The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-07-13
LETTER FROM CAPE MAY,
CONGRESS HALL, Cape May. }
July LIST. 1870 (


!,
7 CONGRESS HALL, Cape Nav,
July LIST, 1872. :
LEAN "HIG:-Seated on an airy veran-
u"n' Will 9 invigorating breeze blowing
up iro'ii 'he sparkling, white beach, we
} ma IL very PEASANT task to indite YOU a
lew i'nes !ha' "eAope may present faint
|, picture of what we vitness personally.
1t is with feeling akin to pity that we
remember our fellow-csizens in town ond
city, who may even now We WISHING them
selves in our cool retreat y, tho se.s;da
How thankful we were to lesve the warm
dusty streets, with their foul stsing smells
and deafening noises, none but Nose who
have had a similar experience can marin.
The first plunge of the ferry boat th,t car
ried us to the Jersey shore, caused the
blood to bound and the eye to flash wsb
pleasure, as the idea Of escape from tn,
region of Farenheits' nineties crossed the
mind. The rush and scramble for seats
had something terrifying in it to novice
but we were fortunate enough to secure
good places on the shady side. The train
was one of the fast line and only stopped
twice to give the locomotive his lunch
Our car halted directly in front of a very
curious machine, that was engaged in pre-
pairing his wooden meal. A large log was
reduced to the proper size for his fiery
throat in less time than it takes to write
about it.
The road to Cape May becomes some
what monotonous, and we were very glad
when dim, blue line could be discerned
below the horizon, with white dots like
beads on riband, ornamenting its undu-
lating folds. We soon ascertained that
this was the ocean, with ships sailing along
the coast.
Cape May City is situated in Cape Island,
which is separated from the main land only
by tiny stream that man could easily
leap. The train glided slowly into the
depot, where crowd of upturned faces
were looking for expected friends. The
place was transformed into perfect Babel
as soon as the train halted, by importunate
cabmen and vociferous newsboys, who
insisted in conveying you to your hotel or
cottage, and having you buy the papers
you had already read. One poor lamb-li
man was bundled into a carriage in spite of
his repeated request to be allowed to walk.
His corpulent spouse and numerous olive
branches had been seated by the officious
driver, and liking their quarters refused to
stir, SO "poor papa" could do nothing
but groan and follow. He was doubtless
thinking of the exhorbitant price he must
pay when his short ride should be ended.
Congress Hall is the second largest hotel
in the city. 1t requires two thousand del
lars day to run it, and will accommodate
one thousand guests. 1t is built in two
immense wings that meet and form right
angle. The dining room will contain one
hundred tables each seating ten PERSONS
Every Saturday these are cleared away for |
the weekly hop. During meals and in the
evening, band performs in an arbor on
the hotel grounds. Every delicacy the
most epicurean appetite could crave, can
be obtained. The bill of fare for dinner
consists of twelve courses and sixty-eight |
different dishes. The wide verandahs and
thus catch every breath of the salt air.
The rooms are furnished throughout in
solid walnut, with the exception of the
parlors, which have rosewood and bucatelle
to complete the picture of oriental comfort
and elegance.
The Stockton House can entertain three
thousand guests, and is the largest and
most elegant seaside hotel in the world
In the main hall hangs life size portrait
of Commodore Stockton, copied by our
Philadelphia artist, Waugh, from Sir
Edward Newton's original.
For homelike comforts and hospitality,
Congress Hall is far preferable to the Stock
ton. 1t is patronized more extensively by i
than the latter, and that prob
ably accounts for the air of kindliness that
pervades the whole place.
There are many lovely cottages here,
eased by families for the summer. They {
Ire usually well shaded, and combine all {
he comforts of city, seaside and country |
life. {
The town has about sixteen hundred I
who remain as permanent res |
dents; but in summer this number swells |
o the sum of as many thousands. 1t S
boasts of Mayor and various city sound /
ng offices. S
The beach at Cape May is one of the il
,est in the world. 1t is very compact {
fielding but slightly to the foot, and is as n
,lasant to walk on as an Administer carpet. il
t presents as many different phases dur
NJ the day as kaleidoscope. From seven s.
ntil eleven the children dig wells and v
make sand pies, whilst their nurses prom tt
made the beach with their baby brothers t,
nd sisters. At the same time the horses ii
re bathed. Their grooms ride them into n
be water and some Directing to such close tt
with old Neptune, they S,
ften throw their riders headlong into the ell
reakers and then scamper off up the al
each. At eleven the elite of the city pre- C,
are for bath in our great Atlantic tub la
he scene becomes very amusing as the fo
athers issue forth from their little sane til
Inns, in their unbecoming suits. 1t is de
cry difficult to distinguish the handsome til
ON the homely. When one first appears ST.
etore crowd in a bathing robe, feeling al
shame will steal over even the most of
.reless mind, which is only mitigated by
that every one is as fully
,formed as yourself. The first touch of
lie water sends a chilly thrill over the body,
1T pluHging boldly in, the blood rebounds st,