200
THE WEST SHORE.
THE COTTAGE BT THE SEA.
ALTHOUGH we are happily exempt from those
Unyn of coMiing imn and nights of opprcssivo
boat which are the heritage of dwollcss in East
ern cities, when he who can afford it seeks refuge
among the mountains, in some quiet country home, or
where the oool sea breezes bring him delicious relief,
while he who can not posses the day in sweltering toil
aud at night visit the housetop for a breath of pure air,
the custom of " going out of town " for a brief season in
utnmer is beooming yoarly more general with our peo
ple. And this is a matter more of custom than necessity,
for to spend a summer in Portland is by no moans a
hardship. With the days nover so warm that one is un
comfortable in tlio shade, and with the night so oool
that bed clothing is not a burden, while a slight fire at
times does not oome amiss, no one can oomplain of tho
climate; with a splendid river on wliich may be seeu a
multitude of boats; with good streets ami splendid roads
leading baok into the hills, uon which ouo may drive
and enjoy the twilight, which in this latitude lingers '
until fur into the night; with places of amusement ojxm
to tho publio and all tho varied attractions of the city
soarooly diminished, tlte stay-at-home need not feol dis
contented with his lot
Tho Portlandor does not leave home in summer to
soajie discomfort so much as for the reason that this is
the only aeason when ho can le comfortable in tho
plaocs to which ho desires to go to relieve the monotony
of existence. Tho devotees of society find in a complete
ohango of surroundings and tnethxl of lifo rocuoration
of their vitalities; the ovor-worked merchant, clerk or
professional man finds in the mountain retreat or on tho
broexy Ixlich rest from his toil aud a healthful stimulant
for Itoth Ixjdy and mind He fills his lungs with the
pure air of the mountains or the salt breath of tho sea
and feels himself endowed with tho vigor of a now life.
The matron, worn with family oareo and bending le
neath tho burden of domestic drudgery, finds in these
quiet retreat rest from her labors, and with tho invig
orating atinoephore draws in strength to again take up
her load of care with a lighter heart and a renewed vital
ity. The student, also, tho overtaxed scholar and the
iwtieut, but wearied, toucher find amid the mountain firs
and on tho sands of tlto sitashoro health and strength for
another year of lalwr.
There are so many health and pleasure resorts within
easy reauh of Portland, that none of them seem in dan
ger of becoming overcrowded. Tho mountain invito
tho hunter and fisherman, the auow-draped peaks op
chant tho imphsitive explorer, and tho mineral springs
bold out promises of health to the iuvalid, but the great
maiM of our summer exiles sojk the ocean beach, because
they find there such an absolute and oompleto chango of
urrouodiuga and habik of lifo. Year by year the nam
twr of Umkm temporary dweller by the sea increases,
while excursions down tho noble Columbia to beaches
near its mouth are more frequent and better patroniaed.
It fa beooming " quite the thing" to have a " cottage " in
one of the several seaside settlements, a term sufficiently
flexible to apply to any kind of habitation from a two
rooiod bliauty, innocent of paint plater, to a dom
icile of proportions and finish that would entitle it to a
place on any thoroughfare in the city. Numerous tents
are pitched among tho trees back from tho beach, whose
occupants enjoy all tho freedom and discomforts of camp
life or board at one of the several seaside hotelB in the
vicinity, whose rooms are filled with guests who prefer
a lees radical ohange from their usual mode of life.
Life at the beach, as revealed by the artist, on pages
two hundred and two and two hundred and eleven, is
one devoted entirely to pleasure and health-gaining
days of freedom from care and abandonment of mental
and physical labor. Surf bathing is, of course, the
prime and most beneficial amusement, but with this are
linked numerous other pleasant diversions, such as driv
ing and promenading on the beach, fishing and hunting
in the mountains a few miles inland, boating on the
streams entering the ocean near the settlement, and the
social enjoyments customary where friends are oolleoted
together and have ample time to devote themselves to
pleasure. Barae Fashion has, as yet, laid a light hand
upon our summer resorts, but as time passes more at
tention will probably be paid to her whims, though it is
to be hoped that such will not be the case.
The resorts most frequented are Yaquina bay, which
may be reachod in a day from this city, over the lines of
the Oregon A California and Oregon Pacific railroads,
and those at the mouth of the Columbia, which are reach
ed by steamer. Besides the usual daily steamers to
Astoria, the Olympian and Telephone make regular trips
during the week, their time boiug especially arranged so
that one may leave here Saturday, spend Sunday at the
beach and return in time for business Monday morning.
Frequout excursions take hundreds of pleasure seekers
for a day's enjoyment in viewing the beautiful scenery
at the mouth of the river, visiting the lighthouse at
CajMj Hanoook, and sniffing the salt air from the ocean.
South of tho mouth of the river several miles is the fa
'mous Clateop beach, the oldest of all the resorts, whore
two hotels, fine camping spots and a splendid beach for
bathing and driving are the attractions. North of the
river are Ilwaoo and the adjacent North beach, and still
further north is Long beach, the former being some
times known as "Stout's," and the latter as "Tinker
villo," in honor of the proprietors of their respective
hotels. There is, also, Ooean Park, where the Metho
dists hold annual camp meetings. The cottages are to
be found chiefly at Ilwaoo, Stout's and Tinkerville, and
are beooming so numerous that choioe building lota
which a few seasons ago brought little else than a smile
when offered for sale, now command upwards of one
hundred dollars each. A few years more will see a so
journ at the beach a regular summer custom of the ma
jority of those who can afford it, and a cottage by the
sea an almost universal adjunct of an establishment in
town.