Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1873-08-29
Long Branch ON Snnday-HOy
they Spend the Holy Day.


Matthew Hale Smith writes to the Bos-
ton ''Journal:" Long Branch is fast becom.
ing the Baden.Baden of America. For
years the Branch was one of the quietest
places on Sunday in all this region. It
could only be reached by boats, and no boats
an on the Lords day. Jim Fisk has this
memorial. that he made Long Branch &C.
cessible on Sunday to the roughs OF New
York. The same influence that depopu-
lated Bath, as fine place as Long Branch
and quite as popular that drove respectable
families from Rockaway, OF "Old Long Is
lands Sea-girt Shore" memory that has
made Coney Island the home Of gamblers,
roughs, pugilists and rows on Sunday these
Influences are at work on Long Branch.
The rough foreign element, Jews, Ger
MATS, Italians, men who would hail with
delight continental Sunday, outnumber
all others, and when they get possession
never loose their grip. The Plymouth
Rock and jesse Hoyt 60 down to Long
Branch uuday mornings. crowded to the
waters edge The hotels are jammed full,
and the cottages bring rental second only
to Newport.
Saturday night the rush for the Branch 10
tremendous. The Presidents presence,
though he lives two miles away from the
hotels, gives sor, Of courtly tinge to the
place. Every train brings in some distin-
guished stranger. OF course. politicians
are plenty as blackberries Officials from
the Departments are here daily. More or
less of the Cabinet are at the Branch The
crowd around the station is sitting. Mau-
niGcent turnouts are counted by the score.
Everything is quiet on Sunday morning -
The dancing is kept up on Saturday until
midnight, and the jewellers sleep Late
Some of the great hotels are entirely oe.
cupied by Jewish families Everywhere
they outnumber all other nationalities. The
watering style of dress prevails. White is
almost universal with ladies for morning at
tire. The church goers are not few, though
the non attendants at church outnumber all
others. The houses of worship are small,
but the attendance in the morning fills every
seat The Episcopal Reformed and Metho-
dist churches would be called chapels else.
where. Everything is quiet until after Gin.
ner. Then the scene changes. Pleasure
seekers who come to spend the day show
their hand The beach is black with bath
ers. Everything that has four legs and
will bear harness is put into re4uisition.
The economical 60 in droves past the Presi-
dental cottage. The bars are in full opera
ton. The bowling alleys are still but the
click of the billiard ball can be heard dis.
tinotly from the road. As yet there is no
dancing on Sundays; but that is to come.
AS the sun lowers the fashionable turnouts
begin to crowd the roads, and market day
Ia England is not more lively.
The President lives about two miles away
from the hotels His cottage is unpreten-
tious but attractive. He is away from the
noise, confusion and turmoil of the public.
He is too far away to afford time for cas-
ual visitor to 90 up to bis gate, and it costs
dollar to ride. Ger. Grant is an official
member of the Methodist church, but not
communicant. He worships in the little
Methodist chapel The pew known as the
Presidents pew is reserved for his use by
the laying of q white rod across the entrance.
If the President does not attend the pew re-
mains vacant, Notwithstanding the crowd
The President is usually little late -
He drives pair Of spanking bay to high
English carriage, known as dog. cart. He
usually remains in the hallway, speaking to
no one, recognizing no one, his hands rest
ing on his hips, his white hat held behind,
till the preliminary exercises are through.
lie then quietly takes his seat. He seldom
speaks to any one in the church listens
with sharp attention, with his keen eye on
the preacher ; seldom changes his position
during the entire service. The last thing
he does, as he turns his carriage up to the
curbstone, is to fling away the stump of
cigar. He re-lights the fragrant weed as
soon as he has mounted tho box