The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-07-09
For tue Uhion
sEA-sHORE sKETOHEs.--No. 4.
By NARY J. wIsDLE.

fremont HOUSE, Cape Island, July y, 1884.
We have written three sketches from Cape Island with
ont scarcely abiding the seabathng This omission is
tanamount to the tragedy Of Hamlet being announced for
representation with the part Of Hamlet to be left out
Every time eyes towards the ocean those ma
jesc pillows appear frown cold and silent reproach
upon us for having allowed many days to eapse with
out paying them a tributa
Were we inclined we might pretty fiction on the
bathing scenes but have wish to add to the number
of fables by suffering imagination to usurp the Office OF
vision The bathhousesand the beach is studded with
themare lightly constructed of rough unplaned boards
and those devoted the lady bahers deserve more than
passing notice On our first visit found plenty OF
amusement looking about more confusing scene We
behed On the left hand of the door of entrance sat
the presiding attendant of the bathhousean old
of about fifty Of the oddestlooking objects that can
be imagined her complexion Of the most intense black,
and her eyes with popularity, which gave singular
expression to her whole face Protrudng lips and a
full projecting chin complete assembage OF features
which always shaded by an immense broad-brimmed
straw hat There few counenances in the world that
it. wishing convey idea Of cannot refer to some
weknown standard but in the present we to-
tally loss for anything resembling the face Of the wor-
thy "Aunt Cassy.'
Most persons in this world of have predomk
mating characteristic which denominate temperament
this actuating them, now more now less but
scarcely this great spring of action without its moments
but one passonand like Aarons rod it has most
sumng tendency--and that is to talk ncessantiy to all
whom fate brings within the limits of her colloquia pow
ers This individual taking prominent part in the
conversation usual while Immediately behind her
crouched her daughter negro girl of twelve thirteen
years age laughing and rolling the whites of her eyes
ecstacy all that going forward Beside large tub Of
water in the centre of the floor kne sat several Indies
Just from the surf in all the various stages Of dsrobing
each intent upon her arrangement and utterly regard
of what passing around her. Others prepar
ing for the BATH laying aside their dresses rather suf
erng them to be laid aside for them by their maids;
while the latest removing their shaws and
bonnets and exchanging greetings with their acquaint
ances For the frat few moments were deafened and
bewdered the sight Of some dozen females only partially
dressed and that in garments perfectly saturated with sea-
waterte busy watng-maids passing and repassing or
drying and combng the streaming hair of their mstrese
the subdued laughter and whispered gossip of bevy of
lovely chatting girls mnrmurng along in under-cur
rent Of sound-paries of romping children, apparently
quite Indifferent TIE dense atmosphere which made
struggle for breahand to crown all the sudden burst
ing forth Of chorus of grsh voices into one of the Wild
est of negro melodies that was caught up and
flung back by the of the waves wthouall combined to
form picture odd indeed Some say that when Babel was
broken up topmost detachment moved sen mass and
founded bathhouseelse why this irreconcabe confu-
sion Hn
Following the example of others, exchanged our
doublewrapper for woolen bathing Dress covered our
hair and with the friend who had accompanied us, VIC
hastily made our exit from this crowded Babel and on
crossing the threshold met by male escort
equipped for the The sight outside that met our Wis
ion was still more bewderng than the we had left
Were novice from cities to be transported here with
out any intermediate preparation, be would believe him
self under the spell of enchapte The might in
cite the tagging to lowing sentences but
there are dfngers which potent enough to dc
it Justice Fanny Fern might with that dashing pen Of
hers, but hide my diminished head
The sight of nearly 1000 persons in various costumes
the shr laughing cries of the bahcr heard above the
Of the surpartes Of children in the of
struggling for brcaththe ladies, many in bright plaid
dresses, with ancifully trimmed straw hats on their
hcadsand, to end ALL the appearance of the bahers
they out looking like congregation of resuscitaed
corpses fvered into eall combine to form picture like
the illusion Of dream almost leaving the bcholder in
doubt whether that which he looks indeed reality
the creation OF dstempered brain There moth
ing very exclusive in the bath here where the belle
placed in uxtaposton with her waitng-,naid; indeed
it would be difficult to distinguish them, costume in
the world lends itself readily conveniently to
the purposes Of disguise One popularity is the utter dsre
gard of many of the male bather being knocked down
by the breakers and drowned. They will and
out and when warned that they almost outside thu
breakers they look though they wondered at the
ton waste Of words bestowed upon insignificant piece
of information How many Of these reckless ba.hers
escape drowning cannot take upon ourselves ex
plain.
grand hop, the opening one of the season. of
at the Columbia House the evening of the 4th We will
in next give peep dear reader at this scene Of
gaety.