The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-07-28
Correspondence of the Dispatch.


Cape May Island, N. j. July a. 1859.
Dear Dispatch This is my first visit to this
popular sea-bathing ground, and l find the place
worthy otits high fame. more delightful place
for bathing could not be formed by nature or
art The hume :ous hotels and boarding hoNses here
are now all OVERLOOKING with boarders. here are
probably not less than five thousand visitors here
from the various points of the compass, and the
steamboats, from Philadelphia and New York are
daily adding to the number. "Cape May City," or.
dinarly of about 1900 inhabitants, is located the
Southern bank of Cape Island and the principal
bathing ground, of about one mile in extent, ia the
shore Immediately oppo.ite and adjoining the
'scity." The foundation is clean sand, smooth and
firm and very gradually recedes In depth nom the
shore. About one hundred yards out in tue sea.
the pillows common nee rolling, and ere they reach
the shore, break with force and noise Iesem
bling the gre falls, in times OF flood, opposite
your city, emitting spray and salty foam resem-
bling at distance flakes or pillows OF snow tum
bling over and over. By going out into water only
knee deep, and standing still, you can receive de-
lightful bath. The big waves or breakers Will in
quick succession come rolling and tumbling along,
and dash you, creating the most delightful sen
satons and unless you anticipate their approach,
you run risk OF being knocked down by their sud.
denness and force. The general bathing hour is Ii
o'clock in the morning; and more Interesting and
excitiag scene is rarey met wth than Is presented
at that hour. Two or three thousand persons, one.
half at least of the number ladies, are all seen to-
gether, jumping, splashing and hailooing in the
water in manner alarming to all aquatic animals.
Here all distinctions arelost and all meet upon the
same common platform of equality. 1t may be
termed a real democratic gathering They do not,
however, battle in the ordinary way; but, yielding
to the etiquette of the place, all are provided with
some sort of bathing costume These costumes
generally give the wearer disguised and very iu-
dicrous appearance. They are mostly made of
flannel ana Of all colors, cuts and shapes, many
resembling the dress Of circus clowns, aud some
reminding you of Indians and glpseys In these
dresses you would be puzzled sometimes to re-
cogn Sc your most intimate acquaintance Were
to mine through the Main street OF your city,
would attract attention than the resident of
the United Staies but here, no attention Is paid to
the dress, SO long it conceals natures covering
The gentemens dress consists chiefly OF flannel
drawers aad wrapper, with leather belt, The Ia
dies, long flannel gown or wrapper, drawn at the
| waist and some 1 believe, add pair OF drawers,
| to guard against accidents. 10 protect the head
from the sun and water, all wear common chip or
| straw hats, trimmed with Tanner ribbon Ali 60 in
the water bare footed and many of the ladies
others lemain in the water an hour at q time. The
lined with small dressing houses belonging
to the different hotels and boarding houses, all la
boring to designate the owners and the sex for
whom intended. You see beautiful young damse
entering one OF these small houses rusting in rne
silks, &c, and few minutes after, witness her
coming out transformed into an object that would
| force smile from dying man fine opportu
niiy is here presented for contemplating the "hu
man form divine"
half miles from the city, ON the Delaware side OF
the Island; and passengers conveyed in Jersey
carriages (of which there are hundreds here across
the Island to the "city" majority Of the visitors
ale Philadelphians and Pennsylvanians. The fare
from Philadelphia here is only 81, the distance be-
ing about 100 miles. But few Virgiuisns are here
this season Richmond is represented by Mai FL
lis, dr. Trigg, M. Sharp and sons, Mr.. smith LOT
the An erican,) and your humble correspondent
Baltimore and Maryland have strong delegation;
but Philadelphia pours down here her hundreds
daily, some of whom have purchased lots and butt
Cottages for the summer season. The Aristncrats
nc lenger monopolIze the watering places. The
bone and sinew are in the ascendant here. Ii Is
tue there are some OF the genuine Arstocracy, aud
some OF the would re or mock AristocGacy. have
amused myself mueh ut the antics of the awkward
p.efenders. can tolerate the real genuine, old
fashioned, virginia, gold and silver Aristocracy;
but the mock, the pinchbeck, or plated article,
desplse. In all things, give me genuine article.
Inc amusemeaIs here are found in mum srous rifle
and pistol galleries. billiard aud ten pin saloons
and at night dancing at the principal hotels SIEVE
raj OF the houses have bands Of music attached to
them Morning aud evening rides in carriages and
on horseback are iasnionabs, aud the manner Ia
which the Pennsylvania ladies' ride is worthy of ali
admiration. They eli horse beautifully.
Lola Monfez arrived here few days ago, and
took quarters At the U s Hotel, where she IL re.
gistered ~ toliows: Lola Montez Countess of
Landssedt servants, carriage sad horses, N. York,
TWO rooms" Great snxiety has been manifested
70 sea her and particularly in the wafer. hut, as
YET she has disappointed the water sexpecfants
her room
Large numbers of the visitors 20 this evening On
s.esmooa. pleasure excursion 10 Lewes. on the
DrANsfe shore, TO see the costly abreak.watsrn
sIecsed there ~ the U. &. Goyernnenf ior the pro