The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-07-31
LETTER FROM CAPE MAY,
CAPE MAY, July Goth, 1875.

CAPE MAY, July Goth, 1875.
Life by the sea side is life of Incidence.
The embodiment of laziness, where the vaga-
bond inherent in human nature is developed
to it's greatest perfection. A feeling Of list
less Incidence pervades the lounger by the
sea while undergoing the process of acclma-
ton. The routine of life here is very SIM
pie. To begin in the morning, you reluct-
antly rise at THAT is early-and breakfast
some time between that hour and 10 A. N.
At II: 80 to l, 60 into the surf and wallow,
and buffet the waves and be buffeted in
return by blows from old ocean, with about
two hundred per cent interest. After the
bath wait for dinner, from 1 80 to 8 p. NJ.
BY that time you are feeling very good.
for nothing-genuine lazy. You go to your
room and lie down to rest and sleep an hour
or two. After that, if a lady at fashiona.
BILE hotel, you spend an hour dressing. When
the toilet is complete you seek the shady
porches, the pavilions; and if the sun is not
too bright, promenade along the beach is
in order or a drive on the " boulevard" In
the meantime the bands are playing at the
Stockton, the Columbia, and Congress Hall.
And if you prefer lounging in the shade to
driving or walking, you can do SO. The
grounds and pavilions of these three estab-
lishments are spacious and tastefully laid
out and free to all on the Island. Sea Breeze
is fine hotel some distance below Congress
Hall, which belongs to the Railroad Com
pany, and is the head quarters for the daily
excursions which are run by the West Jer-
sey Railroad during the season.
After having explored the town and be-
came familiar with the sights Of the place,
you wish to extend your discoveries. Schil-
linger's Landing, the Steamboat Landing,
and Sea Grove, are the points of attraction.
The former is about one mile from town, To-
Gated on small inlet east of Cape May City,
called the Sound. You can hire boat and
60 fishing or grabbing on the Sound Or wat
ers of the inlet. If, however, you are am
bilious to make the acquaintance of old
Neptune, you can, for SIS to $40 for boat
of course party is always made up for
such excursions-go out to the fishing
banks, a shoal about fifteen miles from land,
where blue fish or swapping mackerel, -
as they are termed in Cape May phrase,
abound. Trolling for blue fish is rare sport,
as every angler knows. A nice little steam
yacht has been placed on the "Sound " this
season, which can be hired by fishing or
sailing parties for S., run out to the break
ers, three or four miles distant, and spend
the morning or afternoon fishing and crab
bling.
Sea Grove, the new Presbyterian settle
ment, which was opened this Spring, di-
rectly on the point between the ocean and
Delaware Bay, and one mile and half from
Cape May City, is worthy of more ex-
tended visit, and is remarkable for what
has been done since last March, when the
first shovel full of earth, or rather sand
was turned, as for what it promises in the
future. The place was wilderness of scrub
trees, underbrush, and sand banks
Six miles of streets or roads have been
opened, splendid hotel built, with a beau
tiful lawn in front and gravel walks, all on
bluff thirty feet above the ocean, CON-
handing beautiful view seward. About
two dozen cottages have been put up; and in
the rear Of the hotel, some 200 yards dis
tant handsome pavilion has been erected,
with seats for the accommodation of several
hundred persons. This place is dedicated
to public worship. The pavilion is crowned
by tower or belfry, where bell is hung
some thirty or forty feet from the ground.
Visitors ascend to the top by an easily
climbed stair way, and from the summit a
grand view of the ocean, bay and surround
ing country can be enjoyed. Windows of
stained glass have been put in the tower,
which colors the landscape to represent very
fairly the four seasons. The white sands
make very good representation of snow
when viewed through the stained window
appropriated to Winter. A street, or horse
railway, is being rapidly completed be tween
Cape May City and Sea Grow. which for
ten Or fifteen cents will convey passengers
from one TO th' other. Sea Grove is in
tended ast sea. side resort, over which the
church people will hold exclusive control.
The "hop" and the rum-shop are to be
banished or rather prohibited. The place
bids fair to become most prosperous and
popular resort for the out and out church
folks who believe in prayer meetings and
psalm singing, rather than hopping and
shuttle boards.
Hops are the great amusement of all re-
sorts for SUNNI r recreation, and Cape May
is no exception. Here one or two grand
ones come off every night at the large no.
tells, and all free. Bands are hired for the
season by the Stockton, Congress Hall, and
the Columbia House, which play almost
continually, and all that is required in Or
der to get up first hop is to put up
a placard in the morning announcing the
fact, and clear the table from the spacious
dining halls, mount the "fiddlers" on a
stand, and the spectators and dancers are
composed of all the visitors on the "Island"
Everybody who is we'll dressed and well
behaved can enjoy the ball to their full sat
isfaction, free gratis for nothing"
A noteworthy feature of these nightly
hops, and one not to be commended, is the
prominent part which children from six to
twelve years of age play in them. At least
half the dancers at the Stockton and Column
bia are children, who whirl through the
may waltz till midnight. A vicious, un-
natural training which consumes mind and
body, bringing premature old age, ennui
and debauchery in its train.
The German element is largely repre-
sented at Cape May; hearty, comfortable
well-to-do folks they appear to be. Five
out of every six persons you meet at the
Columbia are Germans.
The Stockton is the head quarters of the
votaries of extreme fashion, the creme de
la creme of society.
For fat ladies, real rotund two-hundred
Founders, bucksome and rosy, Cape May
beats any place have ever visited. Per-
haps they come here to get rid of some of