DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS, owing to improved means of transit and the introduction of innumerable attractions, the Long island summer resorts have grown wonderfully in favor with Brooklyn people. Nevertheless, when the immensity of our population is taken into consideration, it is surprising that our citizens do not seek the coast watering places in even larger numbers than they do. Running through Queens and Suffolk recently on the South Side branch of the Long island Railroad, I found the country, despite the backward state of the season, looking beautiful in its fresh and radiant vesture of brilliant Spring verdure. Farmers are more hopeful than they were a fortnight ago, and hotel keepers, who for a time were gloomy, have convinced themselves that this existence is not so much of a fleeting show as they imagined, and that there still remains something to live for. Indeed, they look forward confidently to one of the most profitable summers in all their thrifty existence, and they tell me that they entertain no fears of inability to crowd, if necessary, their establishments. prices this year show no change from the familiar figures, the scale running well up at such aristocratic resorts as the Argyle at Babylon and Pavilion at Islip, and tapering at the smaller houses and in the remote towns.

AT BABYLON, PATCHOGUE, ISLIP, MORICHES and other points I was informed that the disposition of city persons of large means to establish their Summer residences on the island is each year becoming more general and pronounced, and that in consequence the tendency in valuations of real property is upward. The splendid villas on the southern shore are numbered by the score. They enhance the picturesque beauties of the landscape at almost every turn and furnish some of the gluiest architectural examples to be found in the country. The character of the new comers is apparent from the large representatives of upper tendon on the railroad trains, the dude and dudine having to a very great extent superseded the farmer, the fisherman and the spruce young villagers who formerly whisked up and down the line. It will be a good many years, however, before the influx of fashion and modern innovation will deprive the island of its quaint and unique rustic attractions.

THERE HAS BEEN CONSIDERABLE TALK of late years of a movement to inaugurate a general celebration of Independence day in Brooklyn. Apart from neighborhood demonstrations, such as those at Tompkins Park and the Washington Club, we have had lately nothing worthy of the city. That we have an abundance of patriotism here is not to be questioned. It only needs to be developed by an appeal made in the old fashioned way. There are so many excellent orators in this town that we should not want for any eloquence, and the oration, with the national airs from a band of music and the reading of the immortal Declaration, would make up a programme sufficiently elaborate to answer the purpose of the patriotic projectors. What better place could be found for such a celebration than Fort Greene, with its historical associations and surroundings and its mausoleum marking the spot where lie the bones of the prison ship martyrs? It is probably too late to do anything this year, but before another summer comes around Brooklyn ought to take steps toward keeping alive in the midst of us "the spirit of '76."

THE AVERAGE BROOKLYN CITY RAILROAD director does not look so happy nowadays as he did in the good old times when no elevated trains were run and the sardine process was persistently applied to the traveling public. It is true that the horse cars are still comfortably filled during the busy hours and the dividends continue agreeably fat and juicy, but this does not alleviate the sufferings of the average director. The genuine Brooklyn City Railroad manager will never be really joyful again unless he is enabled at some future period to return to the practice of packing and suffocation with, which such of his victims as survive are unhappily acquainted.

A FLYING RUMOR HEARD during the week was that Colonel Rodney C. Ward, after his removal as Collector of Internal Revenue, is to be taken up and run as the regular Republican candidate for mayor. His name is also mentioned in connection with  the nomination of his party for the office of Register.