Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1866-08-31

tlemen done to make him so cross! Ism I he
little silly, or does he hope to make political
capital by slandering that excellent institution?
Correspondence of the Fremont Journal
LIFE AT CAPE MAY.
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 10, 1866.
Editor journal:
have been unlucky enough, (thanks to the
New Jersey Express Co.. to have my trunk
detained, and shall have to remain in this City
of Brotherly Love some eight hours longer than
l intended. 1t affords me an opportunity to
write you something about Cape May, whence
1 have just returned. While there 1 managed
to see all the objects that are said to interest
foreigner. l had daily baths, strolled along the
beach, tried the fishing, enjoyed the sailing,
watched the fascinating movements of the lovely
sea-nymphs, saw everything worth seeing, and
left fully satisfied with my weeks investment.
The native population of Cape May is some
four hundred inhabitants. They are misera-
BILE set of beings, and depend almost entirely
for living on what they can extract from the
visitors during the summer. The cottage by
manner and devoid of all architectural beauty.
Every private residence is styled a cottage
whether it be of one story or three. They have
every variety Of stores, and their prices are
adapted to the place. A johnson P. M. at
tends to the delivery of the mail: He must be
a very mean man, to judge from the frequent
curses bestowed on his devoted head.
The hotels number twenty five, two of which
are for the especial accommodation of colored
people. Most of them are constructed in the
cheapest manner, daubed over with yellow
paint, sc1ntily furnished with secondhand fur
niture, and managed with very little regard for
the comfort of the guests. Many of the Sleep
ing apartments are 80 small that they can not
have their trunks taken in, but are obliged to
set them in the hall. noticed one room occu-
pied by Hibernian couple, that was of such
small dimensions it would not permit both of
them to be in the room at the same time, unless
one laid on the bed, and the Poor fellow had ta-
ken seat in the hall and was discoursing to his
better half through the doorway. The small
hotels are capable of accommodating one hun
uI6u duu bllC OHcn dUOul d L1OuSdlu guests,
but they often double on this number. Con-
gress Hall and the Columbia House are the two
largest and most popular hotels. The former
has its servants numbered like so many con.
victs and they are known only by the number
Each of the above hotels has band employed
for the season. The others treat their guests to
music only on extra occasions Board can be
had at from $500 to $2s,0O per week. extras
not included A liberal distribution of twenty
five cents stamps produces a happy effect and
causes grinning and ivory TO greet you at every
turn. By next season they expect to have
new hotel, at cost of $25OOOO.
Billiard saloons, bowling alleys, of immense
size, faro banks and drinking saloons are very
numerous. Four churches are weekly filed
with congregations anxious to listen to the
eloquence of some eminent city divine.
Three miles out of town is a cold spring
The only thing strange about it is, that pure
cold water should come up through salt
marsh. 1t is surrounded by saloon that does
quite spirited business The people who visit
the spring seldom drink the water. They look
at it, think it is strange, wonder what freak of
nature produced it, and relieve their minds of
the subject by taking strait drink of Jerseys
best"
Two daily papers are published at Cape May.
Their columns are devoted to advertisements,
lists of the arrivals, and fattering the vanity of
vain beauties.
On Tuesday night "grand childrens' hop"
came off in Congress Hall. 1t was participant
ed in by every youngster of dancing propen-
stiles on the Island The "dear little creatures"
were dressed in the hight of fashion, and some
of them fairly coverd with gew gaws. They
commenced to dance at 8 o'clock and kept it up
two hours. Each little girl, after being released
by her little beau, was received into the open
arms of the fond mother, and lavishly ca
ressed Each little fellow, after bestowing his
parting salutation on his little partner, was
seized by the delighted paternal sire, and due
number of affectionate pats bestowed upon his
head.
Robert Heller, the great magician, perform
ed on Wednesday night and the hall would not
contain half of the people who wanted to see
him.
On Thursday they had mask Ball at Con-
gress Hall. 1t was the "grand carnival of the
season" the top round in the ladder of fashion,
able folly. 1t was got up by "a committee Of
fifty OF the most prominent gentleman at Cape
May. 1t was the main topic of conversation
for many days preceding, and was impatiently
waited for by the participants. Two full bands
were engaged for the occasion. The tickets
sold at 81, and SO great was the rush that some
| holders sold out at a premium The program
me opened by brilliant display of fireworks
on the lawn in front of the hotel. Chinese
lanters reflected refulgent rays from the trees,
the sky was Illuminated by the discharge of
rockets and Roman candles, and the firing of
several beautifully designed pieces created as
constituent among the multitudes The fire.
works being over, a rush was made for the hall.
This is a room three hundred feet long BY
about fifty feet wide. II was soon SO crowded
that scarcely room enough was left for dancing
The hall was handsomely decorated. The
sides were festooned in red, white and blue, and
flags looped up at the columns with shields
on which were painted the coat of arms of all
the states. Along the ceiling, at intervening
spaces, waved hundreds of small starry banners
and the same ornamentation draped and decor
ated the chandeliers. Not more than one quar-.