The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1869-07-31

Long Branch IS regarded as the most
fashionable and exclusive Of the bathing
places which is natural enough, as its great.
or distance and extremely high priced hotels,
invite only those with well filled purses
not the most moral, or intellectual or civil
people, though, by any means. The beach
at Long Branch is poor. 1t is very abrupt,
and particularly dangerous for inexperienced
bathers.
Last night grand ball was given at Long
Branch, in honor of Gen. Grant who Is now
there. All the fat incumbenls OF fat Offices
were there, Of course, rs they are ut all such
gatherings, and the party was tringed with
| the suffer, quarter.master and contractor
aristocracy--a more vulgar crowd than can
be found anywhere else.
Pen and ink are unequal to the task Of
describing these fashionable places Of folly
and dissipation, or the glory Of the moon.
light nights, there. The inconstant moon,
which is more tickle than Japonica Lily
white herself, now tips with silver the rest
less waves, whitens the sails Of neighborng
| craft, throws weird shadows on roaming
lovers telling the same old story. Up and
down the long avenue which stretches its
| length BY the sea, 20 carriages bearing
merry men and fair women, looking Ike les
! tive phantoms IN the pale moonlight; the low
splash Of waves dashing against the shore
| the hushed voices Of those who rove, and the
calm moon looking down cbangelessy upon
| the scene. Dost thou like the picture ?
Here comes party Of young men strollinR
| in the glorious softness Of this summer night.
| In unison they chant a snatch from an old
~
voices seem to make angelic harmony. Lis
ten AS they pass:
"R6ll On, silver moon,
Guide the traveller on his way
While the nightingsle's song is in tune
But never, never more
With my true love will stray,
BY the sweet silver light Of tho moon.
All, hem It's very romantic; and there
really is something very plain,iye and poetic
n that foolish old song, particularly when
you are strolling along by the seashore on
bright moonlight night on your way down
| to the Spa after some Kissingen.
| And then comes another rolicng party,
chanting:
| You shant have any Of my pea nuts
When your pea nuts are gone.
Or that other inspiring song
tell you boys, reElly think,
| tell you boys, really think,
lsamOst time to take drink,
If you belong 10 Gideou's band, etc.
Some OF my Rock Island readers know
how that party generally finishes the tight
There is comfort, two, in watching the
crowd assembled on any of the porches of
the great bathing place hotels; the sight
| presented is better than most OF the theatrl'
| cal performances Of the present day, and it
must be man who thinks only OF himself
who cannot enjoy the picture. An outside
party fill every window of the drawing room,
| criticising those inside, the dancers and the
| dance. Of course, you are sure to hear
some unchartable remarks. The dress and
behavior ofthose inside are picked to pieces,
Mrs. Worldly is blamed because her children
are dressed 50 conspicuodsy and allowed |
TO remain up so late While Mrs. Prudence |
is pitched into because her children are sent
to bed at an early hour in language some
thing like this :-"FIer little girl, why its
been sont away long ago; poor child, it
never is allowed in the paror Of an evening
for the reason that its mother don't wish TO
be annoyed Wonder it don't get sick By
being cooped up 80 much" Then nearly
all the young ladies have to pass the same
ordeal, and but few come out Of the fire of
words unscathed
Now, take the promenaders, then you will
see husband and wife together Wonderful |
thing in this age) discussing family affairs,
| then comes somebody's wife with SOMEBODY'S
husband-they probably are not discussing
family Affairs; then somebody's husband
whose wife may be in Europe for oil |
know, looking lovingly into the eyes Of some
young girl how very wrong), and she, silly
thing, believes all that is being said to her.
and expresses her opinion afterwards that
| married men are so very agreeable"
Now look at that couple seated away off
at the end of the porch; their chairs are
close together; the gentleman is not seated
in an upright position; no, his head inclines
towards the lovely girl by his side, drawn
there by some magnetic power thatas yet is
not thoroughly understood and brought un
der control by the scientific. He is talking |
iii an earnest manner but in tones so low |
that you can hardly distinguish a sound. |
She is apparently well pleased at all that's be.
ing said to her; her head has fallen forward |
as if to bring the ear nearer to the mouth
that is speaking, fearful lest word be lost:
her hands are ncrvously picking to pieces a
bouquet, or Going someteing,She don't know
| what, with her handkerchief Now, then,
get behind door or out of sight some.
where, and it may be if no one is near that
| you will see that charming face laid loving.
| ly upon the shoulder Of her admirer, while
his arm may have, almost impercepubly,
encircled her waist, and if you should hear
in moment or SO more, in voice tremu
lous with emotion, the words, Eyes, but you
must ask papa" don't be the least surpris,
ed, and fyou should see tho same young
| lady five minutes afterwards in the strong
light of the drawing room, with face flushed
and eyes that LOOK slightly suifused, don't
be the least astonished. Both occur every day,
and are perfectly natural. Such are the
sights we see by the sea, and looking at and
recording them are by no means the least
interesting of a correspondents duty at
Long Branch and other fashionable watering
places. j. b. d. JR.