The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-07-30
BREEzES FROM THE SEA
Long Branch as a PoIIt-
icaI Resort.
The Hotels and the Visitors, Past
and Present.
The Palmy Days Of Tammany on the
Jersey COaStt.
REPUbL ICANISM BY THE SEASK0RE.
REPUBLICANISM BY The SEASK0RE.
The Mysterious Conduct of
Caesars Courtiers.
Ex.COnSul General Plumb, Of Mexican Celeb.
rity, at the Cottage by the Sea.
The Progress of the United States and
Mexican Pacific Railroad
THE TROUBLES OF CUBA.

LONG BRANCH, July 20, 1873.
Ever since the palmy days of the Tammany Ring.
Long Branch has been famous as the resort OF pol
iticans Indeed before the reign OF the Tweeds
and Garveys the cool breezes and the invigora-
ting surf were found to be admirably adapted to
winning political confidence and connecting poti-
cal schemes; and many years ago, when principles
and integrity held some control over party organi-
Zat0ns-when the old Albany Regency 1ourished,
and the names OF Sias Wright and Marcy were
familiar sounds to New York democracy-ihe
leaders were accustomed to meet their friends
from other States at the Branch, then quiet,
unpretending little settlement and to lay out their.
plans for campaign within the soothing sound OF
the oceans voice. But these were private,
unpretentous gatherings, and did not
attract attention outside the circles i'm
medately interested in them. 1t was not
until big diamond shirt studs and brooches. nat
noses, cropped heads, black musaches and over
dressed graduates IRON the washtub and the cook
ing range burst forth in all their magnifcence
upon an astonshed world that the political
character OF Long Branch became q matter OF
,uotoriety
OLD TIMES ALONG THE BEACH.
Every New Yorker who has been in the habit Of
visiting Long Branch remembers the people who
used to figure here prominently in those days. The
OF the politicians, and the Tammany magnates
used to draw about them at that house all
their satellites and associates. There offices
were partttioned, nominations and combina-
lions agreed upon and plans OF campaigns laid
out. There the Tammany managers could
be seen laying their heads together; there the
wire-workers OF both parties would meet and con.
coct schemes for cheating the people; and there,
no doubt, the ingenious methods OF public robbery
oh rapda fha 1rpev i,,fap
vised. Governors and mayors, judges and sherins,
Congressman and Assemolymen, police justices
and coroners, were all created at Long Branch
and In some instances, at least small thanks are
due to the wild waves If their voices had any tnfu.
ence over the selections made by the distributors
OF patronage. In those days the Mansion, Metro
poitan, United States Clarendon and Congress
Hal were the leading hotels The Metropolitan
was avorite resort for quiet families, and it still
keeps up this special characteristic. The Mansion
was Us l have said par excellence the Tammany
hotel. Politicians OF the democratic stripe remem-
Der well the quarters OF John Clancy and his
friends in the building over the billiard room,
apart from the hotel, and bear in mind the time
when the best rooms in the hotels were m0nopO-
Ized by the Tammany leaders and held in reserve
for their special friends. The Clarendon was then
largely patroniZed by Hebrews. who were among
the earliest to appreciate the advantages OF Long
Branch. Congress Hall was a small and very COM
Portable hotel built by Stokes previously oneN of
the proprietors OF the Clarendon. HOwlands, now
pne OF the finest and most select OF the hotels
along The bluff, was then only small, unpreten-
tious boarding house, irequented, as at present.
mainly by Philadephians. In time, the Clarendon
was extended as to swallow up Congress Hall,
which stood between 1t and the Mansion House,
and upon the same site now stands the spacious
NEW TIMES AND NEW MEN AT THE BRANCH
The growth OF Long Branch within the last ten
most sanguine OF It's friends. Commencing at the
east end OF the RIDGE nearest TO Atanticvile,
Branch the new East End Hotel has been built out
of the old Arlington, and, with the additions now
coinmodious house next season. At present it is a
little too far from the centre OF attraction, al
though the beach is excellent all along, and hence
1t is used this season mainly as an excur-
sion house, where large parties are accommo-
dated for the day or for a longer time. The
crowds that are occasionally brought down by
the Plymouth Rock find good quarters and good
bathing at tue East End. The Metropolitan holds
its own, both in size and In reputation,
although trining additions have been made to 1t
from time to time. The ocean covers now whole
square and accommodates large number OF
guests, while It's lawns are tue finest on the Branch
The Mansion House Is the same as formerly IN
size and has been oyershadowed by the larger
houses The United States nas been EXTENDED.
The Hvwland House has grown INTO one OF the
handsOmest hotels III the place, and is model OF
neatness. coseyness ana prupriey III LAS an air OF
"brotherly love" about IL wnich bespeaks us par
tcuar character and It's Location Is as good as any
once a very modest but select establishment is
now a fine house, on the European pan. and
Affords good dinners TO many oil the cottages
and TO numerous day visitors TO the Branch.
When the Stetson House first made It's appear.
ance at the extreme southern end OF the ridge
road IL was regarded as an out-ol-tae-way place,
and did not prove Ienumerative, believe, TO Its
original proprietors. But the rapid settlement OF
that portion OF Ocean avenue running south from
the Stetson house, and especially the transfer OF
the executive branch of the United States govern
ment from washington to summer quarters at the
famous cottage ny the sea, drew visitors down to
the lower end OF the ridge and proved the salvation
OF the West End hotel as the Stetson House is
now called. 1t was shrewd movement oil the
spectators who originally bought up the land
locate the PRESIDENTIAL residence ut that
end OF the town; for whether the pretty
TO with It's sP 9Sw no
palace or to dwindle down into the simple private
residence OF retired gentleman Of comfortable
means II has at all events served its purpose In
enhancing the value Of all the adjacent property,
and ofworklng revolution in the centre OF attrac-
"a it's spacious lawns. The feature OF the West End
Hotel Is its spacious halls and corridors. The In
Il available in all weathers, and at night, when
costumes and trains can be shown on to the best
advantage AS the lofty halls and broad passage
kept In admirable order, no better place for the
qualification OF this innocent female vanity could
Hotel mas q decided advantage over it's Long
Branch rivals, and this, probably accounts TOT the
End hsn at any other house along the shore
LONG BRANCH POLITICIANS OF THE NEW SCHOOL.
II there has been decided change IN the notes
OF the Branch during the past three or Jour years
there has been no less marked cnange In tne
character and appearance OF their political VISITORS
Very few OF the familiar faces are to be seen there
less Of short hair less OF heavy black boards es
OF dazzling shirt studs and gorgeous Pins, less .
psrr1Sm G6,nvyaity less OF prodisa
AND the politicians now seen on the Deacn are o
the type peculiar TO the former organization. Thel
are mere 10 orce Tor since the establishment OF INT
summer headquarters OF the administration a.