The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-06-29
AT THE SEASIDE.


The Route to Cape NIay-Changes Since the
Olden me-Reminiscences of nm Old Inhabi-
tRnt-The Stockton HOuse-The Beach sue
cessful Season Combination of Attractions
Sea-shOrc Pleasures.
From Our Ogn Correspondent
CAPE ISLAND, N. j., June %, 1862.
OF all the blessings which railroads have conferred
upon the country, one OF the most Important. TO
Philadelphia and Phiadephians, I'm the sweltering
summer season. is the opportunity they enjoy, via
the West Jersey Railroad Of reaching this delightful
spot by pleasant journey of few hours. The
route is pleasing and attractive as it penetrates a
country which is improving very rapidly, and passes
through number OF thriving towns, including Glou
cester, GlassborO, MillviIe the famous Vineland,
and various cities in embryo, which as yet figure
moreyargely on ground plans than on the ground
(. The substantial improvements, however, are so
numerous that a continual panorama Of the pro-
gress which has vivihed Southern Jersey is pre-
sented and the traveller is led up by steady grada-
tions TO the grand attractions concentrated here
An old gentleman informs me that when he took
summer trips in his youth from Philadelphia to Cape
May, the best mode OF travel by numbering
market wagon, which wended so slowly along the
sandy roads, through the wilderness that as many
days were required for the journey as hours now.
He considered, however, that the pleasures of the
scenery and bathing amply repaid his toisome trip
and while he eulogizes the advantages OF modern
improvements, the preudices OF his early education
nited with his wellpreserved vigor still make him
refer bun bath before dawn to the more
decorous encounter with old ocean in the
dragging habiments OF a bathing-dress.
"Ah, sir" said he, ''the railroads are wonderful
things Only to think Of coming down here from
Philadelphia in less than four hours and of going
over to the Pacific coast in a week. When l was
young went across the Allegheny Mountains. We
had to camp out on our way, and 1t took us two
months to reach Cincinnati. Then went down to
New Orleans in a lat-boat, and spent three months
making my way back through the wilderness, on an
Indian pony, to Western Pennsylvania. There have
been mighty Improvements since that time; an
although the West has been so greatly
changed, the East seems to have done
quite as much, in its way, too. / see fine houses
stretching for miles in Philadelphia, over places
which, when was boy, were considered danger
Gus on account OF snakes. And who could have
thought that down here, at Cape May, they would
have ever built so many fine houses, introduced gas
eMorganzed a police board, run up the prices
of land and rents to metropolitan standard, and
that they would erect building like that oint
ing to the Stockton House, which looks as grand as
the finest public buildings at Washington, and can
accommodate as many guests as all the watering
place hotels that were in the whole country when
was boy"
I have often been told that Cape May has the
finest beach on the coast, and although my
knowledge Of the subject is limited, should moi
wonder if this assertion substantially true. The
breakers break beautifully. While old ocean cannot
cally and advantageousY rounded of here so as to
ensure bathers at once safety and a hrst-clasS
bath on its well protected and gently slopng beach.
large number of summer guests have already
assembled here, but the preparations for success
full season are ample that there is plenty OF
room for thousands more, and there is no doubt
that they will come 1t will be difficult to find such
combination of attractions at any other watering
place ON the continent. The lavish hand OF nature
has spread her bounties every side, and art, en-
terprise, and industry have wonderfully improved
and utilized them. In the background cultivated
fields, then elegant cottages, then Gordon oi
stores, restaurants and hotels which supply all the
luXuries that sybarite could crave; then, in the
front, the grand waves, with their incessant roai
and their picturesque rolings, preach eternaly the
insignifcance of man and his mghtiest works when
they are contrasted with the wonders OF creation
and this lesson is heightened by the gorgeous beauty
of the Clouds which add new charms to the impress
sive scene
Crowds have come and still greater crowds are
coming to Cape May. Some for health, some fol
pleasure, some for a days excursion some for
whole seasons campaign, some to inaugurate new
hrtations, and some to be haunted by the ghosts o
old ones The pale, wan, sickly child will gain new
lease OF life, the vitality sapped by dissipation o.
over-exertion will be renewed, and the gayest o
jewellers will wash away the physical dregs OF thei
frolics. SCHUYLKILL.