The New York herald., 1870-05-20
CAPE MAY. NAV 10, 1870.

morning pets ON hoard and Is soon rafting over
wilderness OF bogs, swamps, territory ovefgfowh
with underbrush and understrung with deceptiVe
cutters and nasty sluices, and he WONDERS III VAIN
what on earth can be the utility OF such vast waste.
Al Freeport. reached by eight O'Clock, there
are numerous small settlements, win such
enphonious titles as Edentown and Squan
KUN and these villages look like pawns
and bishops on an extended chessboard OF
barren territory From Freeport the trip Is more
agreeable and Philadelphia, remote suburb OF
New York. looms into view at eleven O'Clock. AT
halfpast three the broken connection is re-estab-
lshed and long train starts down for Cape May.
This road is In respects wretched but in others
well managed For instance, it requires an unusual
quantity OF soap TO remove the geological deposits
on the skin that Is sent floating In the atmosphere
by the iron horse, and sand can be produced from
all accessible parts OF the body.
Cape May is reached by seven O'Clock in the even-
ing and the busy appearance about the depot shows
how much activity and life resides in this ancient
city, especially now as the season Is about TO begin.
Cape May is one of the oldest ports on the Atlantic
seaboard, and among the first watering places
OF the Union It's birth Is cOeval with the origin OF
American commerce, and the fastest and best
equipped pilot boats in American waters clear from
It's harbor. The resident population consists almo st
entirely OF old sealnen and sRliul navgators, who
understand every crag, bun and Jutting headland in
this vicinity Hence there Is little sluggishness or
indclence ana such visitation disease is hardly
ever local complaint; the people die mostly from
Old age.
As "a watering place Cape May dates back forty
years, and during
it has achieved a high position for its matchless
beach, It's excellent medicinal advantages OF air,
water, temperature and climate, The excellence and
elegance OF It's hotels, and above all, the
fine astronomical skill employed in PAN
,dering to the behests Of the stomach, stim-
Mated to ardent desires by the fresh
breezes of the Atlantic Ocean. Up to 1869 it moved
along in uninterrupted quiet and success, and then
q disastrous fire swept away one OF the most valu.
able portions OF the city, covering an area bounded
each side by SEQ feet The total loss $780, ooo
This The entire district destroyed is being
built in handsome and substantial manner. and
two months VIII leave no tracks OF the fire fend's
mistaken vengeance.
Cape May for 1870 kas the most auspiclous future.
Already 1t has been visited by parties from all por.
tons Of the country, and the cottages are being
taken up rapidly. ana husbands are making arrange
place property OF Cape May, that is hotels including
boarding houses and private cottages, Is valued on
low estimate estimate at $4,000 ooo ard pe ely
excellent rooms Tor $4,000 people without
herding, GROWING. or disagreeaoe inconvenience
win exceed 1000 OF all ages. The visitors VIII
mainly from Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington
named. OF course, Philadeiphia supplies the vast
majority, and Cape May holds the same relation
10 the Quaker City that Long Branch does to New
York. Maav hundreds also come from the interior
Of New York State, from Delaware New Jersey and
Pennsylvania, and not few are tourists from
= j.. g. THE REGULAR SEASON
begins on the 25th OF June and closes on Septem-
per l. Although there Will be large nnmoers here |
afn cnNia M
put through the fashionable mouds He who sup |
poses that Cape May mas none OF the dress and h0ut
ton Is mistaken All the airs peculiar to the people
Of means al many American watering places prevail 1
here. ana these airs depend much upon the caprlces
OF tailors, dressmaKeIs anu ngure builders ana are
stlted presumption. But after all this Is only assai
ing human folly; and are not follies abundant2
AMI is 1t so wrong to put on airs and when people
come into big fortune should they not, having been
Ostraczed all their lives, have some opportunity,
with the rustling silk and the shimmerlng satins
Mr.. Fashion, the taiOrs and dressmakers all say |
'Yes." But there viii be plenty OF chances to spend
money besides on dress and yet
is not high It will range from 81 SO to IS per day.
and extras will include bathing driving, fishing
hunting and wines, liquors and cigars, OF which
latter three there Is not generally great consump.
ton.
Cape May9 The visitor rises early; for the fresh sea
breezes saturated with wealth OF saline matter,
have refreshed the body and mind, apd the lIeuts-
posed consumptive, dyspeptfc or general gf5wl6f
rises with the appetite OF female wolf. Breakfast
is served at eight or even earlier for those leaving
tie sea-delicious softshell CRABS crabs OF the regu
lar army fish in exhaustless variety ana good meats
from Philadelphia are put upon me table. The
der Is fresh full Of acute relish te the palate and full
MIS- the functions OF its office, A stroll, walk, a
smoke 81, lounge, h;Rlps hunting and general ease
fashionable hour for bathing. This combined sport
and rich physical benefit is practsed with unusual
.FaeSse ana extensiveness at Cape May.
slopes gently to the breakers. has hard, but yield
ing sandy bed 200 feet from the margin OF the surf at
low water, and here something more authentic than
tradition records, year after year. has an inventory
OF female charms been taken, or often the want OF
female charms. There is no undertow, and no lite
lines are necessary, ever demanded SO safe is
this stretch OF ve miles that the merest infant or
most tifng danger. Bath houses divided or
into small compartments, furnished with toilet ar.
tices, with good servants in charge, line the beach
from one terminus to the other. A remarkable fea.
ture is the broad balcony overlooking the ocean and
the beach. 1t is twenty feet wide, and
when the bathers disport with each other
and the breakers, the music plays, the nonpartici-
pating wealth and beauty gather on the porch, the
ar rings with loud acclaim the sound Of the roaring
suri and the harmones OF the bands accompany the
enchanting scene At two O'Clock the visitors sit
down TO an elaborate dinner. The tables are loaded
down with viands so are the ladies with elaborate
.ol!es, and the gentlemen may become With Held
sick and widow Cnquot. Two hours is good time at
the table, and then comes an interval for slow
smoke, Several chapters OF "Lothair'' or "Childe
Harold" then long nap-a lazy snooze-then pre-
palatlons for q bounteous repast, called TEA, Dut
really second dinner. Twenty minutes past seven
O'Clock brings the mails the New York and Phia-
delpnia papers and the answers OF credn!ous rcla-
tons in the tar OF homes OF the cities anu the IN
tcrior.
RAILS AND HOPS 9
conclude the evening. These are always elegant
affairs, carefully ordered, well arranged and sue
Cessluily realized They are not rendered nauseat-
ing by cold formallty made uncomfortable by gross
familiarity. The aim Is to introduce easy courtesy,
genteel. htghtoned sociality, and nicely tempered
and correctly conceived cordality. Music, dancing,
parlor pleasantres, pr0menadng, soft sentnentaIi-
tics under the direct sanction OF smiling moon,
gather The remnants TO the day TO o soft and downy
couch, and tho visitors retire 10 await the commands
of the next day sun. Such Is life here. 1t IS life
%! recreation, nealthful ease gentle pleasures fine
eitlng, resu.citang bathing, absence from and
perplexing duties. And now, who does not want
to come TO Cape May Like other places, 1t has its
drawbacks. They are few, the attractions many.
sunday Is universally observed and all denomna-
fions represented. II this moral restraint will not
cheek exuberance the visitor Is put In discipline by
force OF twenty policemen, genuine NJ. P.s, derv-
ing their powers from the unapproachable Jersey
Legislature. Much can be said In favor Of
THE GENERAL WEATHER
hpto I'm ctO A,,rdv