The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-08-25
LONG BRANCH.
THE GAY. SEASON AT IT'S HEIGHT.
How tho Bellies Of the Season While Away tho
Time atch-Making Mammas and Marriage
able Daughters-Scenes in the Hotels ON
the Beach and in the Water-Stam-
pede Of tho Politicians-0os-
sip About the President

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Though the season at Long Branch Is now far adj
vanced and the close OF the heated term rapidly
approaching, there Is as yet no visible diminution
In the number OF aristocratc visitors who are
hooking to this beautiful seaside resort. N0twith-
standing the counter attractions OF Saratoga and
Its springs and Newport, which is supposed to be
| the fav0rite Summer home OF the elite the Branch
still maintains the reputation OF being at once the
most fashionable and the most cosmopolitan OF the
watering places Of the Continent. There are many
reasons why this should be 30. The near proximity
OF its situation to the Empire City and Philadelphia
its Incompatible SURF its long established reputa-
ton, and the fact that the President and head OF
the nation lives here, the great lion OF the place.
all constitute claims to public favor which no other
watering place possesses.
On arriving at the railroad depot, when Won
take your first look at the Branch you would In
the first instance, be likely be disappointed with
the view. long row OF frame cottages, fronting
upon the sandy shore, upon which the waves
eternally beat, with here and there the nagsta of
hotel moving to the breeze, would lead you to be-
lieve that you had got into O struggling country
village. On nearer approach all such ideas will
be agreeably daspeled. The cottages assume q
gayer appearance. the lawns fronting the ocean
present more charming aspect, and the
evidences OF fashionable society, in the shape or
by filed with richly dressed ladies' will force you
to retract your first hastily formed impression.
The numerous great hotels and boarding houses
swarm with life, the surf is crowded with bathers
the lawn with spectators and the Summer houses
with lovers and on every side the evidences of life
and fun and enjoyment are visible.
At the commencement OF the present season
croakers predicted that the Branch would lose
caste, and that the attendance would greatly fall
on. The reverse has been the case. Long Branch
has never had o more successful Summers the lead
Ing hotels have, in many instances, been unable to
accommodate their guests so great has been the
rush, and every cottage and boarding house which
had room to spare has been filed to overnowing.
The visitors have come. from every part Of the
Unon-North South, East and west-the Branch
In particular seeming to be to the Southern people
what Paris Is to Americans In general. Darkeyed
naughty bellies, stately dowagers and knightly gen.
tlemen, the representatives Of cause that is
lost and chivalry that is decaying meet in
bonds OF amity and peace with their ancient ene-
mics; the LOuisanian, the Carolinian and the Yam.
kee cordially unite in shaking hands across the
bloody chasm," and In q spirit OF mutual forbear.
ance and forgiveness drown all bitter memories Of
the past in the happiness and enjoyment of the
present. Prominent among the representatives Of
Southern wealth and fashion have been the visitors
look, eagle eye and manly form-poshed gentle.
men, though exposed to ordeas in their wild from
tier State which would draw the gentilty and good
breeding out OF most men Of an ordinary mould
They are decided favorites with the young ladies OF
the romantic t school, ana many sly Irritation takes
the beach, In which they figure as principals and in
which muslin and broadcloth happily minge
together.
One great advantage which q watering place
possesses over city is the habit 1t teaches lazy
selves from their beds about sunrise win be amply
rewarded for the sacrifice. At that time the air Is
the grass and the view Stewards, as the risnS sun
tnts the waves with all the colors Of the rainbow,
Lovely IN tine extreme KIT the white masts Of the
then pleasure boat, dned with . group OF early
breezes Of old Ocean This is the hour oar ercet
lence for delightful bath-the water IS OF the
proper temperature the waves are neither too high
nor too low, and the cool wind OF the morning
Is an admirable bracer for the balance OF the day.
Very few stir abroad at this early hour, but by six
O'Clock groups begin to pour towards the beach,
the ladies' In thin costume Of simple white looking
perfectly bewitching fact Of which their attend
minutes the ladies reach the bathing boxes, and
after an interval emerge completely meta
have for the time been carefully laid aside the bal
ance has been gathered into tight knot; the little
bare feet are encased IN tiny slippers, and bath
ing costume Is loosely drawn around the FORM
TO sink or swell as Heave pleases
An hours tossing in the waves gives everyone a
to the hotel the morning meal is eaten with a zest
to which the city belle while In the city is entire
stranger
The hour between bathing and dinner is the most
dreary part of the day, and the worst qualities of
human nature develop themselves In the interval
1t Is too hot to boat, too hot to ride, the children
are peevish and their mammas unusually cross
servants rebellious, hotel clerks Ill tempered
and cOlored walters overbearng. There Is nothing
left for the women to do but discuss the fashions,
and the dresses OF rivals are criticised with savage
severity, while the sterner part Of the population
Grant and Greeley with degree Of spirit which,
under other circumstances, would seem wholly un-
sherry cObblers and mint julps is enormous
the bartender standing out picture Of happiness
OF being sighted by their beaux fashionable young
ladies will appear In the plainest dtShd6tle, the
quantity OF muslin dresses they spoil in day being
enough to make the fortune Of the Long Branch
laundresses. Nobby young men, who are the very
glass of fashion and the mould OF FORM in the even
Ing lazily recline upon lounges, endeavoring to
smoke cigarettes; but the effort is too much. The
cigarettes are thrown away and they look the very
At four O'Clock matters begin to wake up little
ladies' recover their temper and hurry of to dress
for the early dinner, the gents throw of their
tunes OF more conventional gentility, the air is
becoming gradually cooler and life becomes much
more enjoyable. Full dress Is not much affected at
the hotels at the Branch, but now and then a
fashionable belle who cannot consent to conceal
the glowing beauties Oh ner 10TH VIII appear III all
the unadorned beauty of low neck and short
sleeves, the observed OF all observers A dining
room at the West End or the ocean House is an in
terestng study. Here may be seen every. type OF
beauty and ugness-the brilliant brunette
and the soft-eyed blonde, "the fair, the dark,
the stout, the tall'-young girls just on the verge
OF womanhood and young ladies' who cling des-
peratcly to girlhood whichis rapidly passing away.
In looking over the dining room at the West End
Hotel yesterday saw many such, the two kind
being frequently members Of the same family. The
elder sister, whose beauty is fading will look with
envy upon the younger whose charms are just in
the bud, and recalls with pang Of bitter regret
the days when she, too, was young and beautiful.
Here may be seen widow lady and her three mar
riageable daughters, who should have long since been
matrons but who still believe in the potency OF their
charms, and look out for the coming man with more
money than brains, who will rescue them from q
life OF bitter humiliation and constant misery.
They have haunted the various watering places for
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