The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-08-17

VIEW OF ATLANTIC CITY.
Well, as said before, our hotel is the best:
and the band is the finest; and the guests who
crowd around the train when it stops are the
best-looking and the jolliest. Among the wal
ters every one remarks a fine-looking mulatto
strong as Hercules, and with q face as full of
good-humor and happiness as thatof the Happy
Man who had no shir ., famed in classic history
That is Hardicanute; and if you don't know
who Hardicanute is, you have never been to
Atlantic City, for he Is an institution of the
place; and, be it known to you, he is the bather
at our hotel. So cordial and gracious was his
welcome to me that l feared that my fame had
preceded me, and that the distinguished Debo-
ran Dunn was expected. But since then have
seen him welcome scores of others just as cor.
dialy, and have come to the conclusion that
Hardicanute's smiles are generously bestowed
We have now fairly entered upon all the
delights of Atlantic City. The most prominent
of these is the bathing. Miles and miles of
splendid surf rolling in over a sloping
"shingle," almost as hard as a floor. "DO you
want 10 get into deep water quick If you do,
battle over there ladies'" says Hardicanute
But almost everywhere the beach shoals off
little by little, far into the sea. Nearly as far
as you can see the white caps dancing in the
sunlight-a very long distance-the water is
shallow, and just the thing for safe bathing.
But the under tow is very strong sometimes,
and Hardicanute's services are very necessary
He is the bather for the women and children,
and is in constant demand. His name rings on
all sides at the bathing houses. "Hardicanute
come here just little minute" "Hardicanute,
where is my bathing -dress?" "Hardicanute, is
the water cold to-day? Any danger, Hardica
nute2 viii you take good care of us, Hardica-
nute?"
And Hardicanute answers smilingly to ALL
"Yes, ladies, at your service in a minute"
"Here it is, maam." water very fine to-day,
ladies'" ~ can take care of you ALL" "Miss,
you nluStgo in to- day-not wholesome to break
your regular bathing" "Where are my little
ones2"
And off he strides over the beach with his
arms full of babies. And children in baggy
lannels, and women in their magnificent toll
lettes, a la BLOOnler, and slouched straw hats,
flock after him, until all go plunging and
shrieking into the sea- Now he "swims" one
of us; now two; now he forms us into a dip
ping circle" "hands half round;" now he car
ries off screaming child to duck" then back
again for another swimmer, and SO on, ad in.
JtnitItD1.
This, Hardicanute does hours every day, and
he has been doing it for years, But he is an
amphibious biped, and does not mind IL. Like
his illustrious namesake, he has no fear OF the
mighty ocean, and, no doubt, there is lurking
in his secret heart belief that the waves are
subject to his control.
On the morrow, which came punctually as
everywhere else, we ate, we bathed, we slept,
and we ate again, but we must have change
This is got here by yachting A company of us,
as the rain which had been falling ali the
morning had abated, we're formed of ladies and
gentlemen, and sauntered down to the yacht
stable, and got the sailor-man (who, one of our
party said, was son of,Neptune, but who was
really old enough to be his fatherJ to drive us
out in his boat on the heavlng sea. AS 1 am