The Cecil Whig., 1874-08-15
LETTER FROM
DEAR WHIG:-The seas,

have been drawn here by the numberless
inducements held out for comfort and pleas
ure; although in numbers the year has
been an unpropitious one. yet; the larger
houses cannot complain for they are now
being run to their fullest extent.
The number of fine equipages brought
here this season far exceed any previous
year; and the anticipation of the coming
"drive " fills all lovers of equestorial pleas
ure with enthusiastic pride and satislac-
ton. 1t is this deficiency alone which pre-
vents Cape May from being the most popu-
lar of sea side resorts.
There are two "dailies" published here,
devoting themselves exclusively to the do
ings of the Island, giving all the gossip
and oftentlmes dealing in personalities.
They both are spicy sheets and are eagerly
sought after.
l must tell you of most delightful sail
party of us-ladies and gentlemen-had
last Wednesday upon the ocean. Mr.. J.
L. McCreary, OF the Boston Yacht Club,
now visiting his father from Philadelphia,
(who by the way has one of the most
magnificent cottages and grounds on the
Island, extended an inYitation to several
friends for sail. The day proved a most
propitious one, and we passed out of the
inlet and over the bar, with hearts light
and gay with pleasure. The Alice manned
after Mr.. McCreary's sister, is the first
model of her kind, visiting these waters;
her width being nearly one third her length
and projecting ram of five feet; the lat
ter giving her great swiftness and steadi-
ness of motion, while her beam permits of
immense canvas. She is commanded by
n. Sfr1o -1,1 ;c 4,h ,,,l
able seaman. Among the curiosities of the
sea, l noticed many schools of porpoises.
These fish, although very large, averaging
three or four hundred pounds, are very
innocent and rather of domestic turn of
mind, as they invariably live in waters fire.
quented by man; a curious sight was the
schools of small fish, called Moss Back
erS;' their numbers are innumsrable, and
they have the peculiar effect of coloring
the water purple, by reflected influence.
They move in great masses, sometimes an
acre to two in extent, and so thickly pressed
for room. they keep the surface of the water
in constant state of agitation; we also
ran across a hammer-hedd shark; it was not
fully grown, but gave very impressive
impression of what it might be at ma
ture age. A delightful sail of fifteen or
more miles, and we landed the ladies at the
steamboat landing, when we spread away
again like white-winged sea gull o'er old
oceans mighty waters.
At the bathing hour the scenes upon the
beach and in the ocean are grotesque in the
extreme, and to-day we actually danced a
quadrille to oceans orchestra. Many people
making their first appearance in a bathing
suit, think they are singled out, but little
experience teaches them they are only
roaming under like influence of many
hundred. To persons who are fond of
mackerel fishing and getting slightly care
less whether the Captain throws them over
board to prevent the most awful sensation
that everything in the world is falling away
from them, heartily recommend a visit to
the banks-so-called only as it is out of
sight of land some twenty miles away to
sea; or our mutual friend, the young lord
from Cecil, will, | am sure, give any inquir-
ing friends detailed account of his ex-
perience
The past week. among the young circle
at this house has been an exceedingly gay
one; indeed it continues until one actually
becomes automatic in his movements, that
time may not drown the many efforts g to
do' in as many different directions; it is
not necessary for one to get into this vortex
of dissipation, but your humble writer
seems to be always in the whirlpool.
Mr.. Cake, the gentlemanly proprietor of
the house, contemplates erecting a large
hall, 100 by 40 feet, attached to the house,
over which will be placed 100 or more sim
gle rooms for gentleman; of course the
"Stockton will follow suit.
Since writing you, we have had three
deaths from drowning, one a gentleman
from Baltimore, the two others young lads
from this place. The former was in deli.
cate health, and waited for friend to ac-
company him, who was out driving, until
the boats had all come in, when he con-
cluded he would go in alone, and was car
ried out. The latter two were drowned in
a small creek near the landing; one of them
called for aid, and his companion going to
him was caught in such a manner that
they drowned together. There is not the
slightest reason for accident if people will
act sensibly while in bathing. There are
proper places and time for going into the
water, and with ordinary precaution, acci.
dent cannot follow. The beach shelves
out for a great distance, almost as level as
a floor, the sand smooth and hard, the
brakers forming at waist deep; so all "out-
side" bathing is bereft of much pleasure
and brought with much danger
Room 16S.