The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-07-06
LETTER FROM CAPE MAY

The Fourth" - Delightful weather -
Excursion Party from Salem -A AMI
mated Scene on the Beach - Ladies'
Bathing-COttagers and their Teams
ladies OF Wealth and FashiOn-LOng
Branch 20 be Ecupsed-BrIdal Parties
ON the Island-DiamOnd Beach Parties
EVENING TELEGRAPH SPECIAL CoBREsPoN DBNoE.]
CAPE ISLAND July 5.
The "Fourth" passed of delightfully."-, although
there was not much of pyrotechnic display.
The streets were crowded with ladies in their
gay holiday attire.
party of about two hundred ladies and gen.
tlemen from Salem arrived here in the morning,
and promenaded the beach and streets unit
their departure, late in the afternoon. 1t was
beautiful day; not a cloud was to be seen, and
we had bracing and invigorating breeze iron
the sea throughout the whole Of it.
The beach presented an animated scene yes
terday at the bathing hour. There must have
been at least two hundred ladies in the ocean at
one time, and as they rose and fell with the surf,
they presented a very striking and pleasing
picture. | would here remark that the ladies
this season spare neither pains nor expense on
their bathing dresses. they are made up out Of
all the gorgeous aud brilliant hues of the
rainbow.
There are more cottagers here than ever be-
fore known at this season of the year. There
appears to be grand rivalry between them as
TO which shall turn out the fastest and hand
soonest teams. They make very pretty show
on the beach as they dash up and down it In the
evening. One young gentleman of wealth,
of Philadelphia, seems to outshine all the
rest. He has a sort OF nondescript barouche,
very handsomely gotten up. By his side
is seated a beautiful young lady, while on the
back seat is his "tger,n with his arms folded
dressed in most elaborate livery.
l have visited the Island for number of
years, but never saw so much wealth represent.
ing the fashionable world before. This arises
from the fact, presume, that quite number of
new cottages have been put up, costing from
ten to thirty thousand dollars each. The
fashionable ladies here dress more costly for
promenading on the Beach than they do for
promenading on Chestnut street. So it is rea
sonably to be supposed that they intend this
season to eclipse Long Branch in beauty and
brilllancy. 1t is no hard matter for them to do
either, II they make up their minds to it.
The leading hotels are beginning to rapidly
fill up. The Columbia, Congress Hall, and the
Uniteo States, of course, take the lead. The
next two best houses are the American and
and Centre. Then follow the Sherman, Mer-
chants, surf, Washington Franklin, Phladel-
pha. and one or two others.
notice among the arrivals during the past
two days quite a large number from Philadel-
phia. General Richard Coulter, of Westmore-
land county, Pa. Is at the Columbia.
No less than five bridal parties arrived here
yesterday and scattered themselves among the
different hotels. The weather to-day again is
very refreshing, with fine sea breeze.
The Park and track at Diamond Beach are
beng rapidly pushed to completion. 1t is ex-
pected that they Will be opened during the next
two weeks. Colonel John West, of the United
States Hotel, is the lessee.
Mark Hassler's two bands will be down on
Monday. Then the season will commence in
earnest. The first "hop" of the season will
take place on Monday evening. either at the
Columbia House or CONGRESS Hall.