeling of responsibility, and care-free -he entered the army and fought a gallant -fight.</p> - -<p>And so upon that day I walked with -elastic tread, head up, chest out, delighting<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_66"></a>[66]</span> -in the discovery of freedom. -I care not that my friends all possess -cars. I’ve had one—several in fact—and -I can afford to buy others, but -I am not going to. That is, not yet -(and here I remember my family, -somewhat dubiously). I plan to renew -the pleasures of daily rambles over the -beautiful hills of my own town. I plan -to renew old friendships with my neighbors -near by. I look forward to an -occasional Sunday at home. In short, -I picture the joy of being without -a motor.</p> - -<p>As a matter of fact, however, this -vision was short-lived. In the first -place, the ramble over the old familiar -hills made me so beastly lame that<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_67"></a>[67]</span> -my Sunday at home was a painful -one, and the day was punctuated by -the complaints of each and every member -of the family over the loss of the -car. I ventured out, still painfully, to -call upon one or two of my old neighbors, -just for a run in and out again, -but they, it seemed, were out in their -motors, and so I returned dejectedly -to the sad-faced group in my own -living-room, where we managed to -exist until bedtime, conversing upon -our prospective move to the Cape, -and what it meant to the various members -of the family to be—as my -daughter puts it—a million miles away -from every one with no means of ever -leaving the house. And so it was the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_68"></a>[68]</span> -Cape and its appeal which broke my -defenses, for I must confess our seasonal -trips there were a delightful part -of our existence, to say nothing of the -joys of our summer life.</p> - -<p>The next day I took an early train -to town, and I came home that evening -somewhat sheepish, but reasonably -happy, for I came in a new car, -which bids fair to be the best one yet; -it is certainly the most expensive.</p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus14.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_69"></a>[69]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus15.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="VI">VI<br /> -<span class="smaller">“CHANGE AND REST”—SUMMER BARGAINING</span></h2> - -</div> - -<p>Although on the surface Cape Cod -seems to offer a haven of refuge to -that much overworked appendage to -the modern man, the pocket-book, -there are dotted here and there upon -the highways and byways many comparatively -innocent pitfalls.</p> - -<p>To a close student of these danger<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_70"></a>[70]</span> -spots, they may be grouped under -the heading “Tea-Rooms, Arts and -Crafts Stores, and Antique Shops.”</p> - -<p>I know of no greater relief than to -escape from town and come to the -Cape. Once there, the daily routine of -office, the absence of any assigned -duty, the leisure hours passed in or -on the water or idly knocking about -the golf links, tend to merge one day -into another, so that time flashes past -at an alarming rate. But every now -and again comes a day when some -member of the family suggests that -we take the motor and extend our -vision. It is upon such occasions that -we test the financial astuteness of the -aborigines.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_71"></a>[71]</span></p> - -<p>One never visits the Cape without -discovering how effectively the climate -stimulates the appetite. What wonder, -therefore, that every village and -hamlet possesses a Tea-Room of varying -attraction?</p> - -<p>The stop is made and the Tea-Room -visited, only to find that the family, in -addition to ordering the tea, with its -accompaniment of toast and cake, or, -for the younger members, a bottle -of ginger ale or an ice-cream cone, -are bent upon securing a souvenir. -The Tea-Room is generally furnished -with an assortment of articles intended -for just such gullibles as ourselves. -There are, for instance, baskets of assorted -sizes and colors, for flowers, or<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_72"></a>[72]</span> -fruit, or sewing, or pine cones; in fact -for everything that should be thrown -away, but isn’t. We have several -such baskets at home, but that does -not prevent some member of the family -from buying another. It will do -for a Christmas present. Then there -are varieties of other things made far -away and designed to lure the cheerful -motorist, such as charmingly decorated -match-cases for elderly people, -noisily painted tin pails for the -children, dainty knockers, and all manner -of knick-knacks for the women -of the party. The invariable assortment -of what, to a man, seems the essence -of uselessness, and yet, I confess -it, attractive to an insidious extent.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_73"></a>[73]</span></p> - -<p>The pocket-book is touched, not -severely, to be sure, but there is a perceptible -shrinkage as we file out to continue -on our harmless junket.</p> - -<p>For a few miles we bowl along over -a delightfully smooth road and give -ourselves over entirely to the view. Now -a long stretch of pine woods gives just -a glimpse of the water glistening -through the trees; here and there a -little farmhouse, snugly tucked among -a clump of lilacs close to the road, with -visions of larger establishments in the -distance, out toward the sea, the homes -of summer residents boldly exposed -to the refreshing southwest wind; then -a long stretch of marsh and dune brilliant -in the sun. Suddenly we come<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_74"></a>[74]</span> -upon a more thickly populated district -where many of the old houses have -been purchased and renovated to fit -the needs of city people, who, with the -assistance of some modern architect, -oftentimes make enticing homes of -these structures by the simple addition -of porches and piazzas, with bright -touches of paint here and there on blinds -and doors, and the whole garnished -well with bright flowers, climbing -roses, and cozy hedges.</p> - -<p>It is generally near such a settlement -that we come upon the Arts and -Crafts in all their glory.</p> - -<p>Compared to the Tea-Room, the -Art-Shop is a veritable mine of treasure. -From a variety of toys which<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_75"></a>[75]</span> -would do credit to Schwartz to a complete -set of hand-painted furniture such -as one might expect to find in the window -of the largest furniture store in -Boston during the months of May and -June, seems a far cry for a small shop -occupying a converted bungalow in a -modest Cape town; but this sort of -thing exists, and between these items -there is an almost endless list of what for -a better term may be called “specialties,” -and even I, who scorn the newness -of furnishings as they are displayed -in town, fall a victim first to an exceptionally -soft-toned rag rug, oval in -shape and comfortable to the tread, and -also to a set of doilies made of a light, -colorful variety of oilcloth with dainty<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_76"></a>[76]</span> -pattern that my wife says will save -washing; and lastly to a pair of bayberry -candles, olive green and a full eighteen -inches high, which it seems to me -will give an admirable touch to our -living-room mantel.</p> - -<p>The shrinkage in the pocket-book -is easily discernible; in fact I am led to -say briskly that I think we had better -be getting along home, and so we put -our new treasures into the car and proceed -homewards by a new route more -inland.</p> - -<p>It is always interesting to try the -lesser known roads even if they are a -bit rougher. They are little traveled and -for this reason pleasanter in midsummer; -one rarely loses the way, for signs<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_77"></a>[77]</span> -are plentiful, and so we wind about the -higher stretches which form the backbone -of the Cape, along sandy roads -which at times diminish to mere cart-paths, -but at all times are passable.</p> - -<p>Emerging from this forest district -on one such excursion, we came quite -suddenly upon the forking of two -roads where a clump of neat-looking -farmhouses, a schoolhouse, and a diminutive -church indicated a real town. -Here my eye was arrested by the -magic sign “Antiques” stuck into the -lawn in front of one of the houses.</p> - -<p>While I do not admit the slightest -lure in the sign of a Tea-Room except -when hard-pressed by hunger, and but -scant attraction in the Art-Shop, there<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_78"></a>[78]</span> -is something about the word “antique” -that whets my appetite for exploration, -and especially so when found in a quiet -little hamlet off the beaten path and -probably not familiar to the many hundreds -of tourists whose smoothly running -motors of ample proportions bespeak -well-filled pocket-books. Consequently -I grasped the emergency -brake and came to a sudden stop in -spite of a feeble protest from my -daughter and a heavy sigh from my -wife on the back seat.</p> - -<p>Where antiques are concerned, I -take the lead, or, to be more accurate, -I stand alone, and so proceeded to the -back door of the house; for those who -know Cape-Codders well enough realize<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_79"></a>[79]</span> -the inconvenience and delay which -a knock at the front door provokes.</p> - -<p>Seeing a middle-aged woman bending -over the stove in the kitchen, I -called a merry “Good-afternoon” by -way of salutation.</p> - -<p>“Good-afternoon,” she replied as -an echo might have thrown back my -words.</p> - -<p>“I saw your sign ‘antiques’ and -thought perhaps I might have a look -at them,” I continued, nothing daunted.</p> - -<p>“Mister Eldridge ain’t to home, -but if you want to go out to the barn -you can see what he’s got,” she replied, -without even turning her head -to see what sort of a second-story man -I might be.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_80"></a>[80]</span></p> - -<p>Here was luck, however, for I could -look over the stock in trade of this -ambitious couple to my heart’s content, -and I made haste to the barn, which I -found converted into one of the most -amazing junk-shops it has ever been -my pleasure to explore.</p> - -<p>Crowded together without rhyme -or reason, and with no thought of display, -were the goods and chattels of -generations of Cape-Codders; tables, -chairs, beds, sofas, ice-chests, a parlor -organ, curtain rods, bits of carpet, -crockery in all stages of dilapidation. -On one of the tables a variety of hardware -was strewn about, on one of the -stiff-backed chairs reposed three old -brass lanterns. A Rogers group on a<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_81"></a>[81]</span> -kitchen table was flanked by a White -Mountain ice-cream freezer on one -side and a fine old fire bucket on the -other. A four-poster, of apple-wood, -with fluted posts terminating in pineapple -tops, the wood in an excellent -state of preservation, was the repository -of a half-dozen pictures, three -face-down, while one of the others -disclosed itself as a really good copy -of the engraving of Washington and -his family. But to the casual observer, -there seemed scarcely a piece of furniture -or, in fact, anything which was sufficiently -in repair to survive the journey -to my house; furthermore, the rank -and file of articles were of recent date -and had no charm for the collector.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_82"></a>[82]</span></p> - -<p>However, the very hopelessness of -the quest whetted my appetite, and -to the utter disgust of my family, I -spent a good half-hour rummaging -about, not only in the main part of the -barn, but also in the stalls, and even -in the hayloft, for the whole building -was bulging with what seemed the -cast-off furnishings of the entire Cape.</p> - -<p>The result of my examination was -a really fine ship’s lantern which I -found in the loft; a pair of old pewter -pepper pots, reclining in an old soap -dish, and a couple of straight-back -rush-seated chairs, a trifle rickety, but -with the seats in excellent condition -with the original rush plaiting, which -is unmistakable.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_83"></a>[83]</span></p> - -<p>For fear of mislaying my selection, -I had brought them outside the barn, -and at that moment a lanky, middle-aged -farmer drove up in a buggy and -slowly got out.</p> - -<p>“Is this Mr. Eldridge?” I asked.</p> - -<p>“Thet’s me,” he replied. “Been -havin’ a look over the department -store? I ain’t got in my elevators, an’ -the outing department [here he looked -at my golfing tweeds] ain’t much to -brag about, but I’ve got ’most everything -in thar except the town hearse -an’ I’m savin’ that for my mother-in-law.”</p> - -<p>By George! I thought, here’s one -of the real old-timers, nothing taciturn -about him, and I pointed to the modest<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_84"></a>[84]</span> -selection I had made and asked him -what the price was.</p> - -<p>“Well, as to price,” he replied, -taking off his hat and meditatively -scratching his head, “that’s the worst -of the business. I never just know -what my things are worth. Them -chairs came from old widow Crocker’s, -over by Forestdale. She’d never sell -’em till she died, an’ then she couldn’t -help herself an’ her son-in-law cleaned -the place out, an’ I got quite a lot of -stuff an’ paid him for the lot. What -d’you say to a couple o’ dollars -apiece?”</p> - -<p>I said, “Yes,” as soberly as I could. -I would have given much more.</p> - -<p>“As to that lantern, it’s a good ’un<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_85"></a>[85]</span> -and the glass is all right. I shall have -to get at least four dollars.”</p> - -<p>“All right,” said I, cheerfully, for -I had seen a smaller one in Chatham -go for eight just a few days before. -“And how about the pepper pots?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, you kin have ’em for—let’s -see—’bout seventy-five apiece.” And -I agreed.</p> - -<p>“What do you do with all this -stuff?” I asked, as he helped me to -dispose of my treasures in an already -well-filled car.</p> - -<p>“Oh, mostly I sell to the Portugees -that come here farmin’ and cranberryin’. -Now an’ then I get some old -stuff same as you jest picked up, but -generally it’s the newer kind they like<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_86"></a>[86]</span> -the best. I jest set that there sign up -’cause I see every durn fellow ’long -the road what has a toothpick or a -shavin’ mug to sell puts up a sign, an’ -so, says I, guess I’ll stick up one too.”</p> - -<p>And that is the way I became acquainted -with Silas Eldridge, dealer in -antiques, who has sold me many a real -treasure, but I keep his whereabouts -as secret as possible, for of all the fascinating -places for picking up astonishing -bargains on Cape Cod, his old -dilapidated barn offers the most surprises.</p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 12.5em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus16.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_87"></a>[87]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus17.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="VII">VII<br /> -<span class="smaller">A BLUE STREAK</span></h2> - -</div> - -<p>Slang is both the curse and the delight -of the English language, and that -form of slang which our British friends -term “Americanisms,” and which we -have now largely adopted as our national -mode of communication, is not -confined to the youth of to-day by any -means. In the home, in business, and -of course in sport, slang has found its<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_88"></a>[88]</span> -way and has spread like the weeds in -the garden of the over-enthusiastic -commuter. I remember hearing a -clergyman of national reputation and -advancing years say a short time ago, -after a satisfying excursion of some -sort, that he had “had more fun than -a goat,” and I defied him to elucidate -that time-worn phrase to my satisfaction.</p> - -<p>The derivations and origins of American -idioms and colloquial expressions -are vastly interesting, not only in showing -the resourcefulness of our people -in cutting wordy corners and in the -development of a certain form of humor -which I do not defend, but in shedding -real light upon the whys and wherefores<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_89"></a>[89]</span> -of our universe down to its smallest -detail. A temperamental curiosity -has led me from time to time to look -up certain of the commoner expressions, -and I am indebted to this eccentric -hobby for several pleasurable -experiences.</p> - -<p>Many years ago—so many in fact -that the memory is distasteful—I -went to a horse-race where the winner -passed our stand at a pace which my -companion described as “going like a -blue streak,” a familiar term with -which I ignorantly agreed at the time. -I suppose that since then I have heard -it repeated many hundred times, but -it was not until last summer when my -son applied it to a motor-boat passing<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_90"></a>[90]</span> -out of the harbor, that I thought of -inquiring into its origin, and discovered, -much to my surprise, that it applied -to the illusive and disconcerting -movements of the ordinary sea crab, -often called the “blue claw.”</p> - -<p>The discovery piqued my curiosity -and I determined forthwith to investigate -the locomotory accomplishments -of these retiring animals. This was -not as easy a task as I had expected. -The crab is not socially inclined, and -the term “crabbed” is soon apparent. -He is only to be found at low tide, -and generally near the mouth of a -salty creek where the bottom is muddy -and sparsely covered with seaweed -and eelgrass. There in the late summer<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_91"></a>[91]</span> -and fall he can be seen from -canoe or rowboat, if one is patient and -watchful, and the expression to “go -like a blue streak” fits him like a -glove.</p> - -<p>Having provided myself with a net -of the butterfly variety, I determined -to secure a specimen, and began my -search among the creeks, so numerous -along the shores of Cape Cod. -Although we came upon quite a number, -it took the entire morning to capture -four.</p> - -<p>When unmolested, these creatures -crawl slowly and deliberately about -their business, sluggish in manner and -shabbily dark in appearance, grubbing -about on the bottom, now in, now out<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_92"></a>[92]</span> -of the seaweed, but the instant that -danger is threatened, they undergo -a transformation. The claws, from -sprawling about on the mud at every -angle, are drawn in, and like a flash—or, -far better, “like a blue streak”—the -particular crab that you have -selected for capture darts away at an -angle that leaves you helpless with -wonder at the suddenness of his departure -and at the blueness of his -appearance.</p> - -<p>As soon as you have spotted your -prey the excitement begins. Armed -with the net, you crawl quietly to the -bow of the boat and in whispers direct -the rower, now this way, now that, -following the route taken by the capricious<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_93"></a>[93]</span> -crab. Sometimes the water is -deep enough to permit the use of the -oars, at others it is necessary to pole -the boat in and out among the rocks -covered by seaweed, your journey always -attended by silence and stealth as -if the slightest noise would precipitate -in flight this wily crustacean.</p> - -<p>At last when you are within striking -distance, the net is plunged in -among the grass and brought up, alas! -empty, and the hunt continues as before.</p> - -<p>When, after repeated trials, your -patience is rewarded and a fine big -fellow is caught, the greatest care -must be taken to prevent him from -crawling out of the net and escaping<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_94"></a>[94]</span> -before he is landed in the boat, for his -activities are ceaseless.</p> - -<p>Indeed, even after he is flung deftly -into the pail, his savage struggles may -succeed in freeing him from captivity. -And so it is only with infinite caution -and patience—qualifications necessary -in every game—that you are -able to land your prize, and it is only -then that you will find the explanation -of the color quality of his passing. -As the crab is taken from the water, -its mud-colored shell appears a dark -ultramarine blue, the claws of a -lighter shade, the under part shading -to white tinged with pink; its entire -surface seems metallic in the intensity -of its coloring as it leaves the water.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_95"></a>[95]</span> -From a slow, lazy animal of peaceful -habits, the crab has become a veritable -monster, savage and fiercely aggressive, -and woe to the unfortunate within -reach of his claws.</p> - -<p>His capture is a real experience and -a distinctly sporting event. So interesting -and mysterious is the search, -so active and adventurous the pursuit, -and so exciting and satisfying the actual -catch, that one is tempted to place -crabbing among the big events of a -summer at the seashore.</p> - -<p>I know a college professor who annually -devotes the better part of his -vacation to this pastime, and several -of my athletic friends, whose prowess -on the football field was a matter of<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_96"></a>[96]</span> -international comment in the papers, -confess to the delights of a crab hunt; -but it is a surprising fact, nevertheless, -that the majority of those who -visit the seacoast each year have never -even heard of the extraordinary fascination -of hunting the originator of -the “blue streak.”</p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus18.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_97"></a>[97]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus19.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="VIII">VIII<br /> -<span class="smaller">A FRESH-WATER CAPE</span></h2> - -</div> - -<p>To the majority of people Cape Cod -spells sea breezes, a tang of salt in the -air, scrub oaks, tall pines, stretches of -sand, and a large appetite. To the -few who know the Cape from more -intimate acquaintance there is added -to this picture a swelling country -densely wooded in sections and spotted -with ponds. It is a source of never-ending<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_98"></a>[98]</span> -wonder how these ponds exist -in a country where the soil is so porous -that a few minutes after a shower -there is no trace of the rain. In almost -every instance they are fed from -springs beneath the surface, and the -solution has been offered and quite -generally believed that much of this -fresh water flows in subterranean -channels having their source far distant -in the White Mountains.</p> - -<p>So plentiful is the supply that wells -and pipes, driven a few feet into the -soil at almost any spot, furnish clear, -pure water in ample supply for household -needs. A more remarkable fact -is that at low tide in many of the harbors -and inlets fresh water can be<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_99"></a>[99]</span> -found between the high and low -stretches, oozing through the salty -surface of sand and mud. And so the -Cape, for all its salt qualities, has fresh -water in profusion and ponds without -number. In Plymouth County alone -there are 365 ponds, many of them of -substantial size, while the lower Cape -is almost equally well provided.</p> - -<p>A generation ago, many of the residents -of Plymouth passed their summers -on the largest of these—Long -Pond. Having the salt breezes most -of the year they wisely sought a change -to inland waters.</p> - -<p>Last year I met a gentleman fishing -in Wakeby Pond—made famous -by Cleveland and Joe Jefferson—who<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_100"></a>[100]</span> -told me he came on from Chicago -every year to pass a month bass fishing. -He was probably ten miles from -the coast, and might have been a hundred -for all the good it did him; but -on the other hand, why not a pond on -the Cape as well as a Rangeley Lake -in Maine? The life is much the same—the -air refreshing and the scenery -delightful.</p> - -<p>These larger ponds are fully as -large as many of the Maine lakes. -Long Pond at Plymouth is said to be -ten miles long, and I have seen the -water at Great Herring Pond as rough -as one would care to have it when -canoeing.</p> - -<p>To be sure the fishing is not perhaps<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_101"></a>[101]</span> -so very exciting—few trout, -except in the occasional streams which -have been stocked, but land-locked -salmon, perch, and pickerel to be had -with a little patience, and a shrimp -or so. The real pleasure which these -ponds offer is the surprise and delight -of coming upon them as one -does frequently and quickly while -motoring through the less-frequented -roads. From Plymouth down the Cape -through Sandwich nearly every road -and by-path leads to some picturesque -little sheet of water often closely -wooded to its shores and without a -sign of habitation.</p> - -<p>From Wareham or Cotuit, from -Pocasset or Falmouth, from Hyannis<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_102"></a>[102]</span> -or Chatham—in short, from nearly -every one of the many Cape towns, a -ride of fifteen or twenty minutes will -take one to a pond which might as -well be fifty miles from any center -of human activity. One rarely meets -other adventurers upon such trips, and -the silence and peace which reign -form excellent foils to the summer -life so near at hand.</p> - -<p>Those who are wise in Cape ways -possess small canoes mounted upon -two wheels, which are fastened on -behind their cars, so that, when touring -the ponds, they are not limited in -their fishing to the shore or to the -chance of finding a boat.</p> - -<p>There are a number of gentlemen<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_103"></a>[103]</span> -who have built small camps upon certain -of these secluded spots for casual -excursions and for spring and fall use. -They are wise. By leaving Boston at -noon they can always be in camp by -sundown ready to enjoy a full Sunday, -while the mighty fisherman who -depends entirely upon the Maine lakes -or the more remote places must plan -a week’s vacation, with the chance of -better sport, to be sure, but no better -life, for the life of a sportsman in the -open is much the same. The great -outdoors is universal in its appeal to -the sane-minded and healthy-bodied.</p> - -<p>I have experienced as much heat -and poorer fishing in Nova Scotia -during July as I have on our ponds<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_104"></a>[104]</span> -of the Cape, and in addition I have -noticed more mosquitoes and midges -to the cubic inch in Canada than on -these same ponds; but of that perhaps -the less said the better.</p> - -<p>I have in mind a little excursion which -illustrates these extremes of Cape life, -and it is but one of many. In early -July, when the children, freed from -school restraint, were on the rampage, -and our cottage was bearing the brunt -of an onslaught of youthful visitors, -each of our neighbors having one or two -boys and girls as guests for their children, -life seemed to me an unending -series of activities coupled with ceaseless -slang. In fact, I was “fed up” -with it all, so that when my classmate<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_105"></a>[105]</span> -and old friend R⸺ telephoned to say -that he was going up to the pond for -a day or so, I clung to the receiver in -my joy to escape.</p> - -<p>The preparations for such a trip are -simple—a blanket, a change of clothing, -a toothbrush, no razor, food enough -to fill a small basket, and—yes, I suppose -it must be confessed—a bottle.</p> - -<p>My fishing tackle is always ready. -The bait, however, is more difficult to -secure. With net and pail I hastened to -the creek which enters the harbor near -our cottage, and, it being fortunately -low tide, I was able, in the twenty -minutes left before R⸺’s arrival, -to secure a fair supply of shrimp. That -was all there was to it. We were off<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_106"></a>[106]</span> -well within an hour from the time of his -message, and well within another hour -we had arrived at his little shack perched -high above the shore of one of the loveliest -ponds on the Cape, and were settled -for the night.</p> - -<p>The camp was well stocked with -wood and simply furnished with camp -beds, the ordinary cooking-utensils, -and such comforts as may be gathered -about a broad hearth and a roaring fire.</p> - -<p>Outside, the wind had died down -and not a ripple disturbed the mirrored -surface of the water, which reflected -the delicate outline of cedar, pine, and -oak, a lacy filament which shielded -the setting sun from the already silvered -reflection of the half-moon.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_107"></a>[107]</span></p> - -<p>“A perfect time of a perfect day, -in a well-nigh perfect spot,” I said, -by way of expressing the joy of my -escape.</p> - -<p>“Such a burst of eloquence demands -a toast,” remarked my friend.</p> - -<p>So we forthwith resorted to the -aforesaid bottle, and then turned to -and prepared supper—the inevitable -scrambled eggs, deviled ham, bread -and marmalade, and coffee.</p> - -<p>“To think of that howling mob at -home only twenty minutes away,” I -mused, puffing contentedly at my -pipe and reveling in the silence.</p> - -<p>“To think of what a motor will do!” -replied my friend, who was not unaware -of my opinion of cars.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_108"></a>[108]</span></p> - -<p>I muttered something incoherently, -and squirmed a bit at the thought of -some of my notions.</p> - -<p>The next morning we were up with -the sun, and after a hasty bite, put our -canoe into the water and set about our -main task.</p> - -<p>We were both fairly familiar with -the haunts of the wily bass. In summer -they lie close to the bottom, the -laziest of fellows, sucking in the bait, -if they notice it at all, in a dreamy fashion, -but, once hooked, they show their -mettle, and so, when I finally felt a -slight strain on my line, I held back -until I was sure of my fish. Yes, I had -him, and a good big one at that.</p> - -<p>There is little or no casting in midsummer,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_109"></a>[109]</span> -so that I had brought a stouter -trolling-rod, and it was just as well. I -played that fellow for ten minutes, -and when R⸺ finally netted him for -me, we sat and looked at each other -speechless.</p> - -<p>“By gad, he’s a five-pounder!” -said my friend excitedly.</p> - -<p>“Hum—about four and three -quarters,” I replied in a matter-of-fact -tone to cover my excitement.</p> - -<p>We caught twelve that morning, -several weighing two pounds or more,—splendid -fishing, the best we had -ever had on the pond.</p> - -<p>When we reached the camp and -weighed my prize, he tipped the scales -at five and three ounces—a record fish.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_110"></a>[110]</span></p> - -<p>Late in the afternoon the clouds -began to gather and the wind turned -northeast, so we decided to run for -cover.</p> - -<p>I was at home in time for dinner, -and found the spell broken. It was -I who did the talking, an amazing -amount of it, while the youngsters sat -open-mouthed when my bass was -brought onto the table in a platter all -to himself, garnished by our cook, -who, so says my wife, is proud of my -ability as a provider.</p> - -<p>What more versatile land of summer, -then, can one imagine than the -seashore with an almost permanent -breeze, with a chain of inland ponds -remote and wild in character almost<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_111"></a>[111]</span> -at one’s back door, motorively speaking?</p> - -<p>If variety is truly the spice of life, -what better seasoned offering has any -locality to show than Cape Cod?</p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus20.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_112"></a>[112]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus21.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="IX">IX<br /> -<span class="smaller">AL FRESCO</span></h2> - -</div> - -<p>Before you pass judgment upon any -man or woman of your acquaintance, -ask him or her to a picnic. Then if -you are not ready to form a decision, -they will probably have made up their -minds about you. A picnic, so the -Dictionary has it, is an entertainment -in a grove, an ominous and hazardous -place at best for a good time, and one<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_113"></a>[113]</span> -to be avoided except by sentimental -couples, and therefore the Dictionary -may be considered narrow-minded in -naming the locality. Furthermore, its -advice is rarely followed in these days, -and the picnics which I prefer, and -they are countless, are held upon the -seashore and, for the most part, in the -sea itself.</p> - -<p>There is a white, sandy beach of a -mile or more, banked by great sand-dunes -and bordering a section of Buzzard’s -Bay which is comparatively unknown, -where there are no houses, -not even bath-houses, and where the -delighted squeal of the noisy girl or -the guffaw of the blatant youth is -rarely heard. It is here that we frequently<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_114"></a>[114]</span> -gather with a few good friends -upon pleasant warm days, for an impromptu -meal <i>al fresco</i>, preceded by -a joyous bath in water as clear as -crystal, warm and yet with a spiciness -that clears the head from all drowsiness -and whets the appetite to a keen -edge.</p> - -<p>There are problems to every picnic. -The conventions of life grip hard, -and yet it is curious and sometimes -amusing to see how thin the veneer -really is when the primitive necessities -of a picnic are faced.</p> - -<p>The sand-dunes are conveniently -rolling, every now and then dipping -into bowl-like formations, and in these -sequestered or semi-sequestered nooks<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_115"></a>[115]</span> -we don our bathing-suits and sally -forth to the sea. One of our friends, -a man somewhat particular as to his -appearance and the soul of modesty, -was directed to the appointed place, -but his love for the view led him up -the slope, so that, innocently turning -our gaze shoreward, the feminine portion -of our gathering was considerably -disconcerted to see the apostle -of Beau Brummel in nature’s garb innocently -viewing the horizon and giving -little heed to his natty bathing-suit, -a black and orange affair with -immaculate white belt which lay at his -feet.</p> - -<p>The women, too, those who but a -few moments before would have tried<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_116"></a>[116]</span> -in every way to conceal a hole in -their stockings, were glad to borrow -bathing-dresses of any reasonable style -if by chance they had forgotten to -pack their own, and stockings seemed -of no importance.</p> - -<p>To line up twenty or more on the -beach and rush for a plunge, to breast -the billows or to grope amid the sands -for sea clams, to race along the beach -for the sheer joy of life, is the glad -part of what I call a picnic. And then -the food! No meal which must be -coaxed along by a cocktail or other -appetizer, to prepare the way for -course after course of indigestible -concoctions planned by fertile-minded -chefs, but honest beef and chicken and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_117"></a>[117]</span> -ham sandwiches, delicately prepared -and tastefully arranged. Sandwiches -of lettuce and cheese and paprika; -sandwiches with sardines, with olives; -graham sandwiches with a thin layer -of marmalade or guava intended for -the children, but partaken of by all. -And stuffed eggs, the variety only to -be found at a picnic and eaten in two -gulps, the one place where such table -manners are tolerated.</p> - -<p>And it is on picnics that the thermos -bottle is most thoroughly appreciated. -The miracle of hot bouillon, -hot coffee, iced tea, and a variety of -beverages, suitably chilled or heated, -seems ever to be a source of fresh -surprise and pleasure.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_118"></a>[118]</span></p> - -<p>Toward autumn, the picnics offer a -new variety, for the children thrill at -the expectation of cooking their own -dinner. The joys of a bonfire, the excitement -of burying potatoes, corn, -and clams in seaweed, the frying of -ham and eggs, and the occasional treat -of flapjacks when one of our nautical -friends happens to be of our number. -These are but a few of the pleasures -of a picnic such as one encounters on -the shores of Buzzard’s Bay in August -and September.</p> - -<p>It must be admitted that there are -certain drawbacks which seem serious -to the individual of fixed habits, tender -feet, and uncertain digestion. There -is, for example, the beautiful white<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_119"></a>[119]</span> -sand, glistening in the sun, smooth -as a billiard table and fine as powder. -It must be admitted that after the bath -one is conscious of the pervading quality -of its particles. It is in one’s hair, -one’s shoes, and often elsewhere about -the person. It is discovered invading -the aforesaid sandwiches, which seem -well named at such times. A brisk wind -slaps it into your eye or your mouth -in disconcerting fashion, and you become -aware of its grating presence. -Then, again, there are clouds upon -the horizon. To those who are seriously -affected by the sand, these clouds -look ominous. They may forebode a -storm and a wetting. A certain clamminess -of hands and feet, occasioned by<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_120"></a>[120]</span> -the bath, remind one that a change -in the weather precedes a cold in the -head. These feelings mark the man -of creature comforts and he fails to -join in the part-singing which comes -after the hearty meal, when pipes are -lighted and the entire gathering stretch -themselves upon the sands for a -lazy half-hour before the inevitable -cleaning-up process begins. This same -individual declines to tell his best story, -and should a ball game be suggested, -he will be found callous to all coaxing. -He has enough sand in his shoes -as it is, or he has eaten too much for -exercising, or possibly the clouds on -the horizon lower more formidably.</p> - -<p>Yes, a picnic discloses the strength<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_121"></a>[121]</span> -and weakness of character which mark -our friends, and yet, after all, it does -more, for it brings out the best in -most of us, and few, even of our habitually -conventional friends, fail to -respond to the delights of a seashore -picnic or lack in the essential philosophy -of an outdoor, care-free existence.</p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus22.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_122"></a>[122]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 32.5em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus23.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="X">X<br /> -<span class="smaller">MODELS</span></h2> - -</div> - -<p>Long before the Old Colony Railroad -thought of running a line to Cape Cod—although -that in itself was not so -very long ago, well within the memory -of man—there was one charm of -the Cape which is fast vanishing and -entirely unknown to the casual visitor -and unappreciated by the perennial -summer residents. In those days there<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_123"></a>[123]</span> -was a host of rugged, sturdy men, -intelligent, courageous, upright, and -keen-minded. They were the Cape -captains, the men who grew up among -the sand-dunes, to the rote of the sea. -The men who carried the good name -of Cape Cod to the ends of the earth -and who brought back with them the -fortunes which made the little towns, -dotted here and there along the shore, -havens of comfort and rest.</p> - -<p>Such men could tell stories which -would vie with those of Conrad and -Stevenson, but for the most part their -deeds go unrecorded except in their -ships’ logs, for they were a simple, -reserved company. Of this epoch -there remains but one relic which is<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_124"></a>[124]</span> -sought after by the present generation, -and it savors of the antique. In -fact, it is the antiquarian rather than -the adventurer who ransacks the Cape -at present for ships’ models.</p> - -<p>In those early days there were -months at a time when the ship’s -company were idle, and it grew to be -a custom for those clever with their -hands to fashion models of the schooners -in which they sailed or of seacraft -notable for beauty of line or complexity -of rig.</p> - -<p>Many an old sea captain would pass -his idle moments in fashioning these -miniature boats, and many members -of the ships’ crews became adept at -the hobby, for a knowledge of tools<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_125"></a>[125]</span> -was almost an essential for every man -on the Cape, where the trades of -carpenter, painter, and plumber were -generally performed by the householder. -Furthermore, a sailor would -infinitely prefer to whittle out a model -than to swab down the deck, and frequently -a clever mechanic would be -relieved by his captain from this menial -work, if he devoted his time to the -perfection of a model which was destined -for the mantel of the captain’s -best parlor.</p> - -<p>Therefore, in the old days, there -was scarcely a Cape family of saltwater -ancestry which did not boast of -at least one model and often more, the -trademark of an honorable and hazardous<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_126"></a>[126]</span> -occupation and a relic of former -days of plenty when the Cape was -peopled only by the native Cape-Codders -and before steam took from them -the vocation to which they were reared.</p> - -<p>To-day the captain of a full-rigged -ship is as hard to find as the vessel -herself, and the Cape exists upon -the summer residents and upon the -less productive occupation of fishing, -which is largely in the hands of the -Portuguese, who have come in droves -to settle upon our land of Bartholomew -Gosnold and his company of adventurers. -And so the interest in ships and -in tales of the sea has disappeared -along with those who upheld the trade; -and the models, familiar sights to the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_127"></a>[127]</span> -descendants, have been relegated to -the attic or have been sold as curiosities -to the ubiquitous dealers in antiques, -who persistently come to the -Cape for old furniture, pewter, china—anything, -in fact, which can be -palmed off on that voracious type of -collector, the lover of antiques.</p> - -<p>During the last few years, for some -reason or other, these models have -become very popular. Just why it is -not easy to explain. It is true that they -typify a lost trade which was full of -adventure. It is also true that they are -decorative, many of them, but that -hardly explains the ravenous appetite -which many collectors of antiques have -recently developed to obtain a genuine<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_128"></a>[128]</span> -model. Dealers have secured agents -in every town on the Cape who are -ransacking their neighborhoods for -models, half-models, pictures of boats -made in bas-reliefs, weather vanes in -the shape of ships, and the prices are -increasing by leaps and bounds. In -fact, so popular has this fad become -that ex-sailors and carpenters with -some slight acquaintance with the sea -are now developing quite a business in -fashioning models of special designs -or of former famous ships. A few -years ago the model of a schooner -about two feet in length fully rigged -would bring in the neighborhood of -twenty-five dollars; to-day the same -model could not be secured for less<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_129"></a>[129]</span> -than one hundred dollars. Often the -smaller, more exquisitely made specimens -will bring more. The descendants -of the old captains have lost any -sentimental regard for these relics and -gladly part with them for a comparatively -small sum, but only to the patient -and skillful, who know Cape -ways and Cape people, and so it is -almost impossible for the tourist to -secure a model except from a dealer.</p> - -<p>Should the casual summer visitor -attempt to bargain with his native -Cape neighbor, he would find him a -wily bird, suspicious of being imposed -upon and as likely as not to put an -absurd valuation upon his possession; -and yet that same Cape neighbor<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_130"></a>[130]</span> -might part with the model the next -day to a total stranger for a smaller -sum, for such is the nature of the -denizen of the Cape. This contrary-mindedness -and disinclination to do a -favor is not unusual, but as against this -trait, he will be found to be a genial -host and a kindly acquaintance often -generous beyond his means.</p> - -<p>And so to-day we witness the passing -of the models, last relic of the -olden days, the golden days of Cape -Cod, from those tiny Cape cottages -built by these same sturdy sea captains -to the comfortable mansions of the -summer people whose knowledge of -the sea is secured in July and August -by an occasional dip, a sail in a knockabout,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_131"></a>[131]</span> -and a glimpse of a glorious sunset -over the shining waters of the -Atlantic Ocean.</p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus24.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_132"></a>[132]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus25.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="XI">XI<br /> -<span class="smaller">“A WET SHEET AND A FLOWING SEA”</span></h2> - -</div> - -<p>In my youthful days I often wondered -at the regularity with which elderly -people would go out to drive day after -day, sitting in the same seat in the same -carriage, behind the same horses, driven -by the same coachman along the same -roads. It seemed to me a lamentable -waste of time. And now I have more -or less (less as the years advance) the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_133"></a>[133]</span> -same feeling toward those couples -whose chief relaxation is a spin along -the state roads of their district in a -well-appointed limousine, for I belong -to that class of motorists who use their -cars purely for convenience and prefer -the fresh-air variety.</p> - -<p>Yet, when it comes to sailing, for -some reason which I am at a loss to -explain, my views are diametrically -opposite. I am content to clamber -into my knockabout and to perform -the routine labor of pumping “her” -out, unfurling and hoisting the sail, -and casting off, then to cruise lazily -about our harbor, sailing over the -same course day in and day out with -little variation, and to do this either<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_134"></a>[134]</span> -alone or with a kindred spirit as the -case may be.</p> - -<p>To many these cases may seem parallel, -but to me they are widely variant. -There is a formality to a drive or a -motor ride which starts with the costume -worn and ends with the character -of conversation.</p> - -<p>On a boat—and I am speaking entirely -of small boats—the costume -is of a heterogeneous variety and the -conversation of the freest. In fact, -there is something so thoroughly unconventional -about life on the water -that even the stiffest of Brahminian -Bostonians may occasionally be heard -to indulge in slang and to assume a -rakish attitude, perched upon deck.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_135"></a>[135]</span></p> - -<p>But such criticism, or rather comparison, -is highly superficial. There is -more to it than external appearance; -for sailing brings out the best in human -nature, encourages philosophy, develops -independence of thought and act, -and largely so because those who sail -shed their coating of reserve and allow -their natural feelings fair play. There -is no quicker way to know and size up -one’s friends than to go on a cruise for -a few days. There is no better way of -enjoying and extending one’s friendships -with both sexes than spending -a few afternoons sailing together, skirting -along the shore with a fair breeze, -nor is there any quicker way of learning -the weaknesses of certain individuals<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_136"></a>[136]</span> -than by observing their conduct -under perhaps less peaceful conditions -at sea. For the best of skippers -cannot predict weather conditions, and -there are times when wind and storm -will come upon one with surprising -quickness.</p> - -<p>Here in New England, the sailing -fraternity may be divided into those -who prefer the Maine coast and those -who cling to the Cape and Buzzard’s -Bay. As one of the latter class, I always -claim our supremacy by stating two -points which I believe to be true: first, -that we have more wind, and second, -that we have less fog. To me this is -convincing. The southwest wind which -cools the Cape, blows nearly every day<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_137"></a>[137]</span> -in summer and with a strength that -often requires reefing. Rarely between -ten in the morning and five at night -will the mariner find himself becalmed -in Buzzard’s Bay. In fact, the -stranger is generally amazed to see -girls and young boys sailing without -the presence of an older person, in what -looks to him a three-reef breeze.</p> - -<p>They have been brought up to it -and realize that vigilance must always -be exercised on the water, and they -know the qualities of their boat and the -power of the wind. I know of no better -training for youngsters who are proficient -in swimming than to learn to -sail and race their own little boats. The -development of a power of observation,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_138"></a>[138]</span> -accurate judgment, prompt action, -and steady nerve comes more quickly -with the handling of a boat than in any -other way for those who lead our kind -of life.</p> - -<p>Sailing is confined to boats, but boats -are not by any means confined to sailing, -for latterly there are almost as -many motor-boats to be found chugging -along the shores of the Cape as -there are sailboats, although I personally -always pity the groups in the stern -of one of these modern affairs which -makes its noisy passage leaving an -odorous wake of oil and smoke. But -doubtless I am extreme in my views -and old-fashioned in my taste.</p> - -<p>Give me a knockabout—a fifteen-footer<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_139"></a>[139]</span> -for real comfort for a daily sail, -a stiff member of the twenty-one-foot -class for cruising along shore. Give me -a comfortable catboat, broad of beam, -for a family boat or for a day’s fishing, -or let me idle about in one of our little -twelve-foot Herreshoff class with my -small son. In any one of them I shall -find the same sense of freedom, the -same sort of pleasure, and the same -love for the salt sea, and from each I -shall look at the windy, sandy shores of -the Cape with the same loyal affection.</p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus26.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_140"></a>[140]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus27.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="XII">XII<br /> -<span class="smaller">MY CAPE FARM</span></h2> - -</div> - -<p>If I have thought of it at all, I have -thought of myself as a sociable cuss. -Not that I like sociables; I hate them, -and that is probably why they have -gone out of fashion. What to my -mind defines sociability is the quality -of enjoying and giving enjoyment to -others, singly, in pairs, or in groups; -and in present days sociability is generally<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_141"></a>[141]</span> -put to the test either at dinners -or at week-end parties, for these are -the principal points of contact between -friends.</p> - -<p>Latterly, however, my social bent -has been somewhat warped by the -growing desire on the part of my -friends to boast of their success as -producers of food. Whether it be premature -senility, the result of conservation, -or merely the acquisition of -wealth, which is being rapidly returned -to its own through the purchase of -land and the ingenuity of gardeners, -it is a fact that at dinners of the cut-and-dried -variety or a family gathering, -or, more especially, over a week-end, -my host invariably calls attention<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_142"></a>[142]</span> -to the asparagus with a modest cough -as prelude, or my hostess mentions -the number of eggs the farmer brought -in yesterday to be put down in water-glass. -Sometimes it is not asparagus, -but peas, or corn, or perhaps a chicken, -or even a ham. This the host. His -wife more generally dilates upon the -milk products and the preserving end -of the bill of fare; but, for whatever -cause, the thing got a bit on my -nerves, so that I found myself thinking -of reasons for not visiting So-and-So -or for not dining with the Thing-um-Bobs -on Friday week, when I -knew we hadn’t a thing on earth -to do.</p> - -<p>This frame of mind was, of course,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_143"></a>[143]</span> -all wrong. In the first place, these -friends were as good and as loyal as -they were ten years ago, when, if -they had any garden at all, it consisted -of a half-dozen radishes that no -one could eat without summoning a -physician within four hours. Furthermore, -the aforesaid asparagus, with its -accompaniments, was better than the -ordinary variety which has decorated -the entrance to the greengrocer’s establishment -for the better part of a week. -And lastly, as I had no garden myself, -why not enjoy the best and be -thankful?</p> - -<p>Probably the reason was envy and -the season spring, when, contrary to -budding nature, one’s own physical<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_144"></a>[144]</span> -being is not as blooming as it should -be.</p> - -<p>Be this as it may, the final result -has probably made me more of a bore -to my friends than they ever were to -me, for to get even with them I conceived -the happy idea of catering to -their epicurean tastes from my own -farm, which consisted of a scant two -acres of shore line in that section of -Cape Cod which is renowned for its -scarcity of soil.</p> - -<p>The idea came to me soon after we -had moved down for the summer -months, and my wife became so enthusiastic -that it really became our -hobby for the season. We had planned -for a succession of week-ends, and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_145"></a>[145]</span> -many of these agricultural intimates -were coming to us for return visits. -We would feed them upon the fat of -our land or in this case largely the fat -of the sea.</p> - -<p>It is interesting and instructive to -learn just what varieties of food can -be secured from the immediate vicinity -of any place, and to me especially -so of our Cape Cod.</p> - -<p>During the entire summer I felt so -personal an interest in our section of -the country that my small son exclaimed -one day that I talked as if I -owned the entire Cape. I know I felt -a proprietary interest in certain fishing -grounds, the whereabouts of which -I would not confess even on the rack.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_146"></a>[146]</span> -And it amuses me now to think of -the circuitous routes I used in getting -to certain berry patches and stretches -where mushrooms grew overnight. -In variety our dinners, or high teas -(as we always called them), were infinite -as compared with those of our -asparagus associates.</p> - -<p>I remember one little repast which -pleased me mightily, because it came -at the end of one of those hot days—they -are rare on the Cape—when the -wind refused to blow from the southwest. -We had had our swim, but even -golf was a bit too strenuous and food -does not have its usual appeal on such -occasions even on the Cape. It also -happened that our friends of this particular<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_147"></a>[147]</span> -week-end were literally congested -with land and its more generous -offerings, and so when I practiced the -usual humiliatory cough and remarked -that our simple repast came from my -Cape farm and they must excuse its -simplicity, I was just a trifle nervous.</p> - -<p>The melons were a gift from my -plumber, a curious combination. If only -the plumber could plumb as well as -he grows melons upon his barren -sandpile, our summer comfort would -be increased by fifty per cent. No -better melons can be found than these -little fellows. The clam-broth, from -my own clam-bed, was an appetizer. -I seriously believe that there is real -energizing value in such clam-broth<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_148"></a>[148]</span> -as this, boiled down almost to a <i>liqueur</i> -from newly dug clams. Then came -scallops plucked that day from the -seaweed, where they lie at low tide -blowing like miniature whales. We -all know how delicious they are in the -autumn served with <i>tartare</i> sauce, but -have you ever tasted them creamed -with a dash of brown sherry and served -with fresh mushrooms?</p> - -<p>Just as the plumber supplies us -with melons, so the fishman is the -local authority on lettuce. Our salad, -therefore, came from Captain Barwick, -crisp and white with slices of early -pears from a near-by tree, and with it -my favorite muffins of coarse, white -cornmeal toasted, thin, and eaten with<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_149"></a>[149]</span> -beach-plum jam made from our own -bushes in the bramble patch close by -the lane, and cottage cheese which -our cook positively enjoys making.</p> - -<p>My wife had felt this to be a rather -scant repast for those used to dinners -of six or eight courses, and so the -dessert was a substantial huckleberry -pudding served cold from the ice-chest -with whipped cream, and to take -the chill off we had a small glass of -my home-made wild-cherry brandy -with our coffee; and while there are -other beverages which are preferable -I confess it gave us a delightfully -comforting sensation.</p> - -<p>The hearty, genuine praise from -my guests gave me a fleeting feeling<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_150"></a>[150]</span> -of shame at the way I had criticized -their asparagus and numberless eggs, -but the pride of success carried me -with it.</p> - -<p>“Oh, this is not anything; wait until -to-morrow and let me show you the -varieties which my farm offers. In the -catboat, I have a well in which we -keep fish alive. What say you to a -butterfish for breakfast? For dinner -we can either go out to the fishing -grounds for something with a real -pull to it, or we can motor over to -Turtle Pond for a try at a bass, or we -can golf and take a couple of lobsters -out of my pots bobbing up and down -out there by the point.”</p> - -<p>“Hold on,” my friend interjected.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_151"></a>[151]</span> -“What I want to know is whether -every one on the Cape lives in this -way, for if they do I think I shall be -moving down here by another season.”</p> - -<p>“No,” I replied, “very few. In the -first place, most people continue to do -just what their neighbors do—tennis, -golf, swimming, sailing. The fishing -is poor unless you know where to go. -The natives are not helpful unless you -know how to take them, and that is -why I call it all <i>my</i> farm, because I -have taken it all unto myself and I -reap a reward much richer than I deserve.</p> - -<p>“I pass much of my time hunting -up new fishing grounds or the lair of<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_152"></a>[152]</span> -the soft-shell crab, or even the quiet, -muddy recesses of the ‘little necks.’ -I wander about the country exploring -new berry patches, for there is a great -variety of these. And if you must -know, I fraternize with certain delightfully -conversational individuals who -sell me delicious fruit and vegetables -as well as ducks and chickens and a -variety of odds and ends, as, for instance, -that little model over there. But you -could not buy them. No, sir, not until -you learned the art of negotiation to -perfection. You may manage your -estates to the Queen’s taste, but when -it comes to managing a Cape-Codder, -ah, that’s not done so easily.”</p> - -<p>I see my friends leading the conventional<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_153"></a>[153]</span> -summer life and wonder at -times how they can come to the Cape -year after year and yet be strangers -to its real fascination, because it has -many other hidden allurements besides -this quest for food.</p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus28.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_154"></a>[154]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus29.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="XIII">XIII<br /> -<span class="smaller">SCALLOPS</span></h2> - -</div> - -<p>Sport, according to our highest authorities, -is “that which diverts and -makes mirth,” and from this general -interpretation the term has been applied -to games, and to the various -forms of hunting and fishing commonly -known, but I have yet to hear -the word applied to the pursuit of the -scallop. And yet, scalloping more<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_155"></a>[155]</span> -nearly approaches the original meaning -of sport than most of the games -which are commonly classed under -this heading, for not only does the -scallop divert and provoke the mirth -of his pursuer, but the pursuer in turn -evokes a similar feeling and impression -upon those who chance to see him -in action. Those who have never tasted -the joys and excitement of a scallop -hunt have not completed their education -as real sportsmen. It is true that -Badminton does not devote a volume -to this particular pastime; it is equally -true that the progressive American -journalist, whose duty it is to supply -the sporting columns of his paper with -all the news of current athletic events,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_156"></a>[156]</span> -invariably ignores this important item, -and our mighty Nimrods fail to include -scalloping among their feats of -prowess; but in each case the cause -of the omission invariably can be traced -to ignorance, and to the fact that your -scallop-hunter is a wary fellow who -says but little and boasts less, fearing -inadvertently to disclose the favored -haunts of his favorite prey. And so, -for these and divers causes, the pursuit -of the scallop lies in obscurity.</p> - -<p>On the other hand, the scallop has -been a friend to man for generations -in many and varied ways. In the days -of the Crusaders, the pilgrims returning -from the Holy Land wore scallop -shells, gathered upon the coast of<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_157"></a>[157]</span> -Palestine, as a badge or mark of the -success of their wanderings. At an -equally early period the scallop shell -became an important factor in design, -from architecture, through the various -stages, to the adornment of women’s -clothes. The scallop shell is discovered -embedded in the capitals of many -famous columns. It will be found -chiseled upon the keystones of countless -arches. Scarcely a theater but -possesses it among its mural decorations. -Upon the title-pages of books -it serves in an equally decorative capacity, -while the scalloping upon the -hems of dresses brings the scallop’s -shell familiarly into our family life.</p> - -<p>In addition to all this, certain families<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_158"></a>[158]</span> -of ancient lineage have adopted -the shell as a part of their crest. Heraldry -traces the cause to the days of -the Knights of the Holy Land.</p> - -<p>The scallop, therefore, has been -sought by generations, and is no marine -upstart basing his claims to popularity -upon his flavor as a savory dish -for a modern Lucullus. In short, the -scallop is historic, artistic, decorative, -and delicious. In real life, however, -he is one of the numerous marine bivalve -mollusks of the genus <i>Pecten</i>, -and to those who have not already -recognized the symmetrically ribbed -shells so often found upon our beaches, -a dictionary is recommended.</p> - -<p>Although his past is buried in the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_159"></a>[159]</span> -annals of the Holy Land, in Ægean -waters, and upon the banks of the -Red Sea, just at present he is rampant -upon the shoals of Cape Cod, and it -is here that our scallopers pursue him -during the weeks previous to early -autumn days, when the Cape fisherman -wages destruction with sea-rakes, -seines, and nets.</p> - -<p>Imagine the tide running low, disclosing -the bright, sandy bottoms of -countless inlets, the ripple of the waters -making dim the outlines of the -corrugated surfaces of the submerged -shore. At such times, and in certain -localities which shall be nameless, -the wily hunter issues forth in bathing-suit -or rubber-booted, or even—in<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_160"></a>[160]</span> -the enthusiasm of the moment—fully -clothed, with pail or basket sometimes -attached to his waist by a cord. -He wades in at a slow pace, gazing -searchingly into the depths of the -water for a sign of his prey, choosing -at first the shoals where it is easier to -see, and as likely a spot as others for -fine shellfish. And here a curious phenomenon -is discovered; his eye catches -the glint of a shining shell and he -stoops to secure it, only to find a half -shell without life. The brighter the -shell, the less chance of its being inhabited. -The scallop covers himself -when possible with a few strands of -seaweed, or buries himself in the mud -or sand, and therefore, when in the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_161"></a>[161]</span> -full bloom of life, he looks like a -hoary, hairy thing of past history, an -encrusted shell from which life might -have departed a century ago. If, by -good fortune, the hand comes in contact -with him, however, his vitality is -made quickly evident by a savage snap -of his shell, as the large muscle expands -and contracts in self-defense, -and should a finger become caught -between the upper and lower shells, -the hunter is in for a sharp nip. The -quest leads from spot to spot, from -shoal water out into deeper parts, -until one finds one’s self waist-deep, -bending and stooping, raking the bottom -with frenzied hand groping for -these tufted prizes, and when one is<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_162"></a>[162]</span> -fortunate to secure a good spot, the -hand never fails to bring up one, two, -and sometimes more, of these irate -creatures whose antics evoke admiration -and whose strength seems almost -abnormal.</p> - -<p>There are bright, warm days in the -latter part of August when on many -parts of the shore may be seen men, -women, and children by scores, curiously -and wonderfully garbed, grotesquely -postured, wading the waters -in this fascinating pursuit, which, after -the quiet glamor of clam-digging, -possesses the excitement of big-game -hunting. Were it not for a strict law -these same hardy hunters would, undoubtedly, -be found in dories, plying<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_163"></a>[163]</span> -a small net for the same purpose, but -the very crudity of the chase has its -advantages, for one comes close to the -life of the sea bottom, and all that -goes on there, from the waving masses -of seaweed of many varieties to the -countless forms of life clinging to the -rocks, embedded in the mud or darting -through the water. The sea bottom -is as busy as Broadway, and as -full of mystery.</p> - -<p>The reader must not for a moment -imagine the scallop, however, as belonging -to a sedentary type of life. -Often he is found moving at a high -rate of speed through the water, propelled -by this same muscle which -provides his defense. By opening and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_164"></a>[164]</span> -closing his shell he moves forward -and upward or downward, apparently -at will, digging himself into the mud -and effectually hiding himself from -his pursuers. He deserves the respect -of his superiors in the animal kingdom, -and at the same time proves -himself fair game by his prowess.</p> - -<p>And so one is led out and out still -farther, until, bent upon securing one -more victim, a mouthful of water and -smarting eyes give notice that those -beyond are safe for the time being, -and the successful hunter returns to -his boat with a full pail, while the -sun, enormous and a deep orange red, -is just touching the horizon.</p> - -<p>The conquest is not complete, for<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_165"></a>[165]</span> -it is no easy task to open these snapping -bivalves, and thus to extract the -muscle that is the edible portion, and -the full reward is by no means reaped. -That is left for the evening meal, -when the scallop becomes the <i>pièce de -résistance</i> cooked in one of a hundred -ways. But of this let a <i>cordon bleu</i> -convince you, whose best efforts are -secured and deserved by the scallop.</p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus30.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_166"></a>[166]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus31.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="AFTERMATH"><i>AFTERMATH</i></h2> - -</div> - -<p>And now comes the fall of the year -with days gorgeous in coloring, from -the clear crystal blue of the sky reflected -in sparkling waters to the -flame-tinted stretches of woodland -watched over by tall pines and guarded -by stately cedars. The sandy roads glisten -in the distances, marking off sections -of the Cape country as a huge -picture puzzle. The atmosphere seems -purged of all imperfection, giving to -every town and hamlet a spotless appearance -bright with late flowers and -fresh fruit awaiting the harvest. Azure -days of October, the most perfect of the -year. It is then that regretfully we say -“au revoir” to our beloved Cape in all -its glory.</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<p class="center">The Riverside Press<br /> -CAMBRIDGE. MASSACHUSETTS<br /> -U.S.A</p> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAPE CODDITIES ***</div> -<div style='text-align:left'> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will -be renamed. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg™ electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG™ -concept and trademark. 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b/old/old/68998-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index a0c4dd9..0000000 --- a/old/old/68998-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,2312 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of Cape Coddities, by Roger Livingston -Scaife - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: Cape Coddities - -Author: Roger Livingston Scaife - -Illustrator: Harold Cue - -Release Date: September 16, 2022 [eBook #68998] - -Language: English - -Produced by: Steve Mattern and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team - at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images - generously made available by The Internet Archive) - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAPE CODDITIES *** - - - - - - -CAPE-CODDITIES - -[Illustration] - - - - - CAPE - CODDITIES - - _By_ - DENNIS and MARION - CHATHAM - - _WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY_ - HAROLD CUE - - [Illustration] - - BOSTON AND NEW YORK - HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY - 1920 - - COPYRIGHT, 1920, BY HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY - - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED - - - - -[Illustration] - -_FOREWORD_ - - -These essays—thumbnail sketches of Cape Cod—should not be taken as a -serious attempt to describe the Cape or to delineate its people. They -merely express a perennial enthusiasm for this summer holiday land, -to-day the playground of thousands of Americans, three hundred years ago -the first “land of the free and home of the brave.” - -Acknowledgments are here given to the _Atlantic Monthly_ for permission -to include “A By-Product of Conservation” and “Scallops,” to _The -Outlook_ for the same courtesy for “A Blue Streak,” and to _The House -Beautiful_ for “A Casual Dwelling-Place.” - - THE AUTHORS. - -_January, 1920._ - - - - -[Illustration] - -_CONTENTS_ - - - I. _A Message from the Past_ 1 - - II. _The Casual Dwelling-Place_ 10 - - III. _The Ubiquitous Clam_ 27 - - IV. _A By-Product of Conservation_ 38 - - V. _Motor Tyrannicus_ 51 - - VI. _“Change and Rest”—Summer Bargaining_ 69 - - VII. _A Blue Streak_ 87 - - VIII. _A Fresh-Water Cape_ 97 - - IX. _Al Fresco_ 112 - - X. _Models_ 122 - - XI. “_A Wet Sheet and a Flowing Sea_” 132 - - XII. _My Cape Farm_ 140 - - XIII. _Scallops_ 154 - - _Aftermath_ 166 - - - - -[Illustration] - -_CAPE-CODDITIES_ - - - - -I - -A MESSAGE FROM THE PAST - - -Is it not strange that people who dwell in the same city block from -October to May, enjoying with mutual satisfaction the life which touches -them equally, should from May to October show such varying opinions that -argument is futile? These people who have wintered so happily together -may be placed in three classes—those who claim for the State of Maine the -exclusive right to the title of “God’s Own Country,” those who think of -the North Shore and Paradise as synonymous, and those other fortunates -whose regard for Cape Cod places it second only to heaven itself. - -Therefore, it is interesting to read the following passages and to find -these same divergent views of the Cape in earliest times. - -Captain John Smith in his account of New England in 1614, in a passing -reference to Cape Cod, says it “is a headland of high hills of sand -overgrown with shrubbie pines, hurts and such trash, but an excellent -harbor for all weathers. This cape is made by the maine sea on one -side and a great bay on the other, in the form of a sickle. On it doth -inhabit the people of Pawmet and in the Bottome of the Bay, the people of -Chawum.” Scant praise. - -Bartholomew Gosnold, writing to Raleigh in 1602, through the medium of -his associate, John Brereton, said, “We stood a while like men ravished -at the beautie and delicacie of this sweet soil”; and later, “truly the -holsomnese and temperature of this climat doth not only argue this people -(Indian) to be answerable to this description, but also of a perfect -constitution of body, active, strong, healthful and very wittie.” - -Here spoke the original summer visitor and the founder of that colony -which dots the coast from Marion to Manomet. - -If Gosnold could see the Cape on the present day, he would doubtless -show profound disappointment, unless he had chanced to invest in shore -property, for the forests teeming with game have disappeared, and no -trace of the wit he describes can be detected among the few Indians who -still cling to the shores of Mashpee Pond. But the broad waters, the -sloping sands, and above all the soft climate which Mr. Brereton tells -us did so much for the aborigine, and which now transforms our children -into veritable little red men, remain. - -Despite the depredations which the Cape has suffered at the hands of -both natives and summer residents, its flavor has been maintained, and -the very fact that it is largely inhabited serves well in these days of -friendly intercourse and indulgent habits; for we all of us must live -happily in summer, and to do so means comfort, food, and drink. And so we -find each town, however diminutive, possesses its Butcher and Baker and -Candlestick-Maker. - -The latter, to be sure, is employed by the local electric light plant, -and often his trade includes a knowledge of simple plumbing. The Baker -more often is both Postmaster and Grocer, while the Butcher may be -found to be the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen. But all are true to -the type, and that wit which Gosnold so happily mentions may often be -detected among these simple people, some of whom are sea captains whose -taciturnity has been transformed into a shrewd cynicism coupled not -infrequently with a delightful optimism. Rarely will a native Cape-Codder -get the worst of a repartee and still more rarely will you find him the -first to terminate a conversation. He is as tenacious in conversational -competition as he is lax in business aggression. In fact, he would far -rather stand on the corner and describe to you, in detail, the amount of -work that has been shouldered upon him by So and So and So and So’s wife, -than to make the slightest attempt to accomplish any of the sundry duties -imposed. And yet he knows, and so do you, if you are at all versed in -Cape ways, that he will receive ample financial return for his slightest -service. - -There is no such word as hurry in the bright lexicon of Cape Cod, but -I confess it with some trepidation, for my many Cape friends will take -violent exception to my statement, true as it is. And yet I do not blame -them. I believe it is thoroughly accounted for by the climate; for when I -first visit the Cape in the spring or early summer, I always experience -a languor which makes the slightest effort seem a task of large -proportions. In short, I am lazy and prefer to see some one else do it. -This feeling generally passes away with the sheer joy of vacation days, -days of freedom and fresh air; but I realize that the climate breeds a -lack of ambition, to which I doubtless would succumb were I to live on -without interruption amid the Cape-Codders. - -And therefore I prefer to think of the Cape as a playground for the -initiate, a wonderland for children, and a haven of rest for the tired of -all ages, a land where lines and wrinkles quickly disappear under the -soothing softness of the tempered climate. - -Joseph Lincoln has told us of the people; Thoreau has written of the -place; but no one will really know the Cape unless he becomes a part of -it. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -II - -THE CASUAL DWELLING-PLACE - - -Is there a reader who has not at one time or another gloated over the -terrors, the thrills, and the mysteries which, in fiction, invariably -lie hidden in an unoccupied house? When one stops to think of it nearly -all the literature of roguery, as so clearly set forth in former days by -Wilkie Collins, Gaboriau, down to Conan Doyle and Mary Roberts Rinehart, -possesses as its most important stage-setting an untenanted mansion. It -may be one of those familiar villas generally located somewhere near -Hampstead Heath, a house set apart from its neighbors and surrounded -by a hedge; a house with every appearance of having been closed for -several years and now showing the first signs of decay; or it may be one -of those somber brownstone houses situated in one of the many New York -residential streets, where every house so closely resembles its fellows -as to court mischief to all who may return late at night; or again, it -may be one of those palatial country houses set among lawns and gardens -which are invariably described with broad, magnificent porticoes toward -which spotless limousines are continually approaching at top speed for no -apparent reason. Such a setting is perhaps the commonest, and the time is -always just before the family arrive for the season or just after they -have left for other equally expensive quarters. Now and then the novelist -will modestly cast the fate of his story in the seclusion of a deserted -cottage by the sea or a lonely hut among the hills, but rarely does this -occur nowadays. The mystery story is as dependent upon luxury of setting -as is the modern bachelor upon his creature comforts. And, therefore, -if the devotee of fiction chose to apply himself to this theme, he -would find that nearly all novelists, great and small, from Dickens -to Oppenheim, from Hawthorne to Anna Katharine Green, have utilized -the empty house to bring about the climactic point in the weaving of -some gruesome tale. So clear are these fictional features that, by the -association of ideas, one’s fears and apprehensions are invariably -aroused whenever the occasion arises when an unoccupied house or even an -untenanted apartment must be entered. - -With that unmistakable odor of mustiness comes afresh this uncomfortable -sense of trepidation (hardly fear, perhaps), and with it a conviction -that rats and mice are hidden spectators, and that the darkness and gloom -could well hide crime as well as the thieves themselves. This entire -mental state is largely caused by the aforesaid novelists, who I doubt -not would have the same hesitancy in opening the door of a darkened -chamber or in groping down the cellar stairs of a house long left to -disintegration. - -In short, reading has trained us all to regard empty houses with -suspicion, an absurd state of mind which should be quickly dispelled, for -in the case of nine out of every ten, yes, or ninety-nine out of every -hundred houses, there is no cause whatever for suspicion. - -There is a sunny little house on the shores of Buzzard’s Bay which -remains unoccupied except for ten weeks in the summer. Its shutters are -closed and fastened long before the oaks have turned to their gorgeous -fall colorings or the marigolds and phlox have lost the freshness of -their bloom. - -The soft, salty breeze, rippling the waters, the dancing rays of the -September sun through the swaying pines, give a joyous setting to this -cottage by the water, courting as it were an occupant. The hardiest of -that overworked class of readers who rely upon mystery stories would -find it difficult to conjure up a tragedy for such a spot. The native -Cape-Codders, knowing the owners, always glance over toward the cottage -as they pass by in the hope of finding a blind open or a light through -the trees, to show that some of “ther fam’ly be down for Sunday.” For -this is one of the important services which this particular cottage -renders to its owners. As the scion of the family (aged ten) once sagely -remarked, “We use the cottage more when it’s closed than when it’s open.” -And to each and every member of this house its welcome is always the -same. The family reach the house after dark on a Saturday night. The lock -readily responds to familiar fingers, the door creaks a friendly welcome -as the family grope their way through the hall in good-humored rivalry -to see which shall be the first to secure the box of matches always kept -on the right-hand corner of the mantelpiece in the living-room for this -emergency. Then, as the lamps are lighted, the old familiar objects -appear precisely as they had been left, perhaps six months before, with -a coating of dust, to be sure, but nothing which a few moments and a -dustcloth could not remove; for dust in this region is little known. -True, the chairs, or at least such of them as possess cushions, are -shrouded in covers. The sofa is a bulging conglomeration of cushions, -gathered from all hammocks and piazza furniture; but a few deft passes -by the fairy godmother of this establishment, and presto, the cushions -are distributed and the sofa offers a cozy retreat for the entire party. -Otherwise the living-room is livable. A fire ready laid is only waiting -for a match and a turn of the hand to open the flue. Such is a cottage by -the sea if it has been planned and built as it should be, not alone for -summer use, but also for spring and autumn holidays. - -The little cottage in question is a very ancient affair. A long line -of sturdy Cape-Codders dwelt in it, uncomfortably, for generations. It -was not until a few years ago that it was entirely renovated, enlarged, -and equipped for summer use. Much care and thought were given to its -convenience, and it stands to-day as a model for perennial use as a -casual habitation. But it has certain drawbacks; as, for instance, -plaster. Such a cottage, to secure the maximum comfort with the minimum -of expense, should be unplastered, and without a cellar so that the -circulation of air will keep the house free from dampness. There should -be a kerosene cooking-stove in the kitchen so that the cooking can be -done without jeopardizing the water coil or boiler. Furthermore, unless -one’s family and friends are experts in the culinary art, the usual stove -fire is built regardless of the cost of coal or kindlings, and the -fire itself is apt to take a good deal of time in the making, several -trials often being necessary before the coals kindle into a respectable -glow. The problem of water is perhaps the most troublesome. No house, of -course, can be left with the water on during the winter season. These -Cape cottages are no exception to the rule, and every pipe is carefully -drained and the faucets greased to prevent rust. - -To go to the trouble of turning on the water system for an occasional -Sunday or holiday was manifestly out of the question, and so the owner of -this particular cottage solved the difficulty in true backwoods fashion. -A small stone tank, placed in the closet behind the stove, holding not -over five gallons of water, was always religiously filled. This served as -lubricant for a hand pump at the kitchen sink. One of the first duties in -starting in housekeeping was to heat a pail of this water, thaw out the -pump, and thus secure the supply which adequately filled the family needs -for the day or two of camp life to be enjoyed. - -You will ask what of bedding and blankets? They are there at hand. As -a matter of fact, the less one puts away the better for each and every -article. All blankets hung upon ropes stretched across the attic are dry -and ready for use. Upon such occasions as the one noted, the family do -without sheets and sleep fully as soundly. The blazing of the fire logs -and the warmth of the living-room have given to all a drowsy feeling -which defies wakefulness when once the head touches the pillow. - -If any one should contemplate making use of his summer house in this -fashion, there are certain suggestions which it would be well to follow; -points which any yachtsman or camper would never overlook. - -First of all, there should be a place for everything and everything -should be in place. You can never tell when you will return. Perhaps you -may be delayed and not arrive until after dark, chilled and hungry from -a long motor ride. At such times a fire ready laid, with a good store of -dried wood, is essential to happiness and comfort. - -There should always be a list of provisions left at the house so that -you may avoid duplication in purchasing supplies. Besides food, there -should also be such necessaries as soap, matches, and candles. These -should always be left in the boxes to prevent the mice and squirrels -from robbing one. A good scheme is to build a zinc-lined cupboard in the -pantry in which to keep such perishables. - -Kerosene is dangerous to leave about, and it is well to bring this with -you for the cook-stove; furthermore, it is hard to remember whether -enough has been left at the house for twenty-four hours’ use. - -Care should always be taken to leave the small water tank filled unless -you plan to secure your supply from a friend or neighbor. - -Your pots and pans, cutlery, dishes, and glasses should always be washed -and put away in order before leaving, ready for instant use. - -A little system will make all the difference in the world in the comfort -and enjoyment of such an outing, and will save labor, so that your actual -work will be done in much less time and the daylight hours can be given -over to the outdoor life which endears the place to each and every -member of your family. - -Whether it be a canoe, a knockabout, a gun, or a fishing-line, the -life outside the cottage will be a reflection of that within and -your enjoyment will come from the facility with which you manage the -essentials of simple living. And so after you have enjoyed your day in -the open, you will return to the cottage and discover that the simple -comforts which it offers, while perhaps lacking the luxury of your daily -routine at home, will be enjoyed with a relish far beyond that existence -in a brick block, amid a mass of bric-à-brac and surrounded by servants. -In its place you will devour an unusual amount of food which tastes the -better because you have cooked it, and later you will fall asleep with -the wind singing in the trees, and the waves lapping the shores. The -occasional barking of a dog will arouse no apprehension, and the dread of -haunted houses, of mysterious deeds accomplished behind closed shutters, -will have vanished until you are safe home again with a “thriller” to -pass away the time before it is seasonable to retire. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -III - -THE UBIQUITOUS CLAM - - “They scattered up & down ... by yᵉ waterside, wher they could - find ground nuts and clams.” (William Bradford, _History of - Plymouth Plantation_, II, 130.) - - -Surprising as it may seem, the clam, at least under his own name, -does not appear in the Encyclopædia Britannica. And yet the clam is -proverbial, metaphorical, and substantial, so substantial, in fact, -that individuals of uncertain digestion have been rendered distinctly -unhappy after a hearty encounter. But what is more surprising to the -average person, and especially to the novice in clamming, is where all -the clams come from for the unending clam-bakes, clam-chowders, and the -various concoctions necessitating a generous supply of these silent -shellfish. A journey to the beach at low tide (for all clammers know from -the reference to that animal’s joyous spirit at high water that clamming -is useless at that period) generally fails to accomplish more than a -very lame back, muddy feet, and a paltry dozen or more specimens of the -clam family, generally of immature age. The profusion of empty shells -scattered about encourage the clammer into the belief that here, at -least, is a favorable locality for his first efforts, and he grasps his -fork and bends low, thrusting the implement into the black ooze with keen -anticipation that the mud will disclose a whole family of clams, ready -at hand for capture; but, instead, he is rewarded by finding a number -of white shells, seemingly clams, but in reality merely their shells -held closely together by mud and sand, the skeletons of former bivalves -whose souls have fled to other worlds and whose bodies have long since -disappeared the way of all flesh. And so he seeks another spot, and the -same process is repeated. Each time he is conscious of an increasing -stiffening of the back, recalling former twinges of lumbago, and after -an hour or so the tide forces him to retreat, and he returns dejectedly -to partake of a thin clam-broth, upon the top of which, as a consolation -prize, his wife has tactfully placed a little whipped cream. - -And yet the clam is ubiquitous, once you know him, and the clammer, -himself, has been immortalized by Mr. William J. Hopkins in several -delightful stories with which certain readers are familiar. The -enthusiast soon learns their favorite haunts and on favorable tides he -gathers these bivalves by the pailful. For chowders and for bait alike he -digs, constructs a wire cage in which to keep his precious clams from -day to day, and week to week, and thus they become, as it were, almost a -part of his summer _entourage_. - -The clam is a numerous family (_Mya arenaria_, were one to become -scientific). The ordinary mud clam which inhabits the tidewater harbors -of our coasts; the quahog, whose young, termed “little necks,” are -served, uncooked, as appetizers; and the sea clam, are very familiar in -appearance and habits; but all varieties are secured in different ways -and in varying localities, and therein lies an added charm to the pastime -of clam-digging. - -There is a certain portion of the coast line in a very attractive -section of Cape Cod, which shall be nameless, where all varieties of -these mollusks abound, and it is difficult at times to decide which -variety to pursue. The ordinary mud clam is generally sought on the -especially low tides so kindly afforded by the moon at stated intervals. -It is then that the tide line resembles miniature trenches—first-line -defenses, if you will—so many and so persistent are the pursuers, -who look for all the world as if they were digging themselves in in -anticipation of a machine-gun attack. - -The quahog is more secure, for he lives in No Man’s Land, beyond the -trenches and just under the surface of the mud. If one is walking up a -salty, muddy creek—and surprising as the fact may seem, one often does -follow this watery by-path—the foot will continue to disclose these big -fellows. In the course of an hour of this method of locomotion, a full -pail of quahogs may be secured without further discomfort than a pair -of wet legs and two very muddy feet. The fishermen, however, regard -such efforts as time lost. They manipulate two long-handled rakes bound -together at the bottom, and with this implement a sort of hand-dredging -process is performed which apparently yields better results. But it is -only the native fisherman, with his knowledge of tides and currents, of -sandy or muddy bottoms, of channels and shoals, who can successfully -locate the choice spots where these quahogs lie hidden beneath water, -seaweed, and mud. - -The sea clam is as immaculately clean as his harbor cousin is muddy. -He is likewise found just beneath the surface of the water, buried in -firm white sand over which the white-crested breakers foam on the beach. -These clams are not greatly valued as food. They are gamy and tough in -comparison to their brethren and a sharp contrast in appearance, with -their delicate, smooth shell of an exquisite _café au lait_ color, and it -is for this reason, perhaps, that only the most enthusiastic of clammers -or fishermen after bait know of their whereabouts. - -Along the beaches where thousands of Americans may be seen in -impressionistic attire, disporting themselves by bobbing up and down -in the waves, one could easily secure a pailful of these fascinating -creatures by wading out and groping in the sands. No more exhilarating -pleasure can be secured from surf bathing than in this pastime, which -calls for agility in dodging the breakers as they roll in. While you are -in the act of dislodging a fine fat specimen, your pail grasped in one -hand, the other embedded in the sand seeking your prey, your body is -swept first in, then out, by the waves. In order to regain your balance -you lose your hold, just escape being toppled over by the next wave -rushing toward its finish on the sands, and miss the clam; and so the -process begins all over again. - -The “little necks” have their own places of abode close to the surface of -the mud in sequestered inlets. Now and again the plebeian clammer will -come across a stray family of little fellows while in quest of the common -variety, but as a pastime digging for “little necks” has but little zest. - -And now, after realizing the fascination of clamming, why be surprised -if, when you run down to the Cape for a week-end, your host grips you -with a hand, cold and moist from submersion—a “clammy hand”; and why be -surprised if on the following day, instead of the routine of golf and -tennis, you are initiated into this simple sport? The surprise would come -to the writer of this slight dissertation if he should find you callous -to the delight of clamming or disrespectful of the occupation of the -clammer. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -IV - -A BY-PRODUCT OF CONSERVATION - - -The torrent of conservation surged over our community in war-time with -a mighty roar, carrying with it all thought of flowers and lawns, and -making chaos of our cherished plans for a summer garden. With a velocity -which only social enterprise could initiate, New England became a market -garden from Eastport to Greenwich. Conservation developed back yards -and vacant lots into gardens, and bank clerks into farmers, enthusiastic -at the prospect, and innocent of the coming torments which weeds and -pests would soon bring with them. And so, for this same reason, our -flower garden on the Cape simmered down to a few nasturtiums and whatever -blossoms of a perennial nature cared to show themselves, while our spring -borders, usually a riot of color, were given over to vegetables. - -What, then, should we have in our vases to reflect the profusion of the -outdoor season? For a room without flowers in summer is as devoid of -character and charm as a man without a necktie. The solution, naturally, -was soon found by many in the wild flowers, and if conservation has -accomplished nothing else, its gift to us of an appreciation of the -beauty and variety of these exquisite plants will more than repay our -efforts to grow potatoes, beans, and corn at exorbitant prices with -doubtful success. - -The last days of school for the children and certain affairs at the -office, together with fixed habits which tyrannize over the household, -kept us from leaving for the Cape until late in June, so that we missed -the mayflowers which have made Cape Cod famous for generations. The iris -and violets, too, had disappeared, as well as the dogwood with its -delicate and generous pink-and-white petals. A few short hours after our -arrival, my little daughter discovered near by some exquisite specimens -of the wild lupine growing just as I had last seen it upon the slopes -of Mount Tamalpais near San Francisco, although perhaps not in the same -profusion. - -From that first day until well into September, our living-room was made -joyous by a succession of flowers as delicate and graceful as ever came -from the highly cultivated gardens of the idle rich—a term which will -soon vanish and justly so. - -The wild roses were late and never more plentiful or more perfect. The -daisies, arranged amid clusters of shiny bayberry and huckleberry leaves, -were transformed into stately decorations. The broom, as it is often -called, which abounds in certain sections of the Cape, planted there -in past years without doubt, gave one a sense of having been ferried -across the sea overnight, while our own columbine and wild geranium made -a pleasing variety, especially when arranged with the soft green of the -wild sarsaparilla. - -With the coming of July, the _Hudsonia_, or beach heather, clothed our -foreground with brilliant yellow spots, touches of the sun here and -there, while the low wild shrubs and grasses seemed to grow overnight -in their desire to hide our view of the water. After a week of rain -in which we were confined to the flowers about the house—succulent -clover, Queen Anne’s lace, and a wide variety of tall grasses, which, -mingled with pine branches, form admirable wall decoration—our desire -for botanical information led us to scour the near-by country, not with -guide-book, motor-maps, or even a copy of “How to Know the Wild Flowers,” -but to journey simply forth, either on foot or tucked tightly into -our Ford car. To come unexpectedly upon one of the many ponds dotted -with lilies and fringed with a variety of flowering shrubs caused as -delightful a sensation as the same sight a few years ago would have -aroused, only then it would have stimulated a very different desire—the -thought of a possible bass, lazily drifting below the surface, to be -tempted, perhaps, by a fly, would have been uppermost. But this summer -our sport lay in securing wild flowers, a harmless and charming pastime -in which for the first time all the members of the family found equal -enjoyment, and even our near neighbors, confirmed golfers, admitted the -fascination of our newly acquired sport. To return laden with lilies, -wild clematis, marsh mallows, delicately pink upon their tall, stately -stems, cat-tails, red lilies, the fragrant clethra, and a variety of -other flowers whose names are to be discovered in the winter over a -“complete botanical guide,” savored of a veritable triumph. - -Our growing interest in this wild garden was amply rewarded, for now in -August the flowers were at their height and it became doubly interesting. -Whether the discovery of new varieties or the satisfaction of gathering -and arranging the commonest weeds brought the greater pleasure, it is -hard to judge. The recollection of a tall, graceful copper vase filled -with the despised chicory and bouncing Bet, the blue of the one and the -delicate, pinkish purple of the other blending charmingly and supported -in contrast by a few sprays of sumac leaves, lingers as one of the -floral discoveries of the summer. A mass of fireweed, interspersed with -slender sprays of salt grass in full bloom, is another. - -And yet to the sportsman or the embryonic scientist, individuals of very -similar characteristics, an excursion into the back country through the -woods, a good, long, honest tramp in pursuit of new floral game, and the -finding, now a clump of cardinal-flowers and again the deadly nightshade -(for the sportsman and scientist alike are fearless), is keen pleasure. - -At times we would return with little booty to show for our trouble, a -gathering of St. John’s-wort, perhaps, or a few stalks of mallow or -one-eyed daisies, but never empty-handed and always with the exhilaration -of the thought that here was a garden without limit, without weeds, and -without the cares and expenses to which we were accustomed. - -In arrangement, it must be confessed that discussion often arose. Certain -members of the family, who shall be nameless, preferred a few blooms -alone in each vase, while others clamored loudly for garnishings of salt -grasses and other green decorations. Upon such flowers as butterfly-weed -and tansy, such discussions nearly ended in riots, and only a tactful -distribution of these blooms to those who had gathered them with full -authority as to arrangement secured peace. - -The goldenrod made its appearance earlier than usual, the handsome, -sturdy variety which grows close to the tidewater being especially fine. -With it came the purple and white wild asters, which are in reality so -much more beautiful than the cultivated kind, and the sea lavender vying -with baby’s-breath in its delicacy. - -In this September a pleasant surprise came in the discovery of a flower -which we called—and possibly incorrectly so—the wild primrose, growing -close to the coast among the pines and scrub oaks; and blooming at this -same time was the beach pea, a long, climbing vine of a pinkish-violet -color, luxuriating amid the desolation of the sand-dunes. - -Close upon the heels of these blossoms, which both seemed to belong to -the springtime, the turning of the leaves, the crispness of the air, -the short evenings, and the aforesaid three governing reasons, school, -office, and domestic domination, decided us with more reluctance than -ever to close the cottage. It was not until our luggage was packed and -ready that our final gatherings of the season’s wild flowers were removed -and the vases put away against the coming of next spring. - -It still remains to be seen whether conservation will ultimately lead to -a saving in the cost of food (for Americans are more given to preaching -than to practice) but it has served us well in our appreciation of -certain of the good things in life. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -V - -MOTOR TYRANNICUS - - -In the dim days of a decade ago—a generation might well have passed, -for time is measured by the march of events rather than the procession -of years—I remember yearning for the possession of an automobile. It -mattered not what make, or shape or size or year. I was oblivious to the -merits of six cylinders as opposed to four. I laughed at the enthusiast -who reckoned upon the length of wheel-base as deciding his comforter -the question of demountable rims as governing his decision as to which -make to select. All I coveted was something on wheels (preferably four) -of my own which might go or even might not go, for so rampant was the -possessive desire in my heart that the chief thing in the world seemed -to me at that time to be able to say “My motor” in an utterly casual, -matter-of-fact tone, and back it up by nodding my head in the direction -of the barn, which after the fashion of marriages had suddenly changed -its name overnight by the possession of a master, and so became my -“garage.” - -This ridiculous state of mind is easy to account for. In winter we lived -in the suburbs where it seemed to both my wife and to me that every -friend we had owned a car. In summer we sojourned upon Cape Cod, where -the motor had replaced the runabout so completely that our old horse -looked like a prehistoric relic of the Stone Age. Added to this was the -ignominy of knowing that the Butcher and Baker both possessed machines -and had that mythological person the Candlestick-maker abided in our -town, doubtless he also would have honk-honked his way by our door. - -In short, the thing got so badly on our nerves that finally, with full -knowledge of the financial iniquity involved, I purchased one of those -hopelessly plebeian affairs which travel under so many opprobrious -pseudonyms—a Ford. From that day to this I have owned some sort of a car -and have thought myself a wise and a fortunate man, and subconsciously I -have felt myself rather more of a person because of this possession, for -such is the frailty of human nature. - -To-day, however, marks a turning-point, a milestone, a crisis in my -career. Personally I consider this day one of triumph—I have sold my car. -I have no independent means of transportation other than my own good -legs—or, at least, they were so until I neglected them—and I rejoice in -my motorless state. I feel a sense of exhilaration in my freedom from -Fords, from the bondage of Buicks, from captivity in my Chandler Sedan. -Such exhilaration is doubtless hard to understand because precisely the -same conditions now exist which originally drove me into buying that -first “Universal Car,” only in a more exaggerated degree. My children -(and now there are more of them) are always clamoring for rides, even for -the short distance of a few blocks which separates our house from school. -My wife (and I must confess there is now more of her too) still plies her -trade of exchanging visits and buzzing about town all day long, never -thinking of walking, and for myself, I have become mutely accustomed -to the rôle of family chauffeur when not attempting that increasing -impossibility, the attempt to make both ends meet. - -And yet, is it after all so hard to understand this relief? In the first -place, the car, no matter what variety, either goes or it does not go. -If by chance it goes, you must go with it. If it does not go, you must -make it go or get some one who knows more about it than you do, and who -costs more than you do, to mend it. That means that you go upstairs into -your own room and change into old clothes reserved for this purpose, go -down again and out to the garage, where you stand in contemplative mood -for some moments before crawling under the machine. When you are safely -landed in a dripping pool of oil, your children and your neighbor’s -children come trooping in from play and ask you why you are there and -what you are doing. This in itself is disconcerting, for you generally -don’t know. Having successfully found that out you slowly emerge from -your cramped quarters, which compare only with an upper berth, return to -your room, resume the garb of a successful business man, and take the car -to a garage and there wait until some one makes it _sound_ all right. -This individual vies with the tax collector in separating you from all -excess cash. - -This does not happen every day, I admit, but there is a sensation in the -back of the mind of nearly every motorist which is more or less constant. -You know that you worry when the car does not go. There is no ground for -speculation upon this point. You worry about what the matter is, and when -you find you can’t mend it, and take it to a garage to be repaired, you -worry as to whether you have taken it to the right garage, or the right -man in the garage. You fuss over the cost and you continually wonder -whether the repairs have been properly done or whether the blamed thing -won’t break out in the same place the next time you take the car out. And -during this whole period you feel in the bottom of your heart that you -could have mended it just as well yourself. - -Then there are the worries when it _does_ go. You wonder when the tires -are going to give out, whether they are too flat or too inflated, -whether you put in gas before you started, and how the water is. You are -continually guessing whether you have too much or too little oil, and you -generally guess wrong. - -These, however, are all mere trifles, the superficial maunderings of a -sensitive organism. Your major worries may be classified under three -headings: - -First: the worry of changing cars. Every year the question comes up for -family discussion, competing valiantly with the problem of when we are -to move to the Cape. Shall we turn in the old car and get a new one? If -so, what kind?—and then follows a month of violent discussion in which -my wife and the children take one side and I the other. By instinct I am -a modest man and by habit cautious. I do not like changes, especially -sudden changes, and so my inclination is either to stick to the old -car for another year or buy a new one like it. My family—why I cannot -say—seem to be oppositely inclined. My wife avers that So-and-So has had -great luck with a ⸺. Billy, my eldest, backs her up with several lengthy -anecdotes told him by So-and-So’s son, proving the excellence of that -make above all others. I am sufficiently shaken in my opinion to consult -with the garage-man from whom I bought my car, only to be shown a car of -the variety mentioned in deplorable condition awaiting the mechanic’s -skill. Poor engine, inadequate something or other,—I can’t remember the -name,—and so it goes. My office is thronged with automobile salesmen so -that work is impossible, while the evenings are passed in futile argument -until the final verdict is given, resulting generally in a compromise—a -new car is purchased of a trifle better type at a considerable advance -in price and the old car sacrificed for a song. Those days of budding -greenness for which we have longed through all the cold, useless days of -winter are utterly ruined by this fearful problem. - -The second worry comes with breakfast daily. Who is to use the car during -the day? The day being balmy, I had thought of going to town in it, -especially as I wanted to make a call on the way home. My wife, it seems, -had planned to go to the dressmaker. I should have guessed it. Billy, -who has just arrived at the legal age which foolishly permits youth to -endanger the lives and liberty of American citizens, had planned to take -a number of his cronies to St. Mark’s School to see a ball game. Billy, -as can be readily imagined, wins out. - -This daily observance takes the entire breakfast period and often leads -to slight feeling. I say slight because I rarely ever secure the car -myself unless it needs repairing. - -The last worry may perhaps be more likened to fear. “What next?” I -generally remark—for this third division concerns our friends. In -that happy decade, now but a dream, we used to live in a delightful -community, surrounded by friends who dropped in and then dropped out -again, both happy incidents in our daily life. But now, who has time to -see his neighbors when every one is frantically motoring to some distant -acquaintance miles away? What can you do when some friend at the end of -nowhere invites you to dinner because she knows you have a motor? You go -because your wife explains that this sort of thing is what a motor is for. - -Is this not a matter for worry?—to work in an office until five; to -journey home with the knowledge that in exactly thirty minutes you start -out, in a car which needs oiling and when one of the tires should have -more air, for a distant suburb, where you are to meet a number of people -you do not know and never care to see again. That this sort of thing is -going to increase just as long as you have a pesky car is more than a -cause for worry. It is a calamity. - -In a trice all this vanished, for I sold my car. I remember hearing the -story of a Southerner whose property was taken from him during the Civil -War and who later was robbed of all the money on his person. He confessed -to a feeling of intense joy and relief, for with his loss of property -went his feeling of responsibility, and care-free he entered the army and -fought a gallant fight. - -And so upon that day I walked with elastic tread, head up, chest out, -delighting in the discovery of freedom. I care not that my friends -all possess cars. I’ve had one—several in fact—and I can afford to buy -others, but I am not going to. That is, not yet (and here I remember -my family, somewhat dubiously). I plan to renew the pleasures of daily -rambles over the beautiful hills of my own town. I plan to renew old -friendships with my neighbors near by. I look forward to an occasional -Sunday at home. In short, I picture the joy of being without a motor. - -As a matter of fact, however, this vision was short-lived. In the first -place, the ramble over the old familiar hills made me so beastly lame -that my Sunday at home was a painful one, and the day was punctuated -by the complaints of each and every member of the family over the loss -of the car. I ventured out, still painfully, to call upon one or two of -my old neighbors, just for a run in and out again, but they, it seemed, -were out in their motors, and so I returned dejectedly to the sad-faced -group in my own living-room, where we managed to exist until bedtime, -conversing upon our prospective move to the Cape, and what it meant to -the various members of the family to be—as my daughter puts it—a million -miles away from every one with no means of ever leaving the house. And -so it was the Cape and its appeal which broke my defenses, for I must -confess our seasonal trips there were a delightful part of our existence, -to say nothing of the joys of our summer life. - -The next day I took an early train to town, and I came home that evening -somewhat sheepish, but reasonably happy, for I came in a new car, which -bids fair to be the best one yet; it is certainly the most expensive. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -VI - -“CHANGE AND REST”—SUMMER BARGAINING - - -Although on the surface Cape Cod seems to offer a haven of refuge to that -much overworked appendage to the modern man, the pocket-book, there are -dotted here and there upon the highways and byways many comparatively -innocent pitfalls. - -To a close student of these danger spots, they may be grouped under the -heading “Tea-Rooms, Arts and Crafts Stores, and Antique Shops.” - -I know of no greater relief than to escape from town and come to the -Cape. Once there, the daily routine of office, the absence of any -assigned duty, the leisure hours passed in or on the water or idly -knocking about the golf links, tend to merge one day into another, so -that time flashes past at an alarming rate. But every now and again comes -a day when some member of the family suggests that we take the motor and -extend our vision. It is upon such occasions that we test the financial -astuteness of the aborigines. - -One never visits the Cape without discovering how effectively the climate -stimulates the appetite. What wonder, therefore, that every village and -hamlet possesses a Tea-Room of varying attraction? - -The stop is made and the Tea-Room visited, only to find that the family, -in addition to ordering the tea, with its accompaniment of toast and -cake, or, for the younger members, a bottle of ginger ale or an ice-cream -cone, are bent upon securing a souvenir. The Tea-Room is generally -furnished with an assortment of articles intended for just such gullibles -as ourselves. There are, for instance, baskets of assorted sizes and -colors, for flowers, or fruit, or sewing, or pine cones; in fact for -everything that should be thrown away, but isn’t. We have several such -baskets at home, but that does not prevent some member of the family -from buying another. It will do for a Christmas present. Then there -are varieties of other things made far away and designed to lure the -cheerful motorist, such as charmingly decorated match-cases for elderly -people, noisily painted tin pails for the children, dainty knockers, and -all manner of knick-knacks for the women of the party. The invariable -assortment of what, to a man, seems the essence of uselessness, and yet, -I confess it, attractive to an insidious extent. - -The pocket-book is touched, not severely, to be sure, but there is a -perceptible shrinkage as we file out to continue on our harmless junket. - -For a few miles we bowl along over a delightfully smooth road and give -ourselves over entirely to the view. Now a long stretch of pine woods -gives just a glimpse of the water glistening through the trees; here and -there a little farmhouse, snugly tucked among a clump of lilacs close -to the road, with visions of larger establishments in the distance, -out toward the sea, the homes of summer residents boldly exposed to -the refreshing southwest wind; then a long stretch of marsh and dune -brilliant in the sun. Suddenly we come upon a more thickly populated -district where many of the old houses have been purchased and renovated -to fit the needs of city people, who, with the assistance of some modern -architect, oftentimes make enticing homes of these structures by the -simple addition of porches and piazzas, with bright touches of paint here -and there on blinds and doors, and the whole garnished well with bright -flowers, climbing roses, and cozy hedges. - -It is generally near such a settlement that we come upon the Arts and -Crafts in all their glory. - -Compared to the Tea-Room, the Art-Shop is a veritable mine of treasure. -From a variety of toys which would do credit to Schwartz to a complete -set of hand-painted furniture such as one might expect to find in the -window of the largest furniture store in Boston during the months of May -and June, seems a far cry for a small shop occupying a converted bungalow -in a modest Cape town; but this sort of thing exists, and between these -items there is an almost endless list of what for a better term may be -called “specialties,” and even I, who scorn the newness of furnishings -as they are displayed in town, fall a victim first to an exceptionally -soft-toned rag rug, oval in shape and comfortable to the tread, and also -to a set of doilies made of a light, colorful variety of oilcloth with -dainty pattern that my wife says will save washing; and lastly to a pair -of bayberry candles, olive green and a full eighteen inches high, which -it seems to me will give an admirable touch to our living-room mantel. - -The shrinkage in the pocket-book is easily discernible; in fact I am led -to say briskly that I think we had better be getting along home, and so -we put our new treasures into the car and proceed homewards by a new -route more inland. - -It is always interesting to try the lesser known roads even if they are -a bit rougher. They are little traveled and for this reason pleasanter -in midsummer; one rarely loses the way, for signs are plentiful, and so -we wind about the higher stretches which form the backbone of the Cape, -along sandy roads which at times diminish to mere cart-paths, but at all -times are passable. - -Emerging from this forest district on one such excursion, we came quite -suddenly upon the forking of two roads where a clump of neat-looking -farmhouses, a schoolhouse, and a diminutive church indicated a real town. -Here my eye was arrested by the magic sign “Antiques” stuck into the lawn -in front of one of the houses. - -While I do not admit the slightest lure in the sign of a Tea-Room except -when hard-pressed by hunger, and but scant attraction in the Art-Shop, -there is something about the word “antique” that whets my appetite -for exploration, and especially so when found in a quiet little hamlet -off the beaten path and probably not familiar to the many hundreds of -tourists whose smoothly running motors of ample proportions bespeak -well-filled pocket-books. Consequently I grasped the emergency brake and -came to a sudden stop in spite of a feeble protest from my daughter and a -heavy sigh from my wife on the back seat. - -Where antiques are concerned, I take the lead, or, to be more accurate, -I stand alone, and so proceeded to the back door of the house; for those -who know Cape-Codders well enough realize the inconvenience and delay -which a knock at the front door provokes. - -Seeing a middle-aged woman bending over the stove in the kitchen, I -called a merry “Good-afternoon” by way of salutation. - -“Good-afternoon,” she replied as an echo might have thrown back my words. - -“I saw your sign ‘antiques’ and thought perhaps I might have a look at -them,” I continued, nothing daunted. - -“Mister Eldridge ain’t to home, but if you want to go out to the barn you -can see what he’s got,” she replied, without even turning her head to see -what sort of a second-story man I might be. - -Here was luck, however, for I could look over the stock in trade of this -ambitious couple to my heart’s content, and I made haste to the barn, -which I found converted into one of the most amazing junk-shops it has -ever been my pleasure to explore. - -Crowded together without rhyme or reason, and with no thought of display, -were the goods and chattels of generations of Cape-Codders; tables, -chairs, beds, sofas, ice-chests, a parlor organ, curtain rods, bits of -carpet, crockery in all stages of dilapidation. On one of the tables a -variety of hardware was strewn about, on one of the stiff-backed chairs -reposed three old brass lanterns. A Rogers group on a kitchen table -was flanked by a White Mountain ice-cream freezer on one side and a -fine old fire bucket on the other. A four-poster, of apple-wood, with -fluted posts terminating in pineapple tops, the wood in an excellent -state of preservation, was the repository of a half-dozen pictures, -three face-down, while one of the others disclosed itself as a really -good copy of the engraving of Washington and his family. But to the -casual observer, there seemed scarcely a piece of furniture or, in fact, -anything which was sufficiently in repair to survive the journey to my -house; furthermore, the rank and file of articles were of recent date and -had no charm for the collector. - -However, the very hopelessness of the quest whetted my appetite, and to -the utter disgust of my family, I spent a good half-hour rummaging about, -not only in the main part of the barn, but also in the stalls, and even -in the hayloft, for the whole building was bulging with what seemed the -cast-off furnishings of the entire Cape. - -The result of my examination was a really fine ship’s lantern which I -found in the loft; a pair of old pewter pepper pots, reclining in an old -soap dish, and a couple of straight-back rush-seated chairs, a trifle -rickety, but with the seats in excellent condition with the original rush -plaiting, which is unmistakable. - -For fear of mislaying my selection, I had brought them outside the barn, -and at that moment a lanky, middle-aged farmer drove up in a buggy and -slowly got out. - -“Is this Mr. Eldridge?” I asked. - -“Thet’s me,” he replied. “Been havin’ a look over the department store? -I ain’t got in my elevators, an’ the outing department [here he looked -at my golfing tweeds] ain’t much to brag about, but I’ve got ’most -everything in thar except the town hearse an’ I’m savin’ that for my -mother-in-law.” - -By George! I thought, here’s one of the real old-timers, nothing taciturn -about him, and I pointed to the modest selection I had made and asked -him what the price was. - -“Well, as to price,” he replied, taking off his hat and meditatively -scratching his head, “that’s the worst of the business. I never just know -what my things are worth. Them chairs came from old widow Crocker’s, over -by Forestdale. She’d never sell ’em till she died, an’ then she couldn’t -help herself an’ her son-in-law cleaned the place out, an’ I got quite -a lot of stuff an’ paid him for the lot. What d’you say to a couple o’ -dollars apiece?” - -I said, “Yes,” as soberly as I could. I would have given much more. - -“As to that lantern, it’s a good ’un and the glass is all right. I shall -have to get at least four dollars.” - -“All right,” said I, cheerfully, for I had seen a smaller one in Chatham -go for eight just a few days before. “And how about the pepper pots?” - -“Oh, you kin have ’em for—let’s see—’bout seventy-five apiece.” And I -agreed. - -“What do you do with all this stuff?” I asked, as he helped me to dispose -of my treasures in an already well-filled car. - -“Oh, mostly I sell to the Portugees that come here farmin’ and -cranberryin’. Now an’ then I get some old stuff same as you jest picked -up, but generally it’s the newer kind they like the best. I jest set -that there sign up ’cause I see every durn fellow ’long the road what -has a toothpick or a shavin’ mug to sell puts up a sign, an’ so, says I, -guess I’ll stick up one too.” - -And that is the way I became acquainted with Silas Eldridge, dealer -in antiques, who has sold me many a real treasure, but I keep his -whereabouts as secret as possible, for of all the fascinating places for -picking up astonishing bargains on Cape Cod, his old dilapidated barn -offers the most surprises. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -VII - -A BLUE STREAK - - -Slang is both the curse and the delight of the English language, and that -form of slang which our British friends term “Americanisms,” and which we -have now largely adopted as our national mode of communication, is not -confined to the youth of to-day by any means. In the home, in business, -and of course in sport, slang has found its way and has spread like the -weeds in the garden of the over-enthusiastic commuter. I remember hearing -a clergyman of national reputation and advancing years say a short time -ago, after a satisfying excursion of some sort, that he had “had more fun -than a goat,” and I defied him to elucidate that time-worn phrase to my -satisfaction. - -The derivations and origins of American idioms and colloquial expressions -are vastly interesting, not only in showing the resourcefulness of our -people in cutting wordy corners and in the development of a certain -form of humor which I do not defend, but in shedding real light upon -the whys and wherefores of our universe down to its smallest detail. A -temperamental curiosity has led me from time to time to look up certain -of the commoner expressions, and I am indebted to this eccentric hobby -for several pleasurable experiences. - -Many years ago—so many in fact that the memory is distasteful—I went to a -horse-race where the winner passed our stand at a pace which my companion -described as “going like a blue streak,” a familiar term with which I -ignorantly agreed at the time. I suppose that since then I have heard it -repeated many hundred times, but it was not until last summer when my son -applied it to a motor-boat passing out of the harbor, that I thought of -inquiring into its origin, and discovered, much to my surprise, that it -applied to the illusive and disconcerting movements of the ordinary sea -crab, often called the “blue claw.” - -The discovery piqued my curiosity and I determined forthwith to -investigate the locomotory accomplishments of these retiring animals. -This was not as easy a task as I had expected. The crab is not socially -inclined, and the term “crabbed” is soon apparent. He is only to be found -at low tide, and generally near the mouth of a salty creek where the -bottom is muddy and sparsely covered with seaweed and eelgrass. There in -the late summer and fall he can be seen from canoe or rowboat, if one is -patient and watchful, and the expression to “go like a blue streak” fits -him like a glove. - -Having provided myself with a net of the butterfly variety, I determined -to secure a specimen, and began my search among the creeks, so numerous -along the shores of Cape Cod. Although we came upon quite a number, it -took the entire morning to capture four. - -When unmolested, these creatures crawl slowly and deliberately about -their business, sluggish in manner and shabbily dark in appearance, -grubbing about on the bottom, now in, now out of the seaweed, but the -instant that danger is threatened, they undergo a transformation. The -claws, from sprawling about on the mud at every angle, are drawn in, and -like a flash—or, far better, “like a blue streak”—the particular crab -that you have selected for capture darts away at an angle that leaves -you helpless with wonder at the suddenness of his departure and at the -blueness of his appearance. - -As soon as you have spotted your prey the excitement begins. Armed with -the net, you crawl quietly to the bow of the boat and in whispers direct -the rower, now this way, now that, following the route taken by the -capricious crab. Sometimes the water is deep enough to permit the use -of the oars, at others it is necessary to pole the boat in and out among -the rocks covered by seaweed, your journey always attended by silence and -stealth as if the slightest noise would precipitate in flight this wily -crustacean. - -At last when you are within striking distance, the net is plunged in -among the grass and brought up, alas! empty, and the hunt continues as -before. - -When, after repeated trials, your patience is rewarded and a fine big -fellow is caught, the greatest care must be taken to prevent him from -crawling out of the net and escaping before he is landed in the boat, -for his activities are ceaseless. - -Indeed, even after he is flung deftly into the pail, his savage struggles -may succeed in freeing him from captivity. And so it is only with -infinite caution and patience—qualifications necessary in every game—that -you are able to land your prize, and it is only then that you will find -the explanation of the color quality of his passing. As the crab is taken -from the water, its mud-colored shell appears a dark ultramarine blue, -the claws of a lighter shade, the under part shading to white tinged with -pink; its entire surface seems metallic in the intensity of its coloring -as it leaves the water. From a slow, lazy animal of peaceful habits, the -crab has become a veritable monster, savage and fiercely aggressive, and -woe to the unfortunate within reach of his claws. - -His capture is a real experience and a distinctly sporting event. So -interesting and mysterious is the search, so active and adventurous -the pursuit, and so exciting and satisfying the actual catch, that one -is tempted to place crabbing among the big events of a summer at the -seashore. - -I know a college professor who annually devotes the better part of his -vacation to this pastime, and several of my athletic friends, whose -prowess on the football field was a matter of international comment -in the papers, confess to the delights of a crab hunt; but it is a -surprising fact, nevertheless, that the majority of those who visit the -seacoast each year have never even heard of the extraordinary fascination -of hunting the originator of the “blue streak.” - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -VIII - -A FRESH-WATER CAPE - - -To the majority of people Cape Cod spells sea breezes, a tang of salt in -the air, scrub oaks, tall pines, stretches of sand, and a large appetite. -To the few who know the Cape from more intimate acquaintance there is -added to this picture a swelling country densely wooded in sections and -spotted with ponds. It is a source of never-ending wonder how these -ponds exist in a country where the soil is so porous that a few minutes -after a shower there is no trace of the rain. In almost every instance -they are fed from springs beneath the surface, and the solution has been -offered and quite generally believed that much of this fresh water flows -in subterranean channels having their source far distant in the White -Mountains. - -So plentiful is the supply that wells and pipes, driven a few feet into -the soil at almost any spot, furnish clear, pure water in ample supply -for household needs. A more remarkable fact is that at low tide in many -of the harbors and inlets fresh water can be found between the high and -low stretches, oozing through the salty surface of sand and mud. And so -the Cape, for all its salt qualities, has fresh water in profusion and -ponds without number. In Plymouth County alone there are 365 ponds, many -of them of substantial size, while the lower Cape is almost equally well -provided. - -A generation ago, many of the residents of Plymouth passed their summers -on the largest of these—Long Pond. Having the salt breezes most of the -year they wisely sought a change to inland waters. - -Last year I met a gentleman fishing in Wakeby Pond—made famous by -Cleveland and Joe Jefferson—who told me he came on from Chicago every -year to pass a month bass fishing. He was probably ten miles from the -coast, and might have been a hundred for all the good it did him; but on -the other hand, why not a pond on the Cape as well as a Rangeley Lake -in Maine? The life is much the same—the air refreshing and the scenery -delightful. - -These larger ponds are fully as large as many of the Maine lakes. Long -Pond at Plymouth is said to be ten miles long, and I have seen the water -at Great Herring Pond as rough as one would care to have it when canoeing. - -To be sure the fishing is not perhaps so very exciting—few trout, except -in the occasional streams which have been stocked, but land-locked -salmon, perch, and pickerel to be had with a little patience, and a -shrimp or so. The real pleasure which these ponds offer is the surprise -and delight of coming upon them as one does frequently and quickly while -motoring through the less-frequented roads. From Plymouth down the Cape -through Sandwich nearly every road and by-path leads to some picturesque -little sheet of water often closely wooded to its shores and without a -sign of habitation. - -From Wareham or Cotuit, from Pocasset or Falmouth, from Hyannis or -Chatham—in short, from nearly every one of the many Cape towns, a ride -of fifteen or twenty minutes will take one to a pond which might as well -be fifty miles from any center of human activity. One rarely meets other -adventurers upon such trips, and the silence and peace which reign form -excellent foils to the summer life so near at hand. - -Those who are wise in Cape ways possess small canoes mounted upon two -wheels, which are fastened on behind their cars, so that, when touring -the ponds, they are not limited in their fishing to the shore or to the -chance of finding a boat. - -There are a number of gentlemen who have built small camps upon certain -of these secluded spots for casual excursions and for spring and fall -use. They are wise. By leaving Boston at noon they can always be in camp -by sundown ready to enjoy a full Sunday, while the mighty fisherman who -depends entirely upon the Maine lakes or the more remote places must plan -a week’s vacation, with the chance of better sport, to be sure, but no -better life, for the life of a sportsman in the open is much the same. -The great outdoors is universal in its appeal to the sane-minded and -healthy-bodied. - -I have experienced as much heat and poorer fishing in Nova Scotia during -July as I have on our ponds of the Cape, and in addition I have noticed -more mosquitoes and midges to the cubic inch in Canada than on these same -ponds; but of that perhaps the less said the better. - -I have in mind a little excursion which illustrates these extremes of -Cape life, and it is but one of many. In early July, when the children, -freed from school restraint, were on the rampage, and our cottage was -bearing the brunt of an onslaught of youthful visitors, each of our -neighbors having one or two boys and girls as guests for their children, -life seemed to me an unending series of activities coupled with ceaseless -slang. In fact, I was “fed up” with it all, so that when my classmate -and old friend R⸺ telephoned to say that he was going up to the pond for -a day or so, I clung to the receiver in my joy to escape. - -The preparations for such a trip are simple—a blanket, a change of -clothing, a toothbrush, no razor, food enough to fill a small basket, -and—yes, I suppose it must be confessed—a bottle. - -My fishing tackle is always ready. The bait, however, is more difficult -to secure. With net and pail I hastened to the creek which enters the -harbor near our cottage, and, it being fortunately low tide, I was able, -in the twenty minutes left before R⸺’s arrival, to secure a fair supply -of shrimp. That was all there was to it. We were off well within an hour -from the time of his message, and well within another hour we had arrived -at his little shack perched high above the shore of one of the loveliest -ponds on the Cape, and were settled for the night. - -The camp was well stocked with wood and simply furnished with camp beds, -the ordinary cooking-utensils, and such comforts as may be gathered about -a broad hearth and a roaring fire. - -Outside, the wind had died down and not a ripple disturbed the mirrored -surface of the water, which reflected the delicate outline of cedar, -pine, and oak, a lacy filament which shielded the setting sun from the -already silvered reflection of the half-moon. - -“A perfect time of a perfect day, in a well-nigh perfect spot,” I said, -by way of expressing the joy of my escape. - -“Such a burst of eloquence demands a toast,” remarked my friend. - -So we forthwith resorted to the aforesaid bottle, and then turned to and -prepared supper—the inevitable scrambled eggs, deviled ham, bread and -marmalade, and coffee. - -“To think of that howling mob at home only twenty minutes away,” I mused, -puffing contentedly at my pipe and reveling in the silence. - -“To think of what a motor will do!” replied my friend, who was not -unaware of my opinion of cars. - -I muttered something incoherently, and squirmed a bit at the thought of -some of my notions. - -The next morning we were up with the sun, and after a hasty bite, put our -canoe into the water and set about our main task. - -We were both fairly familiar with the haunts of the wily bass. In summer -they lie close to the bottom, the laziest of fellows, sucking in the -bait, if they notice it at all, in a dreamy fashion, but, once hooked, -they show their mettle, and so, when I finally felt a slight strain on my -line, I held back until I was sure of my fish. Yes, I had him, and a good -big one at that. - -There is little or no casting in midsummer, so that I had brought a -stouter trolling-rod, and it was just as well. I played that fellow for -ten minutes, and when R⸺ finally netted him for me, we sat and looked at -each other speechless. - -“By gad, he’s a five-pounder!” said my friend excitedly. - -“Hum—about four and three quarters,” I replied in a matter-of-fact tone -to cover my excitement. - -We caught twelve that morning, several weighing two pounds or -more,—splendid fishing, the best we had ever had on the pond. - -When we reached the camp and weighed my prize, he tipped the scales at -five and three ounces—a record fish. - -Late in the afternoon the clouds began to gather and the wind turned -northeast, so we decided to run for cover. - -I was at home in time for dinner, and found the spell broken. It was I -who did the talking, an amazing amount of it, while the youngsters sat -open-mouthed when my bass was brought onto the table in a platter all -to himself, garnished by our cook, who, so says my wife, is proud of my -ability as a provider. - -What more versatile land of summer, then, can one imagine than the -seashore with an almost permanent breeze, with a chain of inland ponds -remote and wild in character almost at one’s back door, motorively -speaking? - -If variety is truly the spice of life, what better seasoned offering has -any locality to show than Cape Cod? - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -IX - -AL FRESCO - - -Before you pass judgment upon any man or woman of your acquaintance, ask -him or her to a picnic. Then if you are not ready to form a decision, -they will probably have made up their minds about you. A picnic, so -the Dictionary has it, is an entertainment in a grove, an ominous and -hazardous place at best for a good time, and one to be avoided except -by sentimental couples, and therefore the Dictionary may be considered -narrow-minded in naming the locality. Furthermore, its advice is rarely -followed in these days, and the picnics which I prefer, and they are -countless, are held upon the seashore and, for the most part, in the sea -itself. - -There is a white, sandy beach of a mile or more, banked by great -sand-dunes and bordering a section of Buzzard’s Bay which is -comparatively unknown, where there are no houses, not even bath-houses, -and where the delighted squeal of the noisy girl or the guffaw of the -blatant youth is rarely heard. It is here that we frequently gather with -a few good friends upon pleasant warm days, for an impromptu meal _al -fresco_, preceded by a joyous bath in water as clear as crystal, warm and -yet with a spiciness that clears the head from all drowsiness and whets -the appetite to a keen edge. - -There are problems to every picnic. The conventions of life grip hard, -and yet it is curious and sometimes amusing to see how thin the veneer -really is when the primitive necessities of a picnic are faced. - -The sand-dunes are conveniently rolling, every now and then dipping into -bowl-like formations, and in these sequestered or semi-sequestered nooks -we don our bathing-suits and sally forth to the sea. One of our friends, -a man somewhat particular as to his appearance and the soul of modesty, -was directed to the appointed place, but his love for the view led him up -the slope, so that, innocently turning our gaze shoreward, the feminine -portion of our gathering was considerably disconcerted to see the apostle -of Beau Brummel in nature’s garb innocently viewing the horizon and -giving little heed to his natty bathing-suit, a black and orange affair -with immaculate white belt which lay at his feet. - -The women, too, those who but a few moments before would have tried -in every way to conceal a hole in their stockings, were glad to borrow -bathing-dresses of any reasonable style if by chance they had forgotten -to pack their own, and stockings seemed of no importance. - -To line up twenty or more on the beach and rush for a plunge, to breast -the billows or to grope amid the sands for sea clams, to race along -the beach for the sheer joy of life, is the glad part of what I call -a picnic. And then the food! No meal which must be coaxed along by a -cocktail or other appetizer, to prepare the way for course after course -of indigestible concoctions planned by fertile-minded chefs, but honest -beef and chicken and ham sandwiches, delicately prepared and tastefully -arranged. Sandwiches of lettuce and cheese and paprika; sandwiches with -sardines, with olives; graham sandwiches with a thin layer of marmalade -or guava intended for the children, but partaken of by all. And stuffed -eggs, the variety only to be found at a picnic and eaten in two gulps, -the one place where such table manners are tolerated. - -And it is on picnics that the thermos bottle is most thoroughly -appreciated. The miracle of hot bouillon, hot coffee, iced tea, and a -variety of beverages, suitably chilled or heated, seems ever to be a -source of fresh surprise and pleasure. - -Toward autumn, the picnics offer a new variety, for the children thrill -at the expectation of cooking their own dinner. The joys of a bonfire, -the excitement of burying potatoes, corn, and clams in seaweed, the -frying of ham and eggs, and the occasional treat of flapjacks when one -of our nautical friends happens to be of our number. These are but a few -of the pleasures of a picnic such as one encounters on the shores of -Buzzard’s Bay in August and September. - -It must be admitted that there are certain drawbacks which seem serious -to the individual of fixed habits, tender feet, and uncertain digestion. -There is, for example, the beautiful white sand, glistening in the -sun, smooth as a billiard table and fine as powder. It must be admitted -that after the bath one is conscious of the pervading quality of its -particles. It is in one’s hair, one’s shoes, and often elsewhere about -the person. It is discovered invading the aforesaid sandwiches, which -seem well named at such times. A brisk wind slaps it into your eye or -your mouth in disconcerting fashion, and you become aware of its grating -presence. Then, again, there are clouds upon the horizon. To those who -are seriously affected by the sand, these clouds look ominous. They may -forebode a storm and a wetting. A certain clamminess of hands and feet, -occasioned by the bath, remind one that a change in the weather precedes -a cold in the head. These feelings mark the man of creature comforts and -he fails to join in the part-singing which comes after the hearty meal, -when pipes are lighted and the entire gathering stretch themselves upon -the sands for a lazy half-hour before the inevitable cleaning-up process -begins. This same individual declines to tell his best story, and should -a ball game be suggested, he will be found callous to all coaxing. He -has enough sand in his shoes as it is, or he has eaten too much for -exercising, or possibly the clouds on the horizon lower more formidably. - -Yes, a picnic discloses the strength and weakness of character which -mark our friends, and yet, after all, it does more, for it brings out the -best in most of us, and few, even of our habitually conventional friends, -fail to respond to the delights of a seashore picnic or lack in the -essential philosophy of an outdoor, care-free existence. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -X - -MODELS - - -Long before the Old Colony Railroad thought of running a line to Cape -Cod—although that in itself was not so very long ago, well within the -memory of man—there was one charm of the Cape which is fast vanishing and -entirely unknown to the casual visitor and unappreciated by the perennial -summer residents. In those days there was a host of rugged, sturdy men, -intelligent, courageous, upright, and keen-minded. They were the Cape -captains, the men who grew up among the sand-dunes, to the rote of the -sea. The men who carried the good name of Cape Cod to the ends of the -earth and who brought back with them the fortunes which made the little -towns, dotted here and there along the shore, havens of comfort and rest. - -Such men could tell stories which would vie with those of Conrad and -Stevenson, but for the most part their deeds go unrecorded except in -their ships’ logs, for they were a simple, reserved company. Of this -epoch there remains but one relic which is sought after by the present -generation, and it savors of the antique. In fact, it is the antiquarian -rather than the adventurer who ransacks the Cape at present for ships’ -models. - -In those early days there were months at a time when the ship’s company -were idle, and it grew to be a custom for those clever with their hands -to fashion models of the schooners in which they sailed or of seacraft -notable for beauty of line or complexity of rig. - -Many an old sea captain would pass his idle moments in fashioning these -miniature boats, and many members of the ships’ crews became adept at -the hobby, for a knowledge of tools was almost an essential for every -man on the Cape, where the trades of carpenter, painter, and plumber -were generally performed by the householder. Furthermore, a sailor would -infinitely prefer to whittle out a model than to swab down the deck, and -frequently a clever mechanic would be relieved by his captain from this -menial work, if he devoted his time to the perfection of a model which -was destined for the mantel of the captain’s best parlor. - -Therefore, in the old days, there was scarcely a Cape family of saltwater -ancestry which did not boast of at least one model and often more, the -trademark of an honorable and hazardous occupation and a relic of former -days of plenty when the Cape was peopled only by the native Cape-Codders -and before steam took from them the vocation to which they were reared. - -To-day the captain of a full-rigged ship is as hard to find as the -vessel herself, and the Cape exists upon the summer residents and upon -the less productive occupation of fishing, which is largely in the hands -of the Portuguese, who have come in droves to settle upon our land of -Bartholomew Gosnold and his company of adventurers. And so the interest -in ships and in tales of the sea has disappeared along with those who -upheld the trade; and the models, familiar sights to the descendants, -have been relegated to the attic or have been sold as curiosities to the -ubiquitous dealers in antiques, who persistently come to the Cape for old -furniture, pewter, china—anything, in fact, which can be palmed off on -that voracious type of collector, the lover of antiques. - -During the last few years, for some reason or other, these models have -become very popular. Just why it is not easy to explain. It is true -that they typify a lost trade which was full of adventure. It is also -true that they are decorative, many of them, but that hardly explains -the ravenous appetite which many collectors of antiques have recently -developed to obtain a genuine model. Dealers have secured agents in -every town on the Cape who are ransacking their neighborhoods for models, -half-models, pictures of boats made in bas-reliefs, weather vanes in the -shape of ships, and the prices are increasing by leaps and bounds. In -fact, so popular has this fad become that ex-sailors and carpenters with -some slight acquaintance with the sea are now developing quite a business -in fashioning models of special designs or of former famous ships. A few -years ago the model of a schooner about two feet in length fully rigged -would bring in the neighborhood of twenty-five dollars; to-day the same -model could not be secured for less than one hundred dollars. Often the -smaller, more exquisitely made specimens will bring more. The descendants -of the old captains have lost any sentimental regard for these relics -and gladly part with them for a comparatively small sum, but only to the -patient and skillful, who know Cape ways and Cape people, and so it is -almost impossible for the tourist to secure a model except from a dealer. - -Should the casual summer visitor attempt to bargain with his native Cape -neighbor, he would find him a wily bird, suspicious of being imposed upon -and as likely as not to put an absurd valuation upon his possession; and -yet that same Cape neighbor might part with the model the next day to a -total stranger for a smaller sum, for such is the nature of the denizen -of the Cape. This contrary-mindedness and disinclination to do a favor is -not unusual, but as against this trait, he will be found to be a genial -host and a kindly acquaintance often generous beyond his means. - -And so to-day we witness the passing of the models, last relic of the -olden days, the golden days of Cape Cod, from those tiny Cape cottages -built by these same sturdy sea captains to the comfortable mansions of -the summer people whose knowledge of the sea is secured in July and -August by an occasional dip, a sail in a knockabout, and a glimpse of a -glorious sunset over the shining waters of the Atlantic Ocean. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -XI - -“A WET SHEET AND A FLOWING SEA” - - -In my youthful days I often wondered at the regularity with which elderly -people would go out to drive day after day, sitting in the same seat in -the same carriage, behind the same horses, driven by the same coachman -along the same roads. It seemed to me a lamentable waste of time. And now -I have more or less (less as the years advance) the same feeling toward -those couples whose chief relaxation is a spin along the state roads of -their district in a well-appointed limousine, for I belong to that class -of motorists who use their cars purely for convenience and prefer the -fresh-air variety. - -Yet, when it comes to sailing, for some reason which I am at a loss to -explain, my views are diametrically opposite. I am content to clamber -into my knockabout and to perform the routine labor of pumping “her” out, -unfurling and hoisting the sail, and casting off, then to cruise lazily -about our harbor, sailing over the same course day in and day out with -little variation, and to do this either alone or with a kindred spirit -as the case may be. - -To many these cases may seem parallel, but to me they are widely variant. -There is a formality to a drive or a motor ride which starts with the -costume worn and ends with the character of conversation. - -On a boat—and I am speaking entirely of small boats—the costume is of a -heterogeneous variety and the conversation of the freest. In fact, there -is something so thoroughly unconventional about life on the water that -even the stiffest of Brahminian Bostonians may occasionally be heard to -indulge in slang and to assume a rakish attitude, perched upon deck. - -But such criticism, or rather comparison, is highly superficial. There -is more to it than external appearance; for sailing brings out the best -in human nature, encourages philosophy, develops independence of thought -and act, and largely so because those who sail shed their coating of -reserve and allow their natural feelings fair play. There is no quicker -way to know and size up one’s friends than to go on a cruise for a few -days. There is no better way of enjoying and extending one’s friendships -with both sexes than spending a few afternoons sailing together, skirting -along the shore with a fair breeze, nor is there any quicker way of -learning the weaknesses of certain individuals than by observing their -conduct under perhaps less peaceful conditions at sea. For the best of -skippers cannot predict weather conditions, and there are times when wind -and storm will come upon one with surprising quickness. - -Here in New England, the sailing fraternity may be divided into those -who prefer the Maine coast and those who cling to the Cape and Buzzard’s -Bay. As one of the latter class, I always claim our supremacy by stating -two points which I believe to be true: first, that we have more wind, and -second, that we have less fog. To me this is convincing. The southwest -wind which cools the Cape, blows nearly every day in summer and with a -strength that often requires reefing. Rarely between ten in the morning -and five at night will the mariner find himself becalmed in Buzzard’s -Bay. In fact, the stranger is generally amazed to see girls and young -boys sailing without the presence of an older person, in what looks to -him a three-reef breeze. - -They have been brought up to it and realize that vigilance must always be -exercised on the water, and they know the qualities of their boat and the -power of the wind. I know of no better training for youngsters who are -proficient in swimming than to learn to sail and race their own little -boats. The development of a power of observation, accurate judgment, -prompt action, and steady nerve comes more quickly with the handling of a -boat than in any other way for those who lead our kind of life. - -Sailing is confined to boats, but boats are not by any means confined to -sailing, for latterly there are almost as many motor-boats to be found -chugging along the shores of the Cape as there are sailboats, although -I personally always pity the groups in the stern of one of these modern -affairs which makes its noisy passage leaving an odorous wake of oil and -smoke. But doubtless I am extreme in my views and old-fashioned in my -taste. - -Give me a knockabout—a fifteen-footer for real comfort for a daily sail, -a stiff member of the twenty-one-foot class for cruising along shore. -Give me a comfortable catboat, broad of beam, for a family boat or for -a day’s fishing, or let me idle about in one of our little twelve-foot -Herreshoff class with my small son. In any one of them I shall find the -same sense of freedom, the same sort of pleasure, and the same love for -the salt sea, and from each I shall look at the windy, sandy shores of -the Cape with the same loyal affection. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -XII - -MY CAPE FARM - - -If I have thought of it at all, I have thought of myself as a sociable -cuss. Not that I like sociables; I hate them, and that is probably why -they have gone out of fashion. What to my mind defines sociability is the -quality of enjoying and giving enjoyment to others, singly, in pairs, or -in groups; and in present days sociability is generally put to the test -either at dinners or at week-end parties, for these are the principal -points of contact between friends. - -Latterly, however, my social bent has been somewhat warped by the growing -desire on the part of my friends to boast of their success as producers -of food. Whether it be premature senility, the result of conservation, or -merely the acquisition of wealth, which is being rapidly returned to its -own through the purchase of land and the ingenuity of gardeners, it is a -fact that at dinners of the cut-and-dried variety or a family gathering, -or, more especially, over a week-end, my host invariably calls attention -to the asparagus with a modest cough as prelude, or my hostess mentions -the number of eggs the farmer brought in yesterday to be put down in -water-glass. Sometimes it is not asparagus, but peas, or corn, or perhaps -a chicken, or even a ham. This the host. His wife more generally dilates -upon the milk products and the preserving end of the bill of fare; but, -for whatever cause, the thing got a bit on my nerves, so that I found -myself thinking of reasons for not visiting So-and-So or for not dining -with the Thing-um-Bobs on Friday week, when I knew we hadn’t a thing on -earth to do. - -This frame of mind was, of course, all wrong. In the first place, these -friends were as good and as loyal as they were ten years ago, when, -if they had any garden at all, it consisted of a half-dozen radishes -that no one could eat without summoning a physician within four hours. -Furthermore, the aforesaid asparagus, with its accompaniments, was -better than the ordinary variety which has decorated the entrance to the -greengrocer’s establishment for the better part of a week. And lastly, as -I had no garden myself, why not enjoy the best and be thankful? - -Probably the reason was envy and the season spring, when, contrary to -budding nature, one’s own physical being is not as blooming as it should -be. - -Be this as it may, the final result has probably made me more of a bore -to my friends than they ever were to me, for to get even with them I -conceived the happy idea of catering to their epicurean tastes from my -own farm, which consisted of a scant two acres of shore line in that -section of Cape Cod which is renowned for its scarcity of soil. - -The idea came to me soon after we had moved down for the summer months, -and my wife became so enthusiastic that it really became our hobby for -the season. We had planned for a succession of week-ends, and many of -these agricultural intimates were coming to us for return visits. We -would feed them upon the fat of our land or in this case largely the fat -of the sea. - -It is interesting and instructive to learn just what varieties of food -can be secured from the immediate vicinity of any place, and to me -especially so of our Cape Cod. - -During the entire summer I felt so personal an interest in our section -of the country that my small son exclaimed one day that I talked as if I -owned the entire Cape. I know I felt a proprietary interest in certain -fishing grounds, the whereabouts of which I would not confess even on -the rack. And it amuses me now to think of the circuitous routes I used -in getting to certain berry patches and stretches where mushrooms grew -overnight. In variety our dinners, or high teas (as we always called -them), were infinite as compared with those of our asparagus associates. - -I remember one little repast which pleased me mightily, because it came -at the end of one of those hot days—they are rare on the Cape—when the -wind refused to blow from the southwest. We had had our swim, but even -golf was a bit too strenuous and food does not have its usual appeal on -such occasions even on the Cape. It also happened that our friends of -this particular week-end were literally congested with land and its more -generous offerings, and so when I practiced the usual humiliatory cough -and remarked that our simple repast came from my Cape farm and they must -excuse its simplicity, I was just a trifle nervous. - -The melons were a gift from my plumber, a curious combination. If only -the plumber could plumb as well as he grows melons upon his barren -sandpile, our summer comfort would be increased by fifty per cent. No -better melons can be found than these little fellows. The clam-broth, -from my own clam-bed, was an appetizer. I seriously believe that there -is real energizing value in such clam-broth as this, boiled down almost -to a _liqueur_ from newly dug clams. Then came scallops plucked that -day from the seaweed, where they lie at low tide blowing like miniature -whales. We all know how delicious they are in the autumn served with -_tartare_ sauce, but have you ever tasted them creamed with a dash of -brown sherry and served with fresh mushrooms? - -Just as the plumber supplies us with melons, so the fishman is the local -authority on lettuce. Our salad, therefore, came from Captain Barwick, -crisp and white with slices of early pears from a near-by tree, and with -it my favorite muffins of coarse, white cornmeal toasted, thin, and eaten -with beach-plum jam made from our own bushes in the bramble patch close -by the lane, and cottage cheese which our cook positively enjoys making. - -My wife had felt this to be a rather scant repast for those used to -dinners of six or eight courses, and so the dessert was a substantial -huckleberry pudding served cold from the ice-chest with whipped -cream, and to take the chill off we had a small glass of my home-made -wild-cherry brandy with our coffee; and while there are other beverages -which are preferable I confess it gave us a delightfully comforting -sensation. - -The hearty, genuine praise from my guests gave me a fleeting feeling of -shame at the way I had criticized their asparagus and numberless eggs, -but the pride of success carried me with it. - -“Oh, this is not anything; wait until to-morrow and let me show you the -varieties which my farm offers. In the catboat, I have a well in which we -keep fish alive. What say you to a butterfish for breakfast? For dinner -we can either go out to the fishing grounds for something with a real -pull to it, or we can motor over to Turtle Pond for a try at a bass, or -we can golf and take a couple of lobsters out of my pots bobbing up and -down out there by the point.” - -“Hold on,” my friend interjected. “What I want to know is whether every -one on the Cape lives in this way, for if they do I think I shall be -moving down here by another season.” - -“No,” I replied, “very few. In the first place, most people continue to -do just what their neighbors do—tennis, golf, swimming, sailing. The -fishing is poor unless you know where to go. The natives are not helpful -unless you know how to take them, and that is why I call it all _my_ -farm, because I have taken it all unto myself and I reap a reward much -richer than I deserve. - -“I pass much of my time hunting up new fishing grounds or the lair of -the soft-shell crab, or even the quiet, muddy recesses of the ‘little -necks.’ I wander about the country exploring new berry patches, for there -is a great variety of these. And if you must know, I fraternize with -certain delightfully conversational individuals who sell me delicious -fruit and vegetables as well as ducks and chickens and a variety of odds -and ends, as, for instance, that little model over there. But you could -not buy them. No, sir, not until you learned the art of negotiation to -perfection. You may manage your estates to the Queen’s taste, but when it -comes to managing a Cape-Codder, ah, that’s not done so easily.” - -I see my friends leading the conventional summer life and wonder at -times how they can come to the Cape year after year and yet be strangers -to its real fascination, because it has many other hidden allurements -besides this quest for food. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -XIII - -SCALLOPS - - -Sport, according to our highest authorities, is “that which diverts -and makes mirth,” and from this general interpretation the term has -been applied to games, and to the various forms of hunting and fishing -commonly known, but I have yet to hear the word applied to the pursuit -of the scallop. And yet, scalloping more nearly approaches the original -meaning of sport than most of the games which are commonly classed under -this heading, for not only does the scallop divert and provoke the mirth -of his pursuer, but the pursuer in turn evokes a similar feeling and -impression upon those who chance to see him in action. Those who have -never tasted the joys and excitement of a scallop hunt have not completed -their education as real sportsmen. It is true that Badminton does not -devote a volume to this particular pastime; it is equally true that the -progressive American journalist, whose duty it is to supply the sporting -columns of his paper with all the news of current athletic events, -invariably ignores this important item, and our mighty Nimrods fail to -include scalloping among their feats of prowess; but in each case the -cause of the omission invariably can be traced to ignorance, and to the -fact that your scallop-hunter is a wary fellow who says but little and -boasts less, fearing inadvertently to disclose the favored haunts of his -favorite prey. And so, for these and divers causes, the pursuit of the -scallop lies in obscurity. - -On the other hand, the scallop has been a friend to man for generations -in many and varied ways. In the days of the Crusaders, the pilgrims -returning from the Holy Land wore scallop shells, gathered upon the coast -of Palestine, as a badge or mark of the success of their wanderings. -At an equally early period the scallop shell became an important factor -in design, from architecture, through the various stages, to the -adornment of women’s clothes. The scallop shell is discovered embedded -in the capitals of many famous columns. It will be found chiseled upon -the keystones of countless arches. Scarcely a theater but possesses it -among its mural decorations. Upon the title-pages of books it serves in -an equally decorative capacity, while the scalloping upon the hems of -dresses brings the scallop’s shell familiarly into our family life. - -In addition to all this, certain families of ancient lineage have -adopted the shell as a part of their crest. Heraldry traces the cause to -the days of the Knights of the Holy Land. - -The scallop, therefore, has been sought by generations, and is no marine -upstart basing his claims to popularity upon his flavor as a savory dish -for a modern Lucullus. In short, the scallop is historic, artistic, -decorative, and delicious. In real life, however, he is one of the -numerous marine bivalve mollusks of the genus _Pecten_, and to those who -have not already recognized the symmetrically ribbed shells so often -found upon our beaches, a dictionary is recommended. - -Although his past is buried in the annals of the Holy Land, in Ægean -waters, and upon the banks of the Red Sea, just at present he is rampant -upon the shoals of Cape Cod, and it is here that our scallopers pursue -him during the weeks previous to early autumn days, when the Cape -fisherman wages destruction with sea-rakes, seines, and nets. - -Imagine the tide running low, disclosing the bright, sandy bottoms of -countless inlets, the ripple of the waters making dim the outlines of -the corrugated surfaces of the submerged shore. At such times, and in -certain localities which shall be nameless, the wily hunter issues forth -in bathing-suit or rubber-booted, or even—in the enthusiasm of the -moment—fully clothed, with pail or basket sometimes attached to his waist -by a cord. He wades in at a slow pace, gazing searchingly into the depths -of the water for a sign of his prey, choosing at first the shoals where -it is easier to see, and as likely a spot as others for fine shellfish. -And here a curious phenomenon is discovered; his eye catches the glint -of a shining shell and he stoops to secure it, only to find a half shell -without life. The brighter the shell, the less chance of its being -inhabited. The scallop covers himself when possible with a few strands -of seaweed, or buries himself in the mud or sand, and therefore, when -in the full bloom of life, he looks like a hoary, hairy thing of past -history, an encrusted shell from which life might have departed a century -ago. If, by good fortune, the hand comes in contact with him, however, -his vitality is made quickly evident by a savage snap of his shell, as -the large muscle expands and contracts in self-defense, and should a -finger become caught between the upper and lower shells, the hunter is -in for a sharp nip. The quest leads from spot to spot, from shoal water -out into deeper parts, until one finds one’s self waist-deep, bending and -stooping, raking the bottom with frenzied hand groping for these tufted -prizes, and when one is fortunate to secure a good spot, the hand never -fails to bring up one, two, and sometimes more, of these irate creatures -whose antics evoke admiration and whose strength seems almost abnormal. - -There are bright, warm days in the latter part of August when on many -parts of the shore may be seen men, women, and children by scores, -curiously and wonderfully garbed, grotesquely postured, wading the -waters in this fascinating pursuit, which, after the quiet glamor of -clam-digging, possesses the excitement of big-game hunting. Were it not -for a strict law these same hardy hunters would, undoubtedly, be found in -dories, plying a small net for the same purpose, but the very crudity -of the chase has its advantages, for one comes close to the life of the -sea bottom, and all that goes on there, from the waving masses of seaweed -of many varieties to the countless forms of life clinging to the rocks, -embedded in the mud or darting through the water. The sea bottom is as -busy as Broadway, and as full of mystery. - -The reader must not for a moment imagine the scallop, however, as -belonging to a sedentary type of life. Often he is found moving at a high -rate of speed through the water, propelled by this same muscle which -provides his defense. By opening and closing his shell he moves forward -and upward or downward, apparently at will, digging himself into the mud -and effectually hiding himself from his pursuers. He deserves the respect -of his superiors in the animal kingdom, and at the same time proves -himself fair game by his prowess. - -And so one is led out and out still farther, until, bent upon securing -one more victim, a mouthful of water and smarting eyes give notice that -those beyond are safe for the time being, and the successful hunter -returns to his boat with a full pail, while the sun, enormous and a deep -orange red, is just touching the horizon. - -The conquest is not complete, for it is no easy task to open these -snapping bivalves, and thus to extract the muscle that is the edible -portion, and the full reward is by no means reaped. That is left for the -evening meal, when the scallop becomes the _pièce de résistance_ cooked -in one of a hundred ways. But of this let a _cordon bleu_ convince you, -whose best efforts are secured and deserved by the scallop. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -_AFTERMATH_ - - -And now comes the fall of the year with days gorgeous in coloring, from -the clear crystal blue of the sky reflected in sparkling waters to the -flame-tinted stretches of woodland watched over by tall pines and guarded -by stately cedars. The sandy roads glisten in the distances, marking off -sections of the Cape country as a huge picture puzzle. The atmosphere -seems purged of all imperfection, giving to every town and hamlet a -spotless appearance bright with late flowers and fresh fruit awaiting -the harvest. Azure days of October, the most perfect of the year. It is -then that regretfully we say “au revoir” to our beloved Cape in all its -glory. - - - - - The Riverside Press - CAMBRIDGE. 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online -at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you -are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this eBook. -</div> - -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: Cape Coddities</p> -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Roger Livingston Scaife</p> -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Illustrator: Harold Cue</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: September 16, 2022 [eBook #68998]</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</p> - <p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; text-align:left'>Produced by: Steve Mattern and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)</p> -<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAPE CODDITIES ***</div> - -<p class="center larger">CAPE-CODDITIES</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="figcenter illowp56" style="max-width: 32.8125em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus01.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<p class="titlepage larger">CAPE<br /> -CODDITIES</p> - -<p class="titlepage"><i>By</i><br /> -<br /> -DENNIS and MARION<br /> -CHATHAM</p> - -<p class="titlepage"><span class="smaller"><i>WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY</i></span><br /> -HAROLD CUE</p> - -<div class="figcenter titlepage illowp56" style="max-width: 9.375em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus02.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p class="titlepage"><span class="smaller">BOSTON AND NEW YORK</span><br /> -HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY<br /> -1920</p> - -<p class="titlepage smaller">COPYRIGHT, 1920, BY HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY</p> - -<p class="center smaller">ALL RIGHTS RESERVED</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus03.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="FOREWORD"><i>FOREWORD</i></h2> - -</div> - -<p>These essays—thumbnail sketches -of Cape Cod—should not be taken as -a serious attempt to describe the Cape -or to delineate its people. They merely -express a perennial enthusiasm for -this summer holiday land, to-day the -playground of thousands of Americans, -three hundred years ago the first -“land of the free and home of the -brave.”</p> - -<p>Acknowledgments are here given to -the <i>Atlantic Monthly</i> for permission to -include “A By-Product of Conservation” -and “Scallops,” to <i>The Outlook</i> for -the same courtesy for “A Blue Streak,” -and to <i>The House Beautiful</i> for “A -Casual Dwelling-Place.”</p> - -<p class="right allsmcap">THE AUTHORS.</p> - -<p class="smaller"><i>January, 1920.</i></p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus04.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak"><i>CONTENTS</i></h2> - -</div> - -<table> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">I.</td> - <td><i>A Message from the Past</i></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#I">1</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">II.</td> - <td><i>The Casual Dwelling-Place</i></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#II">10</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">III.</td> - <td><i>The Ubiquitous Clam</i></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#III">27</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">IV.</td> - <td><i>A By-Product of Conservation</i></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#IV">38</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">V.</td> - <td><i>Motor Tyrannicus</i></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#V">51</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">VI.</td> - <td><i>“Change and Rest”—Summer Bargaining</i></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#VI">69</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">VII.</td> - <td><i>A Blue Streak</i></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#VII">87</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">VIII.</td> - <td><i>A Fresh-Water Cape</i></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#VIII">97</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">IX.</td> - <td><i>Al Fresco</i></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#IX">112</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">X.</td> - <td><i>Models</i></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#X">122</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">XI.</td> - <td>“<i>A Wet Sheet and a Flowing Sea</i>”</td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#XI">132</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">XII.</td> - <td><i>My Cape Farm</i></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#XII">140</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">XIII.</td> - <td><i>Scallops</i></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#XIII">154</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr"></td> - <td><i>Aftermath</i></td> - <td class="tdpg"><a href="#AFTERMATH">166</a></td> - </tr> -</table> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_1"></a>[1]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus05.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h1><i>CAPE-CODDITIES</i></h1> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="I">I<br /> -<span class="smaller">A MESSAGE FROM THE PAST</span></h2> - -</div> - -<p>Is it not strange that people who -dwell in the same city block from -October to May, enjoying with mutual -satisfaction the life which touches -them equally, should from May to -October show such varying opinions -that argument is futile? These people -who have wintered so happily together<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_2"></a>[2]</span> -may be placed in three classes—those -who claim for the State of -Maine the exclusive right to the title -of “God’s Own Country,” those who -think of the North Shore and Paradise -as synonymous, and those other -fortunates whose regard for Cape -Cod places it second only to heaven -itself.</p> - -<p>Therefore, it is interesting to read -the following passages and to find -these same divergent views of the -Cape in earliest times.</p> - -<p>Captain John Smith in his account -of New England in 1614, in a passing -reference to Cape Cod, says it -“is a headland of high hills of sand -overgrown with shrubbie pines, hurts<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_3"></a>[3]</span> -and such trash, but an excellent harbor -for all weathers. This cape is -made by the maine sea on one side -and a great bay on the other, in the -form of a sickle. On it doth inhabit -the people of Pawmet and in the -Bottome of the Bay, the people of -Chawum.” Scant praise.</p> - -<p>Bartholomew Gosnold, writing to -Raleigh in 1602, through the medium -of his associate, John Brereton, said, -“We stood a while like men ravished -at the beautie and delicacie of -this sweet soil”; and later, “truly the -holsomnese and temperature of this -climat doth not only argue this people -(Indian) to be answerable to this description, -but also of a perfect constitution<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_4"></a>[4]</span> -of body, active, strong, healthful -and very wittie.”</p> - -<p>Here spoke the original summer -visitor and the founder of that colony -which dots the coast from Marion to -Manomet.</p> - -<p>If Gosnold could see the Cape on -the present day, he would doubtless -show profound disappointment, unless -he had chanced to invest in shore property, -for the forests teeming with game -have disappeared, and no trace of the -wit he describes can be detected among -the few Indians who still cling to the -shores of Mashpee Pond. But the broad -waters, the sloping sands, and above -all the soft climate which Mr. Brereton -tells us did so much for the aborigine,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_5"></a>[5]</span> -and which now transforms our children -into veritable little red men, remain.</p> - -<p>Despite the depredations which the -Cape has suffered at the hands of both -natives and summer residents, its flavor -has been maintained, and the very fact -that it is largely inhabited serves well -in these days of friendly intercourse -and indulgent habits; for we all of us -must live happily in summer, and to -do so means comfort, food, and drink. -And so we find each town, however -diminutive, possesses its Butcher and -Baker and Candlestick-Maker.</p> - -<p>The latter, to be sure, is employed -by the local electric light plant, and -often his trade includes a knowledge -of simple plumbing. The Baker more<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_6"></a>[6]</span> -often is both Postmaster and Grocer, -while the Butcher may be found to be -the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen. -But all are true to the type, and -that wit which Gosnold so happily -mentions may often be detected among -these simple people, some of whom -are sea captains whose taciturnity has -been transformed into a shrewd cynicism -coupled not infrequently with -a delightful optimism. Rarely will a -native Cape-Codder get the worst of -a repartee and still more rarely will -you find him the first to terminate a -conversation. He is as tenacious in conversational -competition as he is lax -in business aggression. In fact, he -would far rather stand on the corner<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_7"></a>[7]</span> -and describe to you, in detail, the -amount of work that has been shouldered -upon him by So and So and So -and So’s wife, than to make the slightest -attempt to accomplish any of the sundry -duties imposed. And yet he knows, -and so do you, if you are at all versed -in Cape ways, that he will receive ample -financial return for his slightest -service.</p> - -<p>There is no such word as hurry in -the bright lexicon of Cape Cod, but I -confess it with some trepidation, for -my many Cape friends will take violent -exception to my statement, true as it -is. And yet I do not blame them. I -believe it is thoroughly accounted for -by the climate; for when I first visit<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_8"></a>[8]</span> -the Cape in the spring or early summer, -I always experience a languor -which makes the slightest effort seem -a task of large proportions. In short, I -am lazy and prefer to see some one -else do it. This feeling generally passes -away with the sheer joy of vacation -days, days of freedom and fresh air; -but I realize that the climate breeds a -lack of ambition, to which I doubtless -would succumb were I to live on -without interruption amid the Cape-Codders.</p> - -<p>And therefore I prefer to think of -the Cape as a playground for the initiate, -a wonderland for children, and -a haven of rest for the tired of all ages, -a land where lines and wrinkles quickly<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_9"></a>[9]</span> -disappear under the soothing softness -of the tempered climate.</p> - -<p>Joseph Lincoln has told us of the -people; Thoreau has written of the -place; but no one will really know -the Cape unless he becomes a part of it.</p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus06.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_10"></a>[10]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus07.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="II">II<br /> -<span class="smaller">THE CASUAL DWELLING-PLACE</span></h2> - -</div> - -<p>Is there a reader who has not at one -time or another gloated over the terrors, -the thrills, and the mysteries -which, in fiction, invariably lie hidden -in an unoccupied house? When one -stops to think of it nearly all the literature -of roguery, as so clearly set -forth in former days by Wilkie Collins, -Gaboriau, down to Conan Doyle<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_11"></a>[11]</span> -and Mary Roberts Rinehart, possesses -as its most important stage-setting an -untenanted mansion. It may be one of -those familiar villas generally located -somewhere near Hampstead Heath, a -house set apart from its neighbors -and surrounded by a hedge; a house -with every appearance of having -been closed for several years and -now showing the first signs of decay; -or it may be one of those somber -brownstone houses situated in one of -the many New York residential streets, -where every house so closely resembles -its fellows as to court mischief to -all who may return late at night; or -again, it may be one of those palatial -country houses set among lawns and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_12"></a>[12]</span> -gardens which are invariably described -with broad, magnificent porticoes toward -which spotless limousines are -continually approaching at top speed -for no apparent reason. Such a setting -is perhaps the commonest, and the -time is always just before the family -arrive for the season or just after they -have left for other equally expensive -quarters. Now and then the novelist -will modestly cast the fate of his -story in the seclusion of a deserted -cottage by the sea or a lonely hut -among the hills, but rarely does this -occur nowadays. The mystery story -is as dependent upon luxury of setting -as is the modern bachelor upon his creature -comforts. And, therefore, if the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_13"></a>[13]</span> -devotee of fiction chose to apply himself -to this theme, he would find that -nearly all novelists, great and small, -from Dickens to Oppenheim, from -Hawthorne to Anna Katharine Green, -have utilized the empty house to bring -about the climactic point in the weaving -of some gruesome tale. So clear -are these fictional features that, by the -association of ideas, one’s fears and -apprehensions are invariably aroused -whenever the occasion arises when -an unoccupied house or even an untenanted -apartment must be entered.</p> - -<p>With that unmistakable odor of -mustiness comes afresh this uncomfortable -sense of trepidation (hardly -fear, perhaps), and with it a conviction<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_14"></a>[14]</span> -that rats and mice are hidden -spectators, and that the darkness and -gloom could well hide crime as well -as the thieves themselves. This entire -mental state is largely caused by the -aforesaid novelists, who I doubt not -would have the same hesitancy in -opening the door of a darkened chamber -or in groping down the cellar -stairs of a house long left to disintegration.</p> - -<p>In short, reading has trained us all -to regard empty houses with suspicion, -an absurd state of mind which should -be quickly dispelled, for in the case of -nine out of every ten, yes, or ninety-nine -out of every hundred houses, there -is no cause whatever for suspicion.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_15"></a>[15]</span></p> - -<p>There is a sunny little house on the -shores of Buzzard’s Bay which remains -unoccupied except for ten weeks in the -summer. Its shutters are closed and -fastened long before the oaks have -turned to their gorgeous fall colorings -or the marigolds and phlox have lost -the freshness of their bloom.</p> - -<p>The soft, salty breeze, rippling the -waters, the dancing rays of the September -sun through the swaying pines, -give a joyous setting to this cottage -by the water, courting as it were an -occupant. The hardiest of that overworked -class of readers who rely upon -mystery stories would find it difficult -to conjure up a tragedy for such a spot. -The native Cape-Codders, knowing the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_16"></a>[16]</span> -owners, always glance over toward -the cottage as they pass by in the hope -of finding a blind open or a light -through the trees, to show that some -of “ther fam’ly be down for Sunday.” -For this is one of the important services -which this particular cottage renders -to its owners. As the scion of -the family (aged ten) once sagely remarked, -“We use the cottage more -when it’s closed than when it’s open.” -And to each and every member of -this house its welcome is always the -same. The family reach the house -after dark on a Saturday night. The -lock readily responds to familiar fingers, -the door creaks a friendly welcome -as the family grope their way<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_17"></a>[17]</span> -through the hall in good-humored rivalry -to see which shall be the first to -secure the box of matches always kept -on the right-hand corner of the mantelpiece -in the living-room for this -emergency. Then, as the lamps are -lighted, the old familiar objects appear -precisely as they had been left, perhaps -six months before, with a coating -of dust, to be sure, but nothing which -a few moments and a dustcloth could -not remove; for dust in this region is -little known. True, the chairs, or at -least such of them as possess cushions, -are shrouded in covers. The sofa is a -bulging conglomeration of cushions, -gathered from all hammocks and piazza -furniture; but a few deft passes<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_18"></a>[18]</span> -by the fairy godmother of this establishment, -and presto, the cushions are -distributed and the sofa offers a cozy -retreat for the entire party. Otherwise -the living-room is livable. A fire ready -laid is only waiting for a match and a -turn of the hand to open the flue. -Such is a cottage by the sea if it has -been planned and built as it should be, -not alone for summer use, but also for -spring and autumn holidays.</p> - -<p>The little cottage in question is a -very ancient affair. A long line of -sturdy Cape-Codders dwelt in it, uncomfortably, -for generations. It was -not until a few years ago that it -was entirely renovated, enlarged, and -equipped for summer use. Much care<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_19"></a>[19]</span> -and thought were given to its convenience, -and it stands to-day as a -model for perennial use as a casual -habitation. But it has certain drawbacks; -as, for instance, plaster. Such -a cottage, to secure the maximum -comfort with the minimum of expense, -should be unplastered, and -without a cellar so that the circulation -of air will keep the house free -from dampness. There should be a -kerosene cooking-stove in the kitchen -so that the cooking can be done without -jeopardizing the water coil or -boiler. Furthermore, unless one’s family -and friends are experts in the culinary -art, the usual stove fire is built -regardless of the cost of coal or kindlings,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_20"></a>[20]</span> -and the fire itself is apt to take -a good deal of time in the making, -several trials often being necessary -before the coals kindle into a respectable -glow. The problem of water is -perhaps the most troublesome. No -house, of course, can be left with the -water on during the winter season. -These Cape cottages are no exception -to the rule, and every pipe is -carefully drained and the faucets -greased to prevent rust.</p> - -<p>To go to the trouble of turning on -the water system for an occasional -Sunday or holiday was manifestly out -of the question, and so the owner -of this particular cottage solved the -difficulty in true backwoods fashion.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_21"></a>[21]</span> -A small stone tank, placed in the -closet behind the stove, holding not -over five gallons of water, was always -religiously filled. This served as lubricant -for a hand pump at the kitchen -sink. One of the first duties in starting -in housekeeping was to heat a -pail of this water, thaw out the pump, -and thus secure the supply which adequately -filled the family needs for the -day or two of camp life to be enjoyed.</p> - -<p>You will ask what of bedding and -blankets? They are there at hand. -As a matter of fact, the less one puts -away the better for each and every -article. All blankets hung upon ropes -stretched across the attic are dry and -ready for use. Upon such occasions as<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_22"></a>[22]</span> -the one noted, the family do without -sheets and sleep fully as soundly. The -blazing of the fire logs and the warmth -of the living-room have given to all -a drowsy feeling which defies wakefulness -when once the head touches -the pillow.</p> - -<p>If any one should contemplate making -use of his summer house in this -fashion, there are certain suggestions -which it would be well to follow; -points which any yachtsman or camper -would never overlook.</p> - -<p>First of all, there should be a place -for everything and everything should -be in place. You can never tell when -you will return. Perhaps you may be -delayed and not arrive until after dark,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_23"></a>[23]</span> -chilled and hungry from a long motor -ride. At such times a fire ready laid, -with a good store of dried wood, is -essential to happiness and comfort.</p> - -<p>There should always be a list of -provisions left at the house so that -you may avoid duplication in purchasing -supplies. Besides food, there should -also be such necessaries as soap, -matches, and candles. These should -always be left in the boxes to prevent -the mice and squirrels from robbing -one. A good scheme is to build a -zinc-lined cupboard in the pantry in -which to keep such perishables.</p> - -<p>Kerosene is dangerous to leave about, -and it is well to bring this with you -for the cook-stove; furthermore, it is<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_24"></a>[24]</span> -hard to remember whether enough -has been left at the house for twenty-four -hours’ use.</p> - -<p>Care should always be taken to leave -the small water tank filled unless you -plan to secure your supply from a friend -or neighbor.</p> - -<p>Your pots and pans, cutlery, dishes, -and glasses should always be washed -and put away in order before leaving, -ready for instant use.</p> - -<p>A little system will make all the difference -in the world in the comfort and -enjoyment of such an outing, and will -save labor, so that your actual work will -be done in much less time and the daylight -hours can be given over to the -outdoor life which endears the place<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_25"></a>[25]</span> -to each and every member of your -family.</p> - -<p>Whether it be a canoe, a knockabout, -a gun, or a fishing-line, the life -outside the cottage will be a reflection -of that within and your enjoyment will -come from the facility with which you -manage the essentials of simple living. -And so after you have enjoyed your -day in the open, you will return to the -cottage and discover that the simple -comforts which it offers, while perhaps -lacking the luxury of your daily routine -at home, will be enjoyed with a -relish far beyond that existence in a -brick block, amid a mass of bric-à-brac -and surrounded by servants. In -its place you will devour an unusual<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_26"></a>[26]</span> -amount of food which tastes the better -because you have cooked it, and later -you will fall asleep with the wind singing -in the trees, and the waves lapping -the shores. The occasional barking of -a dog will arouse no apprehension, -and the dread of haunted houses, of -mysterious deeds accomplished behind -closed shutters, will have vanished -until you are safe home again with a -“thriller” to pass away the time before -it is seasonable to retire.</p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus08.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_27"></a>[27]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus09.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="III">III<br /> -<span class="smaller">THE UBIQUITOUS CLAM</span></h2> - -<p>“They scattered up & down ... by yᵉ waterside, -wher they could find ground nuts and clams.” -(William Bradford, <i>History of Plymouth Plantation</i>, -<span class="allsmcap">II</span>, 130.)</p> - -</div> - -<p>Surprising as it may seem, the clam, -at least under his own name, does not -appear in the Encyclopædia Britannica. -And yet the clam is proverbial, metaphorical, -and substantial, so substantial, -in fact, that individuals of uncertain<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_28"></a>[28]</span> -digestion have been rendered distinctly -unhappy after a hearty encounter. -But what is more surprising to -the average person, and especially to -the novice in clamming, is where all -the clams come from for the unending -clam-bakes, clam-chowders, and the -various concoctions necessitating a generous -supply of these silent shellfish. -A journey to the beach at low tide -(for all clammers know from the reference -to that animal’s joyous spirit at -high water that clamming is useless at -that period) generally fails to accomplish -more than a very lame back, -muddy feet, and a paltry dozen or -more specimens of the clam family, -generally of immature age. The profusion<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_29"></a>[29]</span> -of empty shells scattered about -encourage the clammer into the belief -that here, at least, is a favorable locality -for his first efforts, and he grasps -his fork and bends low, thrusting the -implement into the black ooze with -keen anticipation that the mud will disclose -a whole family of clams, ready -at hand for capture; but, instead, he is -rewarded by finding a number of white -shells, seemingly clams, but in reality -merely their shells held closely together -by mud and sand, the skeletons -of former bivalves whose souls have fled -to other worlds and whose bodies have -long since disappeared the way of all -flesh. And so he seeks another spot, and -the same process is repeated. Each time<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_30"></a>[30]</span> -he is conscious of an increasing stiffening -of the back, recalling former -twinges of lumbago, and after an hour -or so the tide forces him to retreat, and -he returns dejectedly to partake of a -thin clam-broth, upon the top of which, -as a consolation prize, his wife has -tactfully placed a little whipped cream.</p> - -<p>And yet the clam is ubiquitous, once -you know him, and the clammer, himself, -has been immortalized by Mr. -William J. Hopkins in several delightful -stories with which certain readers -are familiar. The enthusiast soon learns -their favorite haunts and on favorable -tides he gathers these bivalves by the -pailful. For chowders and for bait alike -he digs, constructs a wire cage in which<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_31"></a>[31]</span> -to keep his precious clams from day -to day, and week to week, and thus -they become, as it were, almost a part -of his summer <i>entourage</i>.</p> - -<p>The clam is a numerous family -(<i>Mya arenaria</i>, were one to become -scientific). The ordinary mud clam -which inhabits the tidewater harbors of -our coasts; the quahog, whose young, -termed “little necks,” are served, uncooked, -as appetizers; and the sea -clam, are very familiar in appearance -and habits; but all varieties are secured -in different ways and in varying localities, -and therein lies an added charm -to the pastime of clam-digging.</p> - -<p>There is a certain portion of the -coast line in a very attractive section<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_32"></a>[32]</span> -of Cape Cod, which shall be nameless, -where all varieties of these mollusks -abound, and it is difficult at times to -decide which variety to pursue. The -ordinary mud clam is generally sought -on the especially low tides so kindly -afforded by the moon at stated intervals. -It is then that the tide line resembles -miniature trenches—first-line -defenses, if you will—so many and -so persistent are the pursuers, who -look for all the world as if they were -digging themselves in in anticipation -of a machine-gun attack.</p> - -<p>The quahog is more secure, for he -lives in No Man’s Land, beyond the -trenches and just under the surface of -the mud. If one is walking up a salty,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_33"></a>[33]</span> -muddy creek—and surprising as the -fact may seem, one often does follow -this watery by-path—the foot will -continue to disclose these big fellows. -In the course of an hour of this method -of locomotion, a full pail of quahogs -may be secured without further discomfort -than a pair of wet legs and -two very muddy feet. The fishermen, -however, regard such efforts as time -lost. They manipulate two long-handled -rakes bound together at the bottom, -and with this implement a sort -of hand-dredging process is performed -which apparently yields better results. -But it is only the native fisherman, -with his knowledge of tides and currents, -of sandy or muddy bottoms, of<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_34"></a>[34]</span> -channels and shoals, who can successfully -locate the choice spots where -these quahogs lie hidden beneath -water, seaweed, and mud.</p> - -<p>The sea clam is as immaculately -clean as his harbor cousin is muddy. -He is likewise found just beneath the -surface of the water, buried in firm -white sand over which the white-crested -breakers foam on the beach. -These clams are not greatly valued -as food. They are gamy and tough -in comparison to their brethren and -a sharp contrast in appearance, with -their delicate, smooth shell of an exquisite -<i>café au lait</i> color, and it is for -this reason, perhaps, that only the -most enthusiastic of clammers or fishermen<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_35"></a>[35]</span> -after bait know of their whereabouts.</p> - -<p>Along the beaches where thousands -of Americans may be seen in impressionistic -attire, disporting themselves -by bobbing up and down in the waves, -one could easily secure a pailful of -these fascinating creatures by wading -out and groping in the sands. No more -exhilarating pleasure can be secured -from surf bathing than in this pastime, -which calls for agility in dodging the -breakers as they roll in. While you -are in the act of dislodging a fine fat -specimen, your pail grasped in one -hand, the other embedded in the sand -seeking your prey, your body is swept -first in, then out, by the waves. In<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_36"></a>[36]</span> -order to regain your balance you lose -your hold, just escape being toppled -over by the next wave rushing toward -its finish on the sands, and miss the -clam; and so the process begins all -over again.</p> - -<p>The “little necks” have their own -places of abode close to the surface -of the mud in sequestered inlets. Now -and again the plebeian clammer will -come across a stray family of little -fellows while in quest of the common -variety, but as a pastime digging for -“little necks” has but little zest.</p> - -<p>And now, after realizing the fascination -of clamming, why be surprised -if, when you run down to the -Cape for a week-end, your host grips<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_37"></a>[37]</span> -you with a hand, cold and moist from -submersion—a “clammy hand”; and -why be surprised if on the following -day, instead of the routine of golf and -tennis, you are initiated into this simple -sport? The surprise would come -to the writer of this slight dissertation -if he should find you callous to the -delight of clamming or disrespectful -of the occupation of the clammer.</p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus10.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_38"></a>[38]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus11.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="IV">IV<br /> -<span class="smaller">A BY-PRODUCT OF CONSERVATION</span></h2> - -</div> - -<p>The torrent of conservation surged -over our community in war-time with -a mighty roar, carrying with it all -thought of flowers and lawns, and -making chaos of our cherished plans -for a summer garden. With a velocity -which only social enterprise could initiate, -New England became a market -garden from Eastport to Greenwich.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_39"></a>[39]</span> -Conservation developed back yards and -vacant lots into gardens, and bank -clerks into farmers, enthusiastic at the -prospect, and innocent of the coming -torments which weeds and pests would -soon bring with them. And so, for -this same reason, our flower garden -on the Cape simmered down to a few -nasturtiums and whatever blossoms -of a perennial nature cared to show -themselves, while our spring borders, -usually a riot of color, were given -over to vegetables.</p> - -<p>What, then, should we have in our -vases to reflect the profusion of the -outdoor season? For a room without -flowers in summer is as devoid of -character and charm as a man without<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_40"></a>[40]</span> -a necktie. The solution, naturally, -was soon found by many in the wild -flowers, and if conservation has accomplished -nothing else, its gift to us -of an appreciation of the beauty and -variety of these exquisite plants will -more than repay our efforts to grow -potatoes, beans, and corn at exorbitant -prices with doubtful success.</p> - -<p>The last days of school for the children -and certain affairs at the office, -together with fixed habits which tyrannize -over the household, kept us -from leaving for the Cape until late -in June, so that we missed the mayflowers -which have made Cape Cod -famous for generations. The iris and -violets, too, had disappeared, as well<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_41"></a>[41]</span> -as the dogwood with its delicate and -generous pink-and-white petals. A few -short hours after our arrival, my little -daughter discovered near by some exquisite -specimens of the wild lupine -growing just as I had last seen it upon -the slopes of Mount Tamalpais near -San Francisco, although perhaps not -in the same profusion.</p> - -<p>From that first day until well into -September, our living-room was made -joyous by a succession of flowers as -delicate and graceful as ever came -from the highly cultivated gardens of -the idle rich—a term which will soon -vanish and justly so.</p> - -<p>The wild roses were late and never -more plentiful or more perfect. The<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_42"></a>[42]</span> -daisies, arranged amid clusters of shiny -bayberry and huckleberry leaves, were -transformed into stately decorations. -The broom, as it is often called, which -abounds in certain sections of the Cape, -planted there in past years without -doubt, gave one a sense of having been -ferried across the sea overnight, while -our own columbine and wild geranium -made a pleasing variety, especially -when arranged with the soft green of -the wild sarsaparilla.</p> - -<p>With the coming of July, the <i>Hudsonia</i>, -or beach heather, clothed our -foreground with brilliant yellow spots, -touches of the sun here and there, -while the low wild shrubs and grasses -seemed to grow overnight in their desire<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_43"></a>[43]</span> -to hide our view of the water. -After a week of rain in which we were -confined to the flowers about the house—succulent -clover, Queen Anne’s -lace, and a wide variety of tall grasses, -which, mingled with pine branches, -form admirable wall decoration—our -desire for botanical information led us -to scour the near-by country, not with -guide-book, motor-maps, or even a -copy of “How to Know the Wild -Flowers,” but to journey simply forth, -either on foot or tucked tightly into -our Ford car. To come unexpectedly -upon one of the many ponds dotted -with lilies and fringed with a variety -of flowering shrubs caused as delightful -a sensation as the same sight a few<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_44"></a>[44]</span> -years ago would have aroused, only -then it would have stimulated a very -different desire—the thought of a -possible bass, lazily drifting below the -surface, to be tempted, perhaps, by a -fly, would have been uppermost. But -this summer our sport lay in securing -wild flowers, a harmless and charming -pastime in which for the first time all -the members of the family found equal -enjoyment, and even our near neighbors, -confirmed golfers, admitted the -fascination of our newly acquired sport. -To return laden with lilies, wild clematis, -marsh mallows, delicately pink -upon their tall, stately stems, cat-tails, -red lilies, the fragrant clethra, and a -variety of other flowers whose names<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_45"></a>[45]</span> -are to be discovered in the winter over -a “complete botanical guide,” savored -of a veritable triumph.</p> - -<p>Our growing interest in this wild -garden was amply rewarded, for now -in August the flowers were at their -height and it became doubly interesting. -Whether the discovery of new -varieties or the satisfaction of gathering -and arranging the commonest -weeds brought the greater pleasure, -it is hard to judge. The recollection -of a tall, graceful copper vase filled -with the despised chicory and bouncing -Bet, the blue of the one and the delicate, -pinkish purple of the other blending -charmingly and supported in contrast -by a few sprays of sumac leaves,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_46"></a>[46]</span> -lingers as one of the floral discoveries -of the summer. A mass of fireweed, -interspersed with slender sprays -of salt grass in full bloom, is another.</p> - -<p>And yet to the sportsman or the -embryonic scientist, individuals of very -similar characteristics, an excursion -into the back country through the -woods, a good, long, honest tramp in -pursuit of new floral game, and the -finding, now a clump of cardinal-flowers -and again the deadly nightshade -(for the sportsman and scientist -alike are fearless), is keen pleasure.</p> - -<p>At times we would return with little -booty to show for our trouble, a -gathering of St. John’s-wort, perhaps,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_47"></a>[47]</span> -or a few stalks of mallow or one-eyed -daisies, but never empty-handed and -always with the exhilaration of the -thought that here was a garden without -limit, without weeds, and without -the cares and expenses to which we -were accustomed.</p> - -<p>In arrangement, it must be confessed -that discussion often arose. Certain -members of the family, who shall be -nameless, preferred a few blooms alone -in each vase, while others clamored -loudly for garnishings of salt grasses -and other green decorations. Upon such -flowers as butterfly-weed and tansy, -such discussions nearly ended in riots, -and only a tactful distribution of these -blooms to those who had gathered<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_48"></a>[48]</span> -them with full authority as to arrangement -secured peace.</p> - -<p>The goldenrod made its appearance -earlier than usual, the handsome, sturdy -variety which grows close to the tidewater -being especially fine. With it -came the purple and white wild asters, -which are in reality so much more beautiful -than the cultivated kind, and the -sea lavender vying with baby’s-breath -in its delicacy.</p> - -<p>In this September a pleasant surprise -came in the discovery of a flower -which we called—and possibly incorrectly -so—the wild primrose, growing -close to the coast among the pines and -scrub oaks; and blooming at this same -time was the beach pea, a long, climbing<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_49"></a>[49]</span> -vine of a pinkish-violet color, luxuriating -amid the desolation of the -sand-dunes.</p> - -<p>Close upon the heels of these blossoms, -which both seemed to belong to -the springtime, the turning of the -leaves, the crispness of the air, the -short evenings, and the aforesaid three -governing reasons, school, office, and -domestic domination, decided us with -more reluctance than ever to close -the cottage. It was not until our luggage -was packed and ready that our -final gatherings of the season’s wild -flowers were removed and the vases -put away against the coming of next -spring.</p> - -<p>It still remains to be seen whether<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_50"></a>[50]</span> -conservation will ultimately lead to a -saving in the cost of food (for Americans -are more given to preaching than -to practice) but it has served us well -in our appreciation of certain of the -good things in life.</p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus12.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_51"></a>[51]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus13.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="V">V<br /> -<span class="smaller">MOTOR TYRANNICUS</span></h2> - -</div> - -<p>In the dim days of a decade ago—a -generation might well have passed, for -time is measured by the march of events -rather than the procession of years—I -remember yearning for the possession -of an automobile. It mattered not what -make, or shape or size or year. I was -oblivious to the merits of six cylinders -as opposed to four. I laughed at the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_52"></a>[52]</span> -enthusiast who reckoned upon the -length of wheel-base as deciding his -comforter the question of demountable -rims as governing his decision as to -which make to select. All I coveted -was something on wheels (preferably -four) of my own which might go or -even might not go, for so rampant -was the possessive desire in my heart -that the chief thing in the world seemed -to me at that time to be able to say “My -motor” in an utterly casual, matter-of-fact -tone, and back it up by nodding -my head in the direction of the barn, -which after the fashion of marriages -had suddenly changed its name overnight -by the possession of a master, and -so became my “garage.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_53"></a>[53]</span></p> - -<p>This ridiculous state of mind is easy -to account for. In winter we lived in -the suburbs where it seemed to both -my wife and to me that every friend -we had owned a car. In summer we -sojourned upon Cape Cod, where the -motor had replaced the runabout so -completely that our old horse looked -like a prehistoric relic of the Stone -Age. Added to this was the ignominy -of knowing that the Butcher and Baker -both possessed machines and had that -mythological person the Candlestick-maker -abided in our town, doubtless -he also would have honk-honked his -way by our door.</p> - -<p>In short, the thing got so badly on -our nerves that finally, with full knowledge<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_54"></a>[54]</span> -of the financial iniquity involved, -I purchased one of those hopelessly -plebeian affairs which travel under so -many opprobrious pseudonyms—a -Ford. From that day to this I have -owned some sort of a car and have -thought myself a wise and a fortunate -man, and subconsciously I have felt -myself rather more of a person because -of this possession, for such is the frailty -of human nature.</p> - -<p>To-day, however, marks a turning-point, -a milestone, a crisis in my career. -Personally I consider this day -one of triumph—I have sold my car. -I have no independent means of transportation -other than my own good -legs—or, at least, they were so until<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_55"></a>[55]</span> -I neglected them—and I rejoice in -my motorless state. I feel a sense -of exhilaration in my freedom from -Fords, from the bondage of Buicks, -from captivity in my Chandler Sedan. -Such exhilaration is doubtless hard to -understand because precisely the same -conditions now exist which originally -drove me into buying that first “Universal -Car,” only in a more exaggerated -degree. My children (and now -there are more of them) are always -clamoring for rides, even for the short -distance of a few blocks which separates -our house from school. My wife -(and I must confess there is now -more of her too) still plies her trade -of exchanging visits and buzzing about<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_56"></a>[56]</span> -town all day long, never thinking of -walking, and for myself, I have become -mutely accustomed to the rôle -of family chauffeur when not attempting -that increasing impossibility, the -attempt to make both ends meet.</p> - -<p>And yet, is it after all so hard to -understand this relief? In the first -place, the car, no matter what variety, -either goes or it does not go. If by -chance it goes, you must go with it. -If it does not go, you must make it -go or get some one who knows more -about it than you do, and who costs -more than you do, to mend it. That -means that you go upstairs into your -own room and change into old clothes<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_57"></a>[57]</span> -reserved for this purpose, go down -again and out to the garage, where -you stand in contemplative mood for -some moments before crawling under -the machine. When you are safely -landed in a dripping pool of oil, your -children and your neighbor’s children -come trooping in from play and ask -you why you are there and what you -are doing. This in itself is disconcerting, -for you generally don’t know. -Having successfully found that out -you slowly emerge from your cramped -quarters, which compare only with an -upper berth, return to your room, resume -the garb of a successful business -man, and take the car to a garage and -there wait until some one makes it<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_58"></a>[58]</span> -<i>sound</i> all right. This individual vies -with the tax collector in separating -you from all excess cash.</p> - -<p>This does not happen every day, I -admit, but there is a sensation in the -back of the mind of nearly every motorist -which is more or less constant. -You know that you worry when the -car does not go. There is no ground -for speculation upon this point. You -worry about what the matter is, and -when you find you can’t mend it, and -take it to a garage to be repaired, you -worry as to whether you have taken -it to the right garage, or the right -man in the garage. You fuss over -the cost and you continually wonder -whether the repairs have been properly<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_59"></a>[59]</span> -done or whether the blamed thing -won’t break out in the same place the -next time you take the car out. And -during this whole period you feel in -the bottom of your heart that you could -have mended it just as well yourself.</p> - -<p>Then there are the worries when -it <i>does</i> go. You wonder when the tires -are going to give out, whether they -are too flat or too inflated, whether -you put in gas before you started, and -how the water is. You are continually -guessing whether you have -too much or too little oil, and you -generally guess wrong.</p> - -<p>These, however, are all mere trifles, -the superficial maunderings of a sensitive -organism. Your major worries<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_60"></a>[60]</span> -may be classified under three headings:</p> - -<p>First: the worry of changing cars. -Every year the question comes up for -family discussion, competing valiantly -with the problem of when we are to move -to the Cape. Shall we turn in the old car -and get a new one? If so, what kind?—and -then follows a month of violent -discussion in which my wife and the -children take one side and I the other. -By instinct I am a modest man and -by habit cautious. I do not like changes, -especially sudden changes, and so my -inclination is either to stick to the old -car for another year or buy a new one -like it. My family—why I cannot -say—seem to be oppositely inclined.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_61"></a>[61]</span> -My wife avers that So-and-So has had -great luck with a ⸺. Billy, my eldest, -backs her up with several lengthy -anecdotes told him by So-and-So’s son, -proving the excellence of that make -above all others. I am sufficiently -shaken in my opinion to consult with -the garage-man from whom I bought -my car, only to be shown a car of the -variety mentioned in deplorable condition -awaiting the mechanic’s skill. -Poor engine, inadequate something or -other,—I can’t remember the name,—and -so it goes. My office is thronged -with automobile salesmen so that work -is impossible, while the evenings are -passed in futile argument until the -final verdict is given, resulting generally<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_62"></a>[62]</span> -in a compromise—a new car is -purchased of a trifle better type at a -considerable advance in price and the -old car sacrificed for a song. Those -days of budding greenness for which -we have longed through all the cold, -useless days of winter are utterly ruined -by this fearful problem.</p> - -<p>The second worry comes with -breakfast daily. Who is to use the car -during the day? The day being balmy, -I had thought of going to town in it, -especially as I wanted to make a call -on the way home. My wife, it seems, -had planned to go to the dressmaker. -I should have guessed it. Billy, who -has just arrived at the legal age which -foolishly permits youth to endanger<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_63"></a>[63]</span> -the lives and liberty of American citizens, -had planned to take a number -of his cronies to St. Mark’s School to -see a ball game. Billy, as can be readily -imagined, wins out.</p> - -<p>This daily observance takes the entire -breakfast period and often leads to -slight feeling. I say slight because I -rarely ever secure the car myself unless -it needs repairing.</p> - -<p>The last worry may perhaps be -more likened to fear. “What next?” I -generally remark—for this third -division concerns our friends. In that -happy decade, now but a dream, we -used to live in a delightful community, -surrounded by friends who dropped -in and then dropped out again, both<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_64"></a>[64]</span> -happy incidents in our daily life. But -now, who has time to see his neighbors -when every one is frantically -motoring to some distant acquaintance -miles away? What can you do -when some friend at the end of nowhere -invites you to dinner because -she knows you have a motor? You -go because your wife explains that this -sort of thing is what a motor is for.</p> - -<p>Is this not a matter for worry?—to -work in an office until five; to journey -home with the knowledge that in -exactly thirty minutes you start out, in -a car which needs oiling and when -one of the tires should have more air, -for a distant suburb, where you are to -meet a number of people you do not<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_65"></a>[65]</span> -know and never care to see again. -That this sort of thing is going to increase -just as long as you have a -pesky car is more than a cause for -worry. It is a calamity.</p> - -<p>In a trice all this vanished, for I sold -my car. I remember hearing the story -of a Southerner whose property was -taken from him during the Civil War -and who later was robbed of all the -money on his person. He confessed -to a feeling of intense joy and relief, -for with his loss of property went his -feeling of responsibility, and care-free -he entered the army and fought a gallant -fight.</p> - -<p>And so upon that day I walked with -elastic tread, head up, chest out, delighting<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_66"></a>[66]</span> -in the discovery of freedom. -I care not that my friends all possess -cars. I’ve had one—several in fact—and -I can afford to buy others, but -I am not going to. That is, not yet -(and here I remember my family, -somewhat dubiously). I plan to renew -the pleasures of daily rambles over the -beautiful hills of my own town. I plan -to renew old friendships with my neighbors -near by. I look forward to an -occasional Sunday at home. In short, -I picture the joy of being without -a motor.</p> - -<p>As a matter of fact, however, this -vision was short-lived. In the first -place, the ramble over the old familiar -hills made me so beastly lame that<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_67"></a>[67]</span> -my Sunday at home was a painful -one, and the day was punctuated by -the complaints of each and every member -of the family over the loss of the -car. I ventured out, still painfully, to -call upon one or two of my old neighbors, -just for a run in and out again, -but they, it seemed, were out in their -motors, and so I returned dejectedly -to the sad-faced group in my own -living-room, where we managed to -exist until bedtime, conversing upon -our prospective move to the Cape, -and what it meant to the various members -of the family to be—as my -daughter puts it—a million miles away -from every one with no means of ever -leaving the house. And so it was the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_68"></a>[68]</span> -Cape and its appeal which broke my -defenses, for I must confess our seasonal -trips there were a delightful part -of our existence, to say nothing of the -joys of our summer life.</p> - -<p>The next day I took an early train -to town, and I came home that evening -somewhat sheepish, but reasonably -happy, for I came in a new car, -which bids fair to be the best one yet; -it is certainly the most expensive.</p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus14.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_69"></a>[69]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus15.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="VI">VI<br /> -<span class="smaller">“CHANGE AND REST”—SUMMER BARGAINING</span></h2> - -</div> - -<p>Although on the surface Cape Cod -seems to offer a haven of refuge to -that much overworked appendage to -the modern man, the pocket-book, -there are dotted here and there upon -the highways and byways many comparatively -innocent pitfalls.</p> - -<p>To a close student of these danger<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_70"></a>[70]</span> -spots, they may be grouped under -the heading “Tea-Rooms, Arts and -Crafts Stores, and Antique Shops.”</p> - -<p>I know of no greater relief than to -escape from town and come to the -Cape. Once there, the daily routine of -office, the absence of any assigned -duty, the leisure hours passed in or -on the water or idly knocking about -the golf links, tend to merge one day -into another, so that time flashes past -at an alarming rate. But every now -and again comes a day when some -member of the family suggests that -we take the motor and extend our -vision. It is upon such occasions that -we test the financial astuteness of the -aborigines.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_71"></a>[71]</span></p> - -<p>One never visits the Cape without -discovering how effectively the climate -stimulates the appetite. What wonder, -therefore, that every village and -hamlet possesses a Tea-Room of varying -attraction?</p> - -<p>The stop is made and the Tea-Room -visited, only to find that the family, in -addition to ordering the tea, with its -accompaniment of toast and cake, or, -for the younger members, a bottle -of ginger ale or an ice-cream cone, -are bent upon securing a souvenir. -The Tea-Room is generally furnished -with an assortment of articles intended -for just such gullibles as ourselves. -There are, for instance, baskets of assorted -sizes and colors, for flowers, or<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_72"></a>[72]</span> -fruit, or sewing, or pine cones; in fact -for everything that should be thrown -away, but isn’t. We have several -such baskets at home, but that does -not prevent some member of the family -from buying another. It will do -for a Christmas present. Then there -are varieties of other things made far -away and designed to lure the cheerful -motorist, such as charmingly decorated -match-cases for elderly people, -noisily painted tin pails for the -children, dainty knockers, and all manner -of knick-knacks for the women -of the party. The invariable assortment -of what, to a man, seems the essence -of uselessness, and yet, I confess -it, attractive to an insidious extent.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_73"></a>[73]</span></p> - -<p>The pocket-book is touched, not -severely, to be sure, but there is a perceptible -shrinkage as we file out to continue -on our harmless junket.</p> - -<p>For a few miles we bowl along over -a delightfully smooth road and give -ourselves over entirely to the view. Now -a long stretch of pine woods gives just -a glimpse of the water glistening -through the trees; here and there a -little farmhouse, snugly tucked among -a clump of lilacs close to the road, with -visions of larger establishments in the -distance, out toward the sea, the homes -of summer residents boldly exposed -to the refreshing southwest wind; then -a long stretch of marsh and dune brilliant -in the sun. Suddenly we come<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_74"></a>[74]</span> -upon a more thickly populated district -where many of the old houses have -been purchased and renovated to fit -the needs of city people, who, with the -assistance of some modern architect, -oftentimes make enticing homes of -these structures by the simple addition -of porches and piazzas, with bright -touches of paint here and there on blinds -and doors, and the whole garnished -well with bright flowers, climbing -roses, and cozy hedges.</p> - -<p>It is generally near such a settlement -that we come upon the Arts and -Crafts in all their glory.</p> - -<p>Compared to the Tea-Room, the -Art-Shop is a veritable mine of treasure. -From a variety of toys which<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_75"></a>[75]</span> -would do credit to Schwartz to a complete -set of hand-painted furniture such -as one might expect to find in the window -of the largest furniture store in -Boston during the months of May and -June, seems a far cry for a small shop -occupying a converted bungalow in a -modest Cape town; but this sort of -thing exists, and between these items -there is an almost endless list of what for -a better term may be called “specialties,” -and even I, who scorn the newness -of furnishings as they are displayed -in town, fall a victim first to an exceptionally -soft-toned rag rug, oval in -shape and comfortable to the tread, and -also to a set of doilies made of a light, -colorful variety of oilcloth with dainty<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_76"></a>[76]</span> -pattern that my wife says will save -washing; and lastly to a pair of bayberry -candles, olive green and a full eighteen -inches high, which it seems to me -will give an admirable touch to our -living-room mantel.</p> - -<p>The shrinkage in the pocket-book -is easily discernible; in fact I am led to -say briskly that I think we had better -be getting along home, and so we put -our new treasures into the car and proceed -homewards by a new route more -inland.</p> - -<p>It is always interesting to try the -lesser known roads even if they are a -bit rougher. They are little traveled and -for this reason pleasanter in midsummer; -one rarely loses the way, for signs<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_77"></a>[77]</span> -are plentiful, and so we wind about the -higher stretches which form the backbone -of the Cape, along sandy roads -which at times diminish to mere cart-paths, -but at all times are passable.</p> - -<p>Emerging from this forest district -on one such excursion, we came quite -suddenly upon the forking of two -roads where a clump of neat-looking -farmhouses, a schoolhouse, and a diminutive -church indicated a real town. -Here my eye was arrested by the -magic sign “Antiques” stuck into the -lawn in front of one of the houses.</p> - -<p>While I do not admit the slightest -lure in the sign of a Tea-Room except -when hard-pressed by hunger, and but -scant attraction in the Art-Shop, there<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_78"></a>[78]</span> -is something about the word “antique” -that whets my appetite for exploration, -and especially so when found in a quiet -little hamlet off the beaten path and -probably not familiar to the many hundreds -of tourists whose smoothly running -motors of ample proportions bespeak -well-filled pocket-books. Consequently -I grasped the emergency -brake and came to a sudden stop in -spite of a feeble protest from my -daughter and a heavy sigh from my -wife on the back seat.</p> - -<p>Where antiques are concerned, I -take the lead, or, to be more accurate, -I stand alone, and so proceeded to the -back door of the house; for those who -know Cape-Codders well enough realize<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_79"></a>[79]</span> -the inconvenience and delay which -a knock at the front door provokes.</p> - -<p>Seeing a middle-aged woman bending -over the stove in the kitchen, I -called a merry “Good-afternoon” by -way of salutation.</p> - -<p>“Good-afternoon,” she replied as -an echo might have thrown back my -words.</p> - -<p>“I saw your sign ‘antiques’ and -thought perhaps I might have a look -at them,” I continued, nothing daunted.</p> - -<p>“Mister Eldridge ain’t to home, -but if you want to go out to the barn -you can see what he’s got,” she replied, -without even turning her head -to see what sort of a second-story man -I might be.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_80"></a>[80]</span></p> - -<p>Here was luck, however, for I could -look over the stock in trade of this -ambitious couple to my heart’s content, -and I made haste to the barn, which I -found converted into one of the most -amazing junk-shops it has ever been -my pleasure to explore.</p> - -<p>Crowded together without rhyme -or reason, and with no thought of display, -were the goods and chattels of -generations of Cape-Codders; tables, -chairs, beds, sofas, ice-chests, a parlor -organ, curtain rods, bits of carpet, -crockery in all stages of dilapidation. -On one of the tables a variety of hardware -was strewn about, on one of the -stiff-backed chairs reposed three old -brass lanterns. A Rogers group on a<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_81"></a>[81]</span> -kitchen table was flanked by a White -Mountain ice-cream freezer on one -side and a fine old fire bucket on the -other. A four-poster, of apple-wood, -with fluted posts terminating in pineapple -tops, the wood in an excellent -state of preservation, was the repository -of a half-dozen pictures, three -face-down, while one of the others -disclosed itself as a really good copy -of the engraving of Washington and -his family. But to the casual observer, -there seemed scarcely a piece of furniture -or, in fact, anything which was sufficiently -in repair to survive the journey -to my house; furthermore, the rank -and file of articles were of recent date -and had no charm for the collector.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_82"></a>[82]</span></p> - -<p>However, the very hopelessness of -the quest whetted my appetite, and -to the utter disgust of my family, I -spent a good half-hour rummaging -about, not only in the main part of the -barn, but also in the stalls, and even -in the hayloft, for the whole building -was bulging with what seemed the -cast-off furnishings of the entire Cape.</p> - -<p>The result of my examination was -a really fine ship’s lantern which I -found in the loft; a pair of old pewter -pepper pots, reclining in an old soap -dish, and a couple of straight-back -rush-seated chairs, a trifle rickety, but -with the seats in excellent condition -with the original rush plaiting, which -is unmistakable.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_83"></a>[83]</span></p> - -<p>For fear of mislaying my selection, -I had brought them outside the barn, -and at that moment a lanky, middle-aged -farmer drove up in a buggy and -slowly got out.</p> - -<p>“Is this Mr. Eldridge?” I asked.</p> - -<p>“Thet’s me,” he replied. “Been -havin’ a look over the department -store? I ain’t got in my elevators, an’ -the outing department [here he looked -at my golfing tweeds] ain’t much to -brag about, but I’ve got ’most everything -in thar except the town hearse -an’ I’m savin’ that for my mother-in-law.”</p> - -<p>By George! I thought, here’s one -of the real old-timers, nothing taciturn -about him, and I pointed to the modest<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_84"></a>[84]</span> -selection I had made and asked him -what the price was.</p> - -<p>“Well, as to price,” he replied, -taking off his hat and meditatively -scratching his head, “that’s the worst -of the business. I never just know -what my things are worth. Them -chairs came from old widow Crocker’s, -over by Forestdale. She’d never sell -’em till she died, an’ then she couldn’t -help herself an’ her son-in-law cleaned -the place out, an’ I got quite a lot of -stuff an’ paid him for the lot. What -d’you say to a couple o’ dollars -apiece?”</p> - -<p>I said, “Yes,” as soberly as I could. -I would have given much more.</p> - -<p>“As to that lantern, it’s a good ’un<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_85"></a>[85]</span> -and the glass is all right. I shall have -to get at least four dollars.”</p> - -<p>“All right,” said I, cheerfully, for -I had seen a smaller one in Chatham -go for eight just a few days before. -“And how about the pepper pots?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, you kin have ’em for—let’s -see—’bout seventy-five apiece.” And -I agreed.</p> - -<p>“What do you do with all this -stuff?” I asked, as he helped me to -dispose of my treasures in an already -well-filled car.</p> - -<p>“Oh, mostly I sell to the Portugees -that come here farmin’ and cranberryin’. -Now an’ then I get some old -stuff same as you jest picked up, but -generally it’s the newer kind they like<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_86"></a>[86]</span> -the best. I jest set that there sign up -’cause I see every durn fellow ’long -the road what has a toothpick or a -shavin’ mug to sell puts up a sign, an’ -so, says I, guess I’ll stick up one too.”</p> - -<p>And that is the way I became acquainted -with Silas Eldridge, dealer in -antiques, who has sold me many a real -treasure, but I keep his whereabouts -as secret as possible, for of all the fascinating -places for picking up astonishing -bargains on Cape Cod, his old -dilapidated barn offers the most surprises.</p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 12.5em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus16.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_87"></a>[87]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus17.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="VII">VII<br /> -<span class="smaller">A BLUE STREAK</span></h2> - -</div> - -<p>Slang is both the curse and the delight -of the English language, and that -form of slang which our British friends -term “Americanisms,” and which we -have now largely adopted as our national -mode of communication, is not -confined to the youth of to-day by any -means. In the home, in business, and -of course in sport, slang has found its<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_88"></a>[88]</span> -way and has spread like the weeds in -the garden of the over-enthusiastic -commuter. I remember hearing a -clergyman of national reputation and -advancing years say a short time ago, -after a satisfying excursion of some -sort, that he had “had more fun than -a goat,” and I defied him to elucidate -that time-worn phrase to my satisfaction.</p> - -<p>The derivations and origins of American -idioms and colloquial expressions -are vastly interesting, not only in showing -the resourcefulness of our people -in cutting wordy corners and in the -development of a certain form of humor -which I do not defend, but in shedding -real light upon the whys and wherefores<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_89"></a>[89]</span> -of our universe down to its smallest -detail. A temperamental curiosity -has led me from time to time to look -up certain of the commoner expressions, -and I am indebted to this eccentric -hobby for several pleasurable -experiences.</p> - -<p>Many years ago—so many in fact -that the memory is distasteful—I -went to a horse-race where the winner -passed our stand at a pace which my -companion described as “going like a -blue streak,” a familiar term with -which I ignorantly agreed at the time. -I suppose that since then I have heard -it repeated many hundred times, but -it was not until last summer when my -son applied it to a motor-boat passing<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_90"></a>[90]</span> -out of the harbor, that I thought of -inquiring into its origin, and discovered, -much to my surprise, that it applied -to the illusive and disconcerting -movements of the ordinary sea crab, -often called the “blue claw.”</p> - -<p>The discovery piqued my curiosity -and I determined forthwith to investigate -the locomotory accomplishments -of these retiring animals. This was -not as easy a task as I had expected. -The crab is not socially inclined, and -the term “crabbed” is soon apparent. -He is only to be found at low tide, -and generally near the mouth of a -salty creek where the bottom is muddy -and sparsely covered with seaweed -and eelgrass. There in the late summer<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_91"></a>[91]</span> -and fall he can be seen from -canoe or rowboat, if one is patient and -watchful, and the expression to “go -like a blue streak” fits him like a -glove.</p> - -<p>Having provided myself with a net -of the butterfly variety, I determined -to secure a specimen, and began my -search among the creeks, so numerous -along the shores of Cape Cod. -Although we came upon quite a number, -it took the entire morning to capture -four.</p> - -<p>When unmolested, these creatures -crawl slowly and deliberately about -their business, sluggish in manner and -shabbily dark in appearance, grubbing -about on the bottom, now in, now out<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_92"></a>[92]</span> -of the seaweed, but the instant that -danger is threatened, they undergo -a transformation. The claws, from -sprawling about on the mud at every -angle, are drawn in, and like a flash—or, -far better, “like a blue streak”—the -particular crab that you have -selected for capture darts away at an -angle that leaves you helpless with -wonder at the suddenness of his departure -and at the blueness of his -appearance.</p> - -<p>As soon as you have spotted your -prey the excitement begins. Armed -with the net, you crawl quietly to the -bow of the boat and in whispers direct -the rower, now this way, now that, -following the route taken by the capricious<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_93"></a>[93]</span> -crab. Sometimes the water is -deep enough to permit the use of the -oars, at others it is necessary to pole -the boat in and out among the rocks -covered by seaweed, your journey always -attended by silence and stealth as -if the slightest noise would precipitate -in flight this wily crustacean.</p> - -<p>At last when you are within striking -distance, the net is plunged in -among the grass and brought up, alas! -empty, and the hunt continues as before.</p> - -<p>When, after repeated trials, your -patience is rewarded and a fine big -fellow is caught, the greatest care -must be taken to prevent him from -crawling out of the net and escaping<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_94"></a>[94]</span> -before he is landed in the boat, for his -activities are ceaseless.</p> - -<p>Indeed, even after he is flung deftly -into the pail, his savage struggles may -succeed in freeing him from captivity. -And so it is only with infinite caution -and patience—qualifications necessary -in every game—that you are -able to land your prize, and it is only -then that you will find the explanation -of the color quality of his passing. -As the crab is taken from the water, -its mud-colored shell appears a dark -ultramarine blue, the claws of a -lighter shade, the under part shading -to white tinged with pink; its entire -surface seems metallic in the intensity -of its coloring as it leaves the water.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_95"></a>[95]</span> -From a slow, lazy animal of peaceful -habits, the crab has become a veritable -monster, savage and fiercely aggressive, -and woe to the unfortunate within -reach of his claws.</p> - -<p>His capture is a real experience and -a distinctly sporting event. So interesting -and mysterious is the search, -so active and adventurous the pursuit, -and so exciting and satisfying the actual -catch, that one is tempted to place -crabbing among the big events of a -summer at the seashore.</p> - -<p>I know a college professor who annually -devotes the better part of his -vacation to this pastime, and several -of my athletic friends, whose prowess -on the football field was a matter of<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_96"></a>[96]</span> -international comment in the papers, -confess to the delights of a crab hunt; -but it is a surprising fact, nevertheless, -that the majority of those who -visit the seacoast each year have never -even heard of the extraordinary fascination -of hunting the originator of -the “blue streak.”</p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus18.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_97"></a>[97]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus19.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="VIII">VIII<br /> -<span class="smaller">A FRESH-WATER CAPE</span></h2> - -</div> - -<p>To the majority of people Cape Cod -spells sea breezes, a tang of salt in the -air, scrub oaks, tall pines, stretches of -sand, and a large appetite. To the -few who know the Cape from more -intimate acquaintance there is added -to this picture a swelling country -densely wooded in sections and spotted -with ponds. It is a source of never-ending<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_98"></a>[98]</span> -wonder how these ponds exist -in a country where the soil is so porous -that a few minutes after a shower -there is no trace of the rain. In almost -every instance they are fed from -springs beneath the surface, and the -solution has been offered and quite -generally believed that much of this -fresh water flows in subterranean -channels having their source far distant -in the White Mountains.</p> - -<p>So plentiful is the supply that wells -and pipes, driven a few feet into the -soil at almost any spot, furnish clear, -pure water in ample supply for household -needs. A more remarkable fact -is that at low tide in many of the harbors -and inlets fresh water can be<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_99"></a>[99]</span> -found between the high and low -stretches, oozing through the salty -surface of sand and mud. And so the -Cape, for all its salt qualities, has fresh -water in profusion and ponds without -number. In Plymouth County alone -there are 365 ponds, many of them of -substantial size, while the lower Cape -is almost equally well provided.</p> - -<p>A generation ago, many of the residents -of Plymouth passed their summers -on the largest of these—Long -Pond. Having the salt breezes most -of the year they wisely sought a change -to inland waters.</p> - -<p>Last year I met a gentleman fishing -in Wakeby Pond—made famous -by Cleveland and Joe Jefferson—who<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_100"></a>[100]</span> -told me he came on from Chicago -every year to pass a month bass fishing. -He was probably ten miles from -the coast, and might have been a hundred -for all the good it did him; but -on the other hand, why not a pond on -the Cape as well as a Rangeley Lake -in Maine? The life is much the same—the -air refreshing and the scenery -delightful.</p> - -<p>These larger ponds are fully as -large as many of the Maine lakes. -Long Pond at Plymouth is said to be -ten miles long, and I have seen the -water at Great Herring Pond as rough -as one would care to have it when -canoeing.</p> - -<p>To be sure the fishing is not perhaps<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_101"></a>[101]</span> -so very exciting—few trout, -except in the occasional streams which -have been stocked, but land-locked -salmon, perch, and pickerel to be had -with a little patience, and a shrimp -or so. The real pleasure which these -ponds offer is the surprise and delight -of coming upon them as one -does frequently and quickly while -motoring through the less-frequented -roads. From Plymouth down the Cape -through Sandwich nearly every road -and by-path leads to some picturesque -little sheet of water often closely -wooded to its shores and without a -sign of habitation.</p> - -<p>From Wareham or Cotuit, from -Pocasset or Falmouth, from Hyannis<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_102"></a>[102]</span> -or Chatham—in short, from nearly -every one of the many Cape towns, a -ride of fifteen or twenty minutes will -take one to a pond which might as -well be fifty miles from any center -of human activity. One rarely meets -other adventurers upon such trips, and -the silence and peace which reign -form excellent foils to the summer -life so near at hand.</p> - -<p>Those who are wise in Cape ways -possess small canoes mounted upon -two wheels, which are fastened on -behind their cars, so that, when touring -the ponds, they are not limited in -their fishing to the shore or to the -chance of finding a boat.</p> - -<p>There are a number of gentlemen<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_103"></a>[103]</span> -who have built small camps upon certain -of these secluded spots for casual -excursions and for spring and fall use. -They are wise. By leaving Boston at -noon they can always be in camp by -sundown ready to enjoy a full Sunday, -while the mighty fisherman who -depends entirely upon the Maine lakes -or the more remote places must plan -a week’s vacation, with the chance of -better sport, to be sure, but no better -life, for the life of a sportsman in the -open is much the same. The great -outdoors is universal in its appeal to -the sane-minded and healthy-bodied.</p> - -<p>I have experienced as much heat -and poorer fishing in Nova Scotia -during July as I have on our ponds<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_104"></a>[104]</span> -of the Cape, and in addition I have -noticed more mosquitoes and midges -to the cubic inch in Canada than on -these same ponds; but of that perhaps -the less said the better.</p> - -<p>I have in mind a little excursion which -illustrates these extremes of Cape life, -and it is but one of many. In early -July, when the children, freed from -school restraint, were on the rampage, -and our cottage was bearing the brunt -of an onslaught of youthful visitors, -each of our neighbors having one or two -boys and girls as guests for their children, -life seemed to me an unending -series of activities coupled with ceaseless -slang. In fact, I was “fed up” -with it all, so that when my classmate<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_105"></a>[105]</span> -and old friend R⸺ telephoned to say -that he was going up to the pond for -a day or so, I clung to the receiver in -my joy to escape.</p> - -<p>The preparations for such a trip are -simple—a blanket, a change of clothing, -a toothbrush, no razor, food enough -to fill a small basket, and—yes, I suppose -it must be confessed—a bottle.</p> - -<p>My fishing tackle is always ready. -The bait, however, is more difficult to -secure. With net and pail I hastened to -the creek which enters the harbor near -our cottage, and, it being fortunately -low tide, I was able, in the twenty -minutes left before R⸺’s arrival, -to secure a fair supply of shrimp. That -was all there was to it. We were off<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_106"></a>[106]</span> -well within an hour from the time of his -message, and well within another hour -we had arrived at his little shack perched -high above the shore of one of the loveliest -ponds on the Cape, and were settled -for the night.</p> - -<p>The camp was well stocked with -wood and simply furnished with camp -beds, the ordinary cooking-utensils, -and such comforts as may be gathered -about a broad hearth and a roaring fire.</p> - -<p>Outside, the wind had died down -and not a ripple disturbed the mirrored -surface of the water, which reflected -the delicate outline of cedar, pine, and -oak, a lacy filament which shielded -the setting sun from the already silvered -reflection of the half-moon.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_107"></a>[107]</span></p> - -<p>“A perfect time of a perfect day, -in a well-nigh perfect spot,” I said, -by way of expressing the joy of my -escape.</p> - -<p>“Such a burst of eloquence demands -a toast,” remarked my friend.</p> - -<p>So we forthwith resorted to the -aforesaid bottle, and then turned to -and prepared supper—the inevitable -scrambled eggs, deviled ham, bread -and marmalade, and coffee.</p> - -<p>“To think of that howling mob at -home only twenty minutes away,” I -mused, puffing contentedly at my -pipe and reveling in the silence.</p> - -<p>“To think of what a motor will do!” -replied my friend, who was not unaware -of my opinion of cars.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_108"></a>[108]</span></p> - -<p>I muttered something incoherently, -and squirmed a bit at the thought of -some of my notions.</p> - -<p>The next morning we were up with -the sun, and after a hasty bite, put our -canoe into the water and set about our -main task.</p> - -<p>We were both fairly familiar with -the haunts of the wily bass. In summer -they lie close to the bottom, the -laziest of fellows, sucking in the bait, -if they notice it at all, in a dreamy fashion, -but, once hooked, they show their -mettle, and so, when I finally felt a -slight strain on my line, I held back -until I was sure of my fish. Yes, I had -him, and a good big one at that.</p> - -<p>There is little or no casting in midsummer,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_109"></a>[109]</span> -so that I had brought a stouter -trolling-rod, and it was just as well. I -played that fellow for ten minutes, -and when R⸺ finally netted him for -me, we sat and looked at each other -speechless.</p> - -<p>“By gad, he’s a five-pounder!” -said my friend excitedly.</p> - -<p>“Hum—about four and three -quarters,” I replied in a matter-of-fact -tone to cover my excitement.</p> - -<p>We caught twelve that morning, -several weighing two pounds or more,—splendid -fishing, the best we had -ever had on the pond.</p> - -<p>When we reached the camp and -weighed my prize, he tipped the scales -at five and three ounces—a record fish.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_110"></a>[110]</span></p> - -<p>Late in the afternoon the clouds -began to gather and the wind turned -northeast, so we decided to run for -cover.</p> - -<p>I was at home in time for dinner, -and found the spell broken. It was -I who did the talking, an amazing -amount of it, while the youngsters sat -open-mouthed when my bass was -brought onto the table in a platter all -to himself, garnished by our cook, -who, so says my wife, is proud of my -ability as a provider.</p> - -<p>What more versatile land of summer, -then, can one imagine than the -seashore with an almost permanent -breeze, with a chain of inland ponds -remote and wild in character almost<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_111"></a>[111]</span> -at one’s back door, motorively speaking?</p> - -<p>If variety is truly the spice of life, -what better seasoned offering has any -locality to show than Cape Cod?</p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus20.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_112"></a>[112]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus21.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="IX">IX<br /> -<span class="smaller">AL FRESCO</span></h2> - -</div> - -<p>Before you pass judgment upon any -man or woman of your acquaintance, -ask him or her to a picnic. Then if -you are not ready to form a decision, -they will probably have made up their -minds about you. A picnic, so the -Dictionary has it, is an entertainment -in a grove, an ominous and hazardous -place at best for a good time, and one<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_113"></a>[113]</span> -to be avoided except by sentimental -couples, and therefore the Dictionary -may be considered narrow-minded in -naming the locality. Furthermore, its -advice is rarely followed in these days, -and the picnics which I prefer, and -they are countless, are held upon the -seashore and, for the most part, in the -sea itself.</p> - -<p>There is a white, sandy beach of a -mile or more, banked by great sand-dunes -and bordering a section of Buzzard’s -Bay which is comparatively unknown, -where there are no houses, -not even bath-houses, and where the -delighted squeal of the noisy girl or -the guffaw of the blatant youth is -rarely heard. It is here that we frequently<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_114"></a>[114]</span> -gather with a few good friends -upon pleasant warm days, for an impromptu -meal <i>al fresco</i>, preceded by -a joyous bath in water as clear as -crystal, warm and yet with a spiciness -that clears the head from all drowsiness -and whets the appetite to a keen -edge.</p> - -<p>There are problems to every picnic. -The conventions of life grip hard, -and yet it is curious and sometimes -amusing to see how thin the veneer -really is when the primitive necessities -of a picnic are faced.</p> - -<p>The sand-dunes are conveniently -rolling, every now and then dipping -into bowl-like formations, and in these -sequestered or semi-sequestered nooks<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_115"></a>[115]</span> -we don our bathing-suits and sally -forth to the sea. One of our friends, -a man somewhat particular as to his -appearance and the soul of modesty, -was directed to the appointed place, -but his love for the view led him up -the slope, so that, innocently turning -our gaze shoreward, the feminine portion -of our gathering was considerably -disconcerted to see the apostle -of Beau Brummel in nature’s garb innocently -viewing the horizon and giving -little heed to his natty bathing-suit, -a black and orange affair with -immaculate white belt which lay at his -feet.</p> - -<p>The women, too, those who but a -few moments before would have tried<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_116"></a>[116]</span> -in every way to conceal a hole in -their stockings, were glad to borrow -bathing-dresses of any reasonable style -if by chance they had forgotten to -pack their own, and stockings seemed -of no importance.</p> - -<p>To line up twenty or more on the -beach and rush for a plunge, to breast -the billows or to grope amid the sands -for sea clams, to race along the beach -for the sheer joy of life, is the glad -part of what I call a picnic. And then -the food! No meal which must be -coaxed along by a cocktail or other -appetizer, to prepare the way for -course after course of indigestible -concoctions planned by fertile-minded -chefs, but honest beef and chicken and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_117"></a>[117]</span> -ham sandwiches, delicately prepared -and tastefully arranged. Sandwiches -of lettuce and cheese and paprika; -sandwiches with sardines, with olives; -graham sandwiches with a thin layer -of marmalade or guava intended for -the children, but partaken of by all. -And stuffed eggs, the variety only to -be found at a picnic and eaten in two -gulps, the one place where such table -manners are tolerated.</p> - -<p>And it is on picnics that the thermos -bottle is most thoroughly appreciated. -The miracle of hot bouillon, -hot coffee, iced tea, and a variety of -beverages, suitably chilled or heated, -seems ever to be a source of fresh -surprise and pleasure.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_118"></a>[118]</span></p> - -<p>Toward autumn, the picnics offer a -new variety, for the children thrill at -the expectation of cooking their own -dinner. The joys of a bonfire, the excitement -of burying potatoes, corn, -and clams in seaweed, the frying of -ham and eggs, and the occasional treat -of flapjacks when one of our nautical -friends happens to be of our number. -These are but a few of the pleasures -of a picnic such as one encounters on -the shores of Buzzard’s Bay in August -and September.</p> - -<p>It must be admitted that there are -certain drawbacks which seem serious -to the individual of fixed habits, tender -feet, and uncertain digestion. There -is, for example, the beautiful white<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_119"></a>[119]</span> -sand, glistening in the sun, smooth -as a billiard table and fine as powder. -It must be admitted that after the bath -one is conscious of the pervading quality -of its particles. It is in one’s hair, -one’s shoes, and often elsewhere about -the person. It is discovered invading -the aforesaid sandwiches, which seem -well named at such times. A brisk wind -slaps it into your eye or your mouth -in disconcerting fashion, and you become -aware of its grating presence. -Then, again, there are clouds upon -the horizon. To those who are seriously -affected by the sand, these clouds -look ominous. They may forebode a -storm and a wetting. A certain clamminess -of hands and feet, occasioned by<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_120"></a>[120]</span> -the bath, remind one that a change -in the weather precedes a cold in the -head. These feelings mark the man -of creature comforts and he fails to -join in the part-singing which comes -after the hearty meal, when pipes are -lighted and the entire gathering stretch -themselves upon the sands for a -lazy half-hour before the inevitable -cleaning-up process begins. This same -individual declines to tell his best story, -and should a ball game be suggested, -he will be found callous to all coaxing. -He has enough sand in his shoes -as it is, or he has eaten too much for -exercising, or possibly the clouds on -the horizon lower more formidably.</p> - -<p>Yes, a picnic discloses the strength<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_121"></a>[121]</span> -and weakness of character which mark -our friends, and yet, after all, it does -more, for it brings out the best in -most of us, and few, even of our habitually -conventional friends, fail to -respond to the delights of a seashore -picnic or lack in the essential philosophy -of an outdoor, care-free existence.</p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus22.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_122"></a>[122]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 32.5em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus23.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="X">X<br /> -<span class="smaller">MODELS</span></h2> - -</div> - -<p>Long before the Old Colony Railroad -thought of running a line to Cape Cod—although -that in itself was not so -very long ago, well within the memory -of man—there was one charm of -the Cape which is fast vanishing and -entirely unknown to the casual visitor -and unappreciated by the perennial -summer residents. In those days there<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_123"></a>[123]</span> -was a host of rugged, sturdy men, -intelligent, courageous, upright, and -keen-minded. They were the Cape -captains, the men who grew up among -the sand-dunes, to the rote of the sea. -The men who carried the good name -of Cape Cod to the ends of the earth -and who brought back with them the -fortunes which made the little towns, -dotted here and there along the shore, -havens of comfort and rest.</p> - -<p>Such men could tell stories which -would vie with those of Conrad and -Stevenson, but for the most part their -deeds go unrecorded except in their -ships’ logs, for they were a simple, -reserved company. Of this epoch -there remains but one relic which is<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_124"></a>[124]</span> -sought after by the present generation, -and it savors of the antique. In -fact, it is the antiquarian rather than -the adventurer who ransacks the Cape -at present for ships’ models.</p> - -<p>In those early days there were -months at a time when the ship’s -company were idle, and it grew to be -a custom for those clever with their -hands to fashion models of the schooners -in which they sailed or of seacraft -notable for beauty of line or complexity -of rig.</p> - -<p>Many an old sea captain would pass -his idle moments in fashioning these -miniature boats, and many members -of the ships’ crews became adept at -the hobby, for a knowledge of tools<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_125"></a>[125]</span> -was almost an essential for every man -on the Cape, where the trades of -carpenter, painter, and plumber were -generally performed by the householder. -Furthermore, a sailor would -infinitely prefer to whittle out a model -than to swab down the deck, and frequently -a clever mechanic would be -relieved by his captain from this menial -work, if he devoted his time to the -perfection of a model which was destined -for the mantel of the captain’s -best parlor.</p> - -<p>Therefore, in the old days, there -was scarcely a Cape family of saltwater -ancestry which did not boast of -at least one model and often more, the -trademark of an honorable and hazardous<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_126"></a>[126]</span> -occupation and a relic of former -days of plenty when the Cape was -peopled only by the native Cape-Codders -and before steam took from them -the vocation to which they were reared.</p> - -<p>To-day the captain of a full-rigged -ship is as hard to find as the vessel -herself, and the Cape exists upon -the summer residents and upon the -less productive occupation of fishing, -which is largely in the hands of the -Portuguese, who have come in droves -to settle upon our land of Bartholomew -Gosnold and his company of adventurers. -And so the interest in ships and -in tales of the sea has disappeared -along with those who upheld the trade; -and the models, familiar sights to the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_127"></a>[127]</span> -descendants, have been relegated to -the attic or have been sold as curiosities -to the ubiquitous dealers in antiques, -who persistently come to the -Cape for old furniture, pewter, china—anything, -in fact, which can be -palmed off on that voracious type of -collector, the lover of antiques.</p> - -<p>During the last few years, for some -reason or other, these models have -become very popular. Just why it is -not easy to explain. It is true that they -typify a lost trade which was full of -adventure. It is also true that they are -decorative, many of them, but that -hardly explains the ravenous appetite -which many collectors of antiques have -recently developed to obtain a genuine<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_128"></a>[128]</span> -model. Dealers have secured agents -in every town on the Cape who are -ransacking their neighborhoods for -models, half-models, pictures of boats -made in bas-reliefs, weather vanes in -the shape of ships, and the prices are -increasing by leaps and bounds. In -fact, so popular has this fad become -that ex-sailors and carpenters with -some slight acquaintance with the sea -are now developing quite a business in -fashioning models of special designs -or of former famous ships. A few -years ago the model of a schooner -about two feet in length fully rigged -would bring in the neighborhood of -twenty-five dollars; to-day the same -model could not be secured for less<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_129"></a>[129]</span> -than one hundred dollars. Often the -smaller, more exquisitely made specimens -will bring more. The descendants -of the old captains have lost any -sentimental regard for these relics and -gladly part with them for a comparatively -small sum, but only to the patient -and skillful, who know Cape -ways and Cape people, and so it is -almost impossible for the tourist to -secure a model except from a dealer.</p> - -<p>Should the casual summer visitor -attempt to bargain with his native -Cape neighbor, he would find him a -wily bird, suspicious of being imposed -upon and as likely as not to put an -absurd valuation upon his possession; -and yet that same Cape neighbor<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_130"></a>[130]</span> -might part with the model the next -day to a total stranger for a smaller -sum, for such is the nature of the -denizen of the Cape. This contrary-mindedness -and disinclination to do a -favor is not unusual, but as against this -trait, he will be found to be a genial -host and a kindly acquaintance often -generous beyond his means.</p> - -<p>And so to-day we witness the passing -of the models, last relic of the -olden days, the golden days of Cape -Cod, from those tiny Cape cottages -built by these same sturdy sea captains -to the comfortable mansions of the -summer people whose knowledge of -the sea is secured in July and August -by an occasional dip, a sail in a knockabout,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_131"></a>[131]</span> -and a glimpse of a glorious sunset -over the shining waters of the -Atlantic Ocean.</p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus24.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_132"></a>[132]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus25.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="XI">XI<br /> -<span class="smaller">“A WET SHEET AND A FLOWING SEA”</span></h2> - -</div> - -<p>In my youthful days I often wondered -at the regularity with which elderly -people would go out to drive day after -day, sitting in the same seat in the same -carriage, behind the same horses, driven -by the same coachman along the same -roads. It seemed to me a lamentable -waste of time. And now I have more -or less (less as the years advance) the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_133"></a>[133]</span> -same feeling toward those couples -whose chief relaxation is a spin along -the state roads of their district in a -well-appointed limousine, for I belong -to that class of motorists who use their -cars purely for convenience and prefer -the fresh-air variety.</p> - -<p>Yet, when it comes to sailing, for -some reason which I am at a loss to -explain, my views are diametrically -opposite. I am content to clamber -into my knockabout and to perform -the routine labor of pumping “her” -out, unfurling and hoisting the sail, -and casting off, then to cruise lazily -about our harbor, sailing over the -same course day in and day out with -little variation, and to do this either<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_134"></a>[134]</span> -alone or with a kindred spirit as the -case may be.</p> - -<p>To many these cases may seem parallel, -but to me they are widely variant. -There is a formality to a drive or a -motor ride which starts with the costume -worn and ends with the character -of conversation.</p> - -<p>On a boat—and I am speaking entirely -of small boats—the costume -is of a heterogeneous variety and the -conversation of the freest. In fact, -there is something so thoroughly unconventional -about life on the water -that even the stiffest of Brahminian -Bostonians may occasionally be heard -to indulge in slang and to assume a -rakish attitude, perched upon deck.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_135"></a>[135]</span></p> - -<p>But such criticism, or rather comparison, -is highly superficial. There is -more to it than external appearance; -for sailing brings out the best in human -nature, encourages philosophy, develops -independence of thought and act, -and largely so because those who sail -shed their coating of reserve and allow -their natural feelings fair play. There -is no quicker way to know and size up -one’s friends than to go on a cruise for -a few days. There is no better way of -enjoying and extending one’s friendships -with both sexes than spending -a few afternoons sailing together, skirting -along the shore with a fair breeze, -nor is there any quicker way of learning -the weaknesses of certain individuals<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_136"></a>[136]</span> -than by observing their conduct -under perhaps less peaceful conditions -at sea. For the best of skippers -cannot predict weather conditions, and -there are times when wind and storm -will come upon one with surprising -quickness.</p> - -<p>Here in New England, the sailing -fraternity may be divided into those -who prefer the Maine coast and those -who cling to the Cape and Buzzard’s -Bay. As one of the latter class, I always -claim our supremacy by stating two -points which I believe to be true: first, -that we have more wind, and second, -that we have less fog. To me this is -convincing. The southwest wind which -cools the Cape, blows nearly every day<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_137"></a>[137]</span> -in summer and with a strength that -often requires reefing. Rarely between -ten in the morning and five at night -will the mariner find himself becalmed -in Buzzard’s Bay. In fact, the -stranger is generally amazed to see -girls and young boys sailing without -the presence of an older person, in what -looks to him a three-reef breeze.</p> - -<p>They have been brought up to it -and realize that vigilance must always -be exercised on the water, and they -know the qualities of their boat and the -power of the wind. I know of no better -training for youngsters who are proficient -in swimming than to learn to -sail and race their own little boats. The -development of a power of observation,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_138"></a>[138]</span> -accurate judgment, prompt action, -and steady nerve comes more quickly -with the handling of a boat than in any -other way for those who lead our kind -of life.</p> - -<p>Sailing is confined to boats, but boats -are not by any means confined to sailing, -for latterly there are almost as -many motor-boats to be found chugging -along the shores of the Cape as -there are sailboats, although I personally -always pity the groups in the stern -of one of these modern affairs which -makes its noisy passage leaving an -odorous wake of oil and smoke. But -doubtless I am extreme in my views -and old-fashioned in my taste.</p> - -<p>Give me a knockabout—a fifteen-footer<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_139"></a>[139]</span> -for real comfort for a daily sail, -a stiff member of the twenty-one-foot -class for cruising along shore. Give me -a comfortable catboat, broad of beam, -for a family boat or for a day’s fishing, -or let me idle about in one of our little -twelve-foot Herreshoff class with my -small son. In any one of them I shall -find the same sense of freedom, the -same sort of pleasure, and the same -love for the salt sea, and from each I -shall look at the windy, sandy shores of -the Cape with the same loyal affection.</p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus26.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_140"></a>[140]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus27.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="XII">XII<br /> -<span class="smaller">MY CAPE FARM</span></h2> - -</div> - -<p>If I have thought of it at all, I have -thought of myself as a sociable cuss. -Not that I like sociables; I hate them, -and that is probably why they have -gone out of fashion. What to my -mind defines sociability is the quality -of enjoying and giving enjoyment to -others, singly, in pairs, or in groups; -and in present days sociability is generally<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_141"></a>[141]</span> -put to the test either at dinners -or at week-end parties, for these are -the principal points of contact between -friends.</p> - -<p>Latterly, however, my social bent -has been somewhat warped by the -growing desire on the part of my -friends to boast of their success as -producers of food. Whether it be premature -senility, the result of conservation, -or merely the acquisition of -wealth, which is being rapidly returned -to its own through the purchase of -land and the ingenuity of gardeners, -it is a fact that at dinners of the cut-and-dried -variety or a family gathering, -or, more especially, over a week-end, -my host invariably calls attention<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_142"></a>[142]</span> -to the asparagus with a modest cough -as prelude, or my hostess mentions -the number of eggs the farmer brought -in yesterday to be put down in water-glass. -Sometimes it is not asparagus, -but peas, or corn, or perhaps a chicken, -or even a ham. This the host. His -wife more generally dilates upon the -milk products and the preserving end -of the bill of fare; but, for whatever -cause, the thing got a bit on my -nerves, so that I found myself thinking -of reasons for not visiting So-and-So -or for not dining with the Thing-um-Bobs -on Friday week, when I -knew we hadn’t a thing on earth -to do.</p> - -<p>This frame of mind was, of course,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_143"></a>[143]</span> -all wrong. In the first place, these -friends were as good and as loyal as -they were ten years ago, when, if -they had any garden at all, it consisted -of a half-dozen radishes that no -one could eat without summoning a -physician within four hours. Furthermore, -the aforesaid asparagus, with its -accompaniments, was better than the -ordinary variety which has decorated -the entrance to the greengrocer’s establishment -for the better part of a week. -And lastly, as I had no garden myself, -why not enjoy the best and be -thankful?</p> - -<p>Probably the reason was envy and -the season spring, when, contrary to -budding nature, one’s own physical<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_144"></a>[144]</span> -being is not as blooming as it should -be.</p> - -<p>Be this as it may, the final result -has probably made me more of a bore -to my friends than they ever were to -me, for to get even with them I conceived -the happy idea of catering to -their epicurean tastes from my own -farm, which consisted of a scant two -acres of shore line in that section of -Cape Cod which is renowned for its -scarcity of soil.</p> - -<p>The idea came to me soon after we -had moved down for the summer -months, and my wife became so enthusiastic -that it really became our -hobby for the season. We had planned -for a succession of week-ends, and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_145"></a>[145]</span> -many of these agricultural intimates -were coming to us for return visits. -We would feed them upon the fat of -our land or in this case largely the fat -of the sea.</p> - -<p>It is interesting and instructive to -learn just what varieties of food can -be secured from the immediate vicinity -of any place, and to me especially -so of our Cape Cod.</p> - -<p>During the entire summer I felt so -personal an interest in our section of -the country that my small son exclaimed -one day that I talked as if I -owned the entire Cape. I know I felt -a proprietary interest in certain fishing -grounds, the whereabouts of which -I would not confess even on the rack.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_146"></a>[146]</span> -And it amuses me now to think of -the circuitous routes I used in getting -to certain berry patches and stretches -where mushrooms grew overnight. -In variety our dinners, or high teas -(as we always called them), were infinite -as compared with those of our -asparagus associates.</p> - -<p>I remember one little repast which -pleased me mightily, because it came -at the end of one of those hot days—they -are rare on the Cape—when the -wind refused to blow from the southwest. -We had had our swim, but even -golf was a bit too strenuous and food -does not have its usual appeal on such -occasions even on the Cape. It also -happened that our friends of this particular<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_147"></a>[147]</span> -week-end were literally congested -with land and its more generous -offerings, and so when I practiced the -usual humiliatory cough and remarked -that our simple repast came from my -Cape farm and they must excuse its -simplicity, I was just a trifle nervous.</p> - -<p>The melons were a gift from my -plumber, a curious combination. If only -the plumber could plumb as well as -he grows melons upon his barren -sandpile, our summer comfort would -be increased by fifty per cent. No -better melons can be found than these -little fellows. The clam-broth, from -my own clam-bed, was an appetizer. -I seriously believe that there is real -energizing value in such clam-broth<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_148"></a>[148]</span> -as this, boiled down almost to a <i>liqueur</i> -from newly dug clams. Then came -scallops plucked that day from the -seaweed, where they lie at low tide -blowing like miniature whales. We -all know how delicious they are in the -autumn served with <i>tartare</i> sauce, but -have you ever tasted them creamed -with a dash of brown sherry and served -with fresh mushrooms?</p> - -<p>Just as the plumber supplies us -with melons, so the fishman is the -local authority on lettuce. Our salad, -therefore, came from Captain Barwick, -crisp and white with slices of early -pears from a near-by tree, and with it -my favorite muffins of coarse, white -cornmeal toasted, thin, and eaten with<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_149"></a>[149]</span> -beach-plum jam made from our own -bushes in the bramble patch close by -the lane, and cottage cheese which -our cook positively enjoys making.</p> - -<p>My wife had felt this to be a rather -scant repast for those used to dinners -of six or eight courses, and so the -dessert was a substantial huckleberry -pudding served cold from the ice-chest -with whipped cream, and to take -the chill off we had a small glass of -my home-made wild-cherry brandy -with our coffee; and while there are -other beverages which are preferable -I confess it gave us a delightfully -comforting sensation.</p> - -<p>The hearty, genuine praise from -my guests gave me a fleeting feeling<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_150"></a>[150]</span> -of shame at the way I had criticized -their asparagus and numberless eggs, -but the pride of success carried me -with it.</p> - -<p>“Oh, this is not anything; wait until -to-morrow and let me show you the -varieties which my farm offers. In the -catboat, I have a well in which we -keep fish alive. What say you to a -butterfish for breakfast? For dinner -we can either go out to the fishing -grounds for something with a real -pull to it, or we can motor over to -Turtle Pond for a try at a bass, or we -can golf and take a couple of lobsters -out of my pots bobbing up and down -out there by the point.”</p> - -<p>“Hold on,” my friend interjected.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_151"></a>[151]</span> -“What I want to know is whether -every one on the Cape lives in this -way, for if they do I think I shall be -moving down here by another season.”</p> - -<p>“No,” I replied, “very few. In the -first place, most people continue to do -just what their neighbors do—tennis, -golf, swimming, sailing. The fishing -is poor unless you know where to go. -The natives are not helpful unless you -know how to take them, and that is -why I call it all <i>my</i> farm, because I -have taken it all unto myself and I -reap a reward much richer than I deserve.</p> - -<p>“I pass much of my time hunting -up new fishing grounds or the lair of<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_152"></a>[152]</span> -the soft-shell crab, or even the quiet, -muddy recesses of the ‘little necks.’ -I wander about the country exploring -new berry patches, for there is a great -variety of these. And if you must -know, I fraternize with certain delightfully -conversational individuals who -sell me delicious fruit and vegetables -as well as ducks and chickens and a -variety of odds and ends, as, for instance, -that little model over there. But you -could not buy them. No, sir, not until -you learned the art of negotiation to -perfection. You may manage your -estates to the Queen’s taste, but when -it comes to managing a Cape-Codder, -ah, that’s not done so easily.”</p> - -<p>I see my friends leading the conventional<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_153"></a>[153]</span> -summer life and wonder at -times how they can come to the Cape -year after year and yet be strangers -to its real fascination, because it has -many other hidden allurements besides -this quest for food.</p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus28.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_154"></a>[154]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus29.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="XIII">XIII<br /> -<span class="smaller">SCALLOPS</span></h2> - -</div> - -<p>Sport, according to our highest authorities, -is “that which diverts and -makes mirth,” and from this general -interpretation the term has been applied -to games, and to the various -forms of hunting and fishing commonly -known, but I have yet to hear -the word applied to the pursuit of the -scallop. And yet, scalloping more<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_155"></a>[155]</span> -nearly approaches the original meaning -of sport than most of the games -which are commonly classed under -this heading, for not only does the -scallop divert and provoke the mirth -of his pursuer, but the pursuer in turn -evokes a similar feeling and impression -upon those who chance to see him -in action. Those who have never tasted -the joys and excitement of a scallop -hunt have not completed their education -as real sportsmen. It is true that -Badminton does not devote a volume -to this particular pastime; it is equally -true that the progressive American -journalist, whose duty it is to supply -the sporting columns of his paper with -all the news of current athletic events,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_156"></a>[156]</span> -invariably ignores this important item, -and our mighty Nimrods fail to include -scalloping among their feats of -prowess; but in each case the cause -of the omission invariably can be traced -to ignorance, and to the fact that your -scallop-hunter is a wary fellow who -says but little and boasts less, fearing -inadvertently to disclose the favored -haunts of his favorite prey. And so, -for these and divers causes, the pursuit -of the scallop lies in obscurity.</p> - -<p>On the other hand, the scallop has -been a friend to man for generations -in many and varied ways. In the days -of the Crusaders, the pilgrims returning -from the Holy Land wore scallop -shells, gathered upon the coast of<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_157"></a>[157]</span> -Palestine, as a badge or mark of the -success of their wanderings. At an -equally early period the scallop shell -became an important factor in design, -from architecture, through the various -stages, to the adornment of women’s -clothes. The scallop shell is discovered -embedded in the capitals of many -famous columns. It will be found -chiseled upon the keystones of countless -arches. Scarcely a theater but -possesses it among its mural decorations. -Upon the title-pages of books -it serves in an equally decorative capacity, -while the scalloping upon the -hems of dresses brings the scallop’s -shell familiarly into our family life.</p> - -<p>In addition to all this, certain families<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_158"></a>[158]</span> -of ancient lineage have adopted -the shell as a part of their crest. Heraldry -traces the cause to the days of -the Knights of the Holy Land.</p> - -<p>The scallop, therefore, has been -sought by generations, and is no marine -upstart basing his claims to popularity -upon his flavor as a savory dish -for a modern Lucullus. In short, the -scallop is historic, artistic, decorative, -and delicious. In real life, however, -he is one of the numerous marine bivalve -mollusks of the genus <i>Pecten</i>, -and to those who have not already -recognized the symmetrically ribbed -shells so often found upon our beaches, -a dictionary is recommended.</p> - -<p>Although his past is buried in the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_159"></a>[159]</span> -annals of the Holy Land, in Ægean -waters, and upon the banks of the -Red Sea, just at present he is rampant -upon the shoals of Cape Cod, and it -is here that our scallopers pursue him -during the weeks previous to early -autumn days, when the Cape fisherman -wages destruction with sea-rakes, -seines, and nets.</p> - -<p>Imagine the tide running low, disclosing -the bright, sandy bottoms of -countless inlets, the ripple of the waters -making dim the outlines of the -corrugated surfaces of the submerged -shore. At such times, and in certain -localities which shall be nameless, -the wily hunter issues forth in bathing-suit -or rubber-booted, or even—in<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_160"></a>[160]</span> -the enthusiasm of the moment—fully -clothed, with pail or basket sometimes -attached to his waist by a cord. -He wades in at a slow pace, gazing -searchingly into the depths of the -water for a sign of his prey, choosing -at first the shoals where it is easier to -see, and as likely a spot as others for -fine shellfish. And here a curious phenomenon -is discovered; his eye catches -the glint of a shining shell and he -stoops to secure it, only to find a half -shell without life. The brighter the -shell, the less chance of its being inhabited. -The scallop covers himself -when possible with a few strands of -seaweed, or buries himself in the mud -or sand, and therefore, when in the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_161"></a>[161]</span> -full bloom of life, he looks like a -hoary, hairy thing of past history, an -encrusted shell from which life might -have departed a century ago. If, by -good fortune, the hand comes in contact -with him, however, his vitality is -made quickly evident by a savage snap -of his shell, as the large muscle expands -and contracts in self-defense, -and should a finger become caught -between the upper and lower shells, -the hunter is in for a sharp nip. The -quest leads from spot to spot, from -shoal water out into deeper parts, -until one finds one’s self waist-deep, -bending and stooping, raking the bottom -with frenzied hand groping for -these tufted prizes, and when one is<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_162"></a>[162]</span> -fortunate to secure a good spot, the -hand never fails to bring up one, two, -and sometimes more, of these irate -creatures whose antics evoke admiration -and whose strength seems almost -abnormal.</p> - -<p>There are bright, warm days in the -latter part of August when on many -parts of the shore may be seen men, -women, and children by scores, curiously -and wonderfully garbed, grotesquely -postured, wading the waters -in this fascinating pursuit, which, after -the quiet glamor of clam-digging, -possesses the excitement of big-game -hunting. Were it not for a strict law -these same hardy hunters would, undoubtedly, -be found in dories, plying<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_163"></a>[163]</span> -a small net for the same purpose, but -the very crudity of the chase has its -advantages, for one comes close to the -life of the sea bottom, and all that -goes on there, from the waving masses -of seaweed of many varieties to the -countless forms of life clinging to the -rocks, embedded in the mud or darting -through the water. The sea bottom -is as busy as Broadway, and as -full of mystery.</p> - -<p>The reader must not for a moment -imagine the scallop, however, as belonging -to a sedentary type of life. -Often he is found moving at a high -rate of speed through the water, propelled -by this same muscle which -provides his defense. By opening and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_164"></a>[164]</span> -closing his shell he moves forward -and upward or downward, apparently -at will, digging himself into the mud -and effectually hiding himself from -his pursuers. He deserves the respect -of his superiors in the animal kingdom, -and at the same time proves -himself fair game by his prowess.</p> - -<p>And so one is led out and out still -farther, until, bent upon securing one -more victim, a mouthful of water and -smarting eyes give notice that those -beyond are safe for the time being, -and the successful hunter returns to -his boat with a full pail, while the -sun, enormous and a deep orange red, -is just touching the horizon.</p> - -<p>The conquest is not complete, for<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_165"></a>[165]</span> -it is no easy task to open these snapping -bivalves, and thus to extract the -muscle that is the edible portion, and -the full reward is by no means reaped. -That is left for the evening meal, -when the scallop becomes the <i>pièce de -résistance</i> cooked in one of a hundred -ways. But of this let a <i>cordon bleu</i> -convince you, whose best efforts are -secured and deserved by the scallop.</p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus30.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_166"></a>[166]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" style="max-width: 25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus31.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="AFTERMATH"><i>AFTERMATH</i></h2> - -</div> - -<p>And now comes the fall of the year -with days gorgeous in coloring, from -the clear crystal blue of the sky reflected -in sparkling waters to the -flame-tinted stretches of woodland -watched over by tall pines and guarded -by stately cedars. The sandy roads glisten -in the distances, marking off sections -of the Cape country as a huge -picture puzzle. The atmosphere seems -purged of all imperfection, giving to -every town and hamlet a spotless appearance -bright with late flowers and -fresh fruit awaiting the harvest. Azure -days of October, the most perfect of the -year. It is then that regretfully we say -“au revoir” to our beloved Cape in all -its glory.</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<p class="center">The Riverside Press<br /> -CAMBRIDGE. 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