Newport Rhode Island: Summer Residences of the Rich and Famous

Drove to see the Ghetto community of Newport RI,slave wages. The prices charged to see their
the home of the International Tennis Hall of Fame andcottages is still robbery.(Enough preaching).
the Americas Cup Yacht Club. The town is one of theIn the center of town are the many homes dating from
oldest, settled in 1639, in Rhode Island. It andColonial times. The Truro Synagogue is the oldest
Portsmouth, RI have a great US Naval History, beingsynagogue in the United States. During the early 19th
the home of the SeaBees, the origin of the Quansetcentury it fell on hard times, because of the lack of a
hut, and the continuing Naval War College.congregation. When the Ashkenazy Jews from
The town has always been very kind to people inEastern Europe started to immigrate to the US, their
need of a home, especially if you had the money tocongregation built in size. George Washington paid
spend. The story is told of a sloop which set sail fromthem a visit in 1790 and assured them that religious
Newport for some whaling. The captain asked his menfreedom was important for this young country, which
if they wanted some adventure and became a piratewould not tolerate persecution or any sanctions
ship. They sailed to Madagascar, were refitted, andagainst any religion.  While we were visiting, a docent
then attacked the treasure ship of one of thewas answering question from the group.  One man
wealthiest Maharajahs of India. Because of their smallcommented that the Hewbrew writing on the wall was
size, they were able to play a cat and mouse gameincorrect.  Another gentleman remarked: "That is
with the heavier and slower ship. Each one of the 100sooo Semetic.  When they weave a rug, they
sailor came home with 1,500 pounds British Sterling,always drop a stitch at the beginning.  Then they are
valued at over one million dollars. The captain andperfect.  This imperfection shows that only Allah is
mates received more than that. Newport welcomedperfect."
these robbers with open arms.Nearby is a tower of unknown origin.  People think
A century later they welcomed newer robbers, thethat it was erected by the Vikings. From archeological
robber barons of the late 19th and early 20th centuries,sites in Scandinavia and ones in Ireland, I think that the
such as the Vanderbilt's,, the Astors, and otherdesign is more Celtic in origin. None the less it is a
notables. Many of their summer cottages are visiblemystery.
from Bellevue Avenue and the Cliff Walk along theDirectly across the street is the Channing Memorial
ocean.  Salve Regina University has been endowedUnitarian Universalist Church, one of the first I America.
with some of these properties along the cliff walk.Channing was instrumental in the fostering of this
Some of the properties are open for the commoner tochurch in America. He was born and grew up in
see the sinful opulence of those who made anNewport.
indecent amount of money, while paying the laborers