Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1875-07-31
OUR CORRESPONDENCE.
From the Seaside.

OCEAN GROVE, july, 1870.
GLOW did YOU know anything about
Ocean Grove, and how did You get here -
said lady to Il gentleman whom she knew
to he an 6aJttUc of Long Branch, Cape May,
Saratoga, and other resorts of equal pre-
tcutions How did get here? | thought
| should not like to 20 back and travel
again in Europe, and be asked anything
about Ocean Grove, and find myself una
bic to answer from personal knowledge
was his reply. The true version would
have been that the attraction here this sum
mcr is greater than at Saratoga or elsewhere,
not ,hc "witchcry of the sea" but of GER
tain bluc-Gycd maiden. IIowbcit he has
found as all others who come here, that one
may have fine bathing good socicty,rcligious
influence and pleasant accommodations
without the concomitants of horse racing,
hops, billiards, &c.
As sit here now on the beach watching
the restless, never ccasing waves, and ON
over the water as far as the eye can reach,
am VI Io'l Api " iNi' ~ N''''
satisfied life and unsatisticd heart, because
he speaks of tie waves as they are now in
the bright sunshine, "dcerly, darllly, beau
tiflllv blue" | am sitting close to the in
coming tide, while all the beach is merry
with children in bare feet running down to
let the waves dash up over feet and limbs;
interesting with madcns and Their lovers,
lolling on the sand under umbrellas; litera-
~ with ladies, reading magazines and po
ems, not TO mention your humble CORES
pondcnt with paper and pencil; amusing
and funny with bathcrs young and old,
G,shing, Jumping, floating, diving, and gro
tcsQue beyond description with these same
bathcrs coming up out of the water looking
hkc--lct me consdcr-looking like-did You
ever see ii half drowned cat held up by its
head TO see whether the vital spark were
really gone? If you have, you will recall
the cinging hairand the depressed and for
lorn appearance generally; think OF tins
and YOU may have some faint idea OF the
appcarancc of those who come up out OF the
water.
A gentleman remarked to me to-day-"it
| were about to marry woman for her
beauty | should want to bring her TO the
sca-shorc; if it stood the test of a wet bath
img-suit, | should say her beauty is Joy
forever" They say at Long Branch, just
six miles from here, that it is more fashion
able this season for Indies to battle in bath
houses prepared for them than i'll the surf.
So it is fashion must invade even the sea.
But if all enjoy the luxury of real sea
bathing as do, fashion might beckon i'll
vain. I'd don my bathingsuit and hat and
march boldly to the tune of the clash, dash,
Sash" Of the waves.
Come here; 20 with that friend; put on
your bathing suits; then quickly step be
yond the second line of breakers and let
these long, gentle sWclls come up over arms
and shoulders, softly, lovingly as a mother
carcsscs her babe; then Il little farther
where you stand in water to the shoulders
take your friends hand, watch the swells
as they come and, together, just as the
wave presses against you, jump, and up
YOU 90, heads above the water as easily as
if YOU were lifted by unseen hands. Now
come nearer the shore and let the waves
break against you and you will feel as if
the gentle mother had changed to a scOld
ing vixen and struck you suddenly on hotn
shoulders, and, if you mc not careful,
throw YOU down under the water when
youth emerge, having swallowed enough
salt water Ia satisfy the most ardent advo-
cate of the medical qualities of salt Now
come in near the shore; stand moment
and feel the sand washing over your feet as
the outnowing waves carry ii back, Now
90 out ON the beach and, if n lady, pull your
hat over your eyes, go II few feet from the
water where You have left your Waterproof
throw it over YOU quickly then youth feel
that YOU may look up; if Il gentleman you'll
not care, but walk conTcntcdly, if not com
n,ocentlv. TO the bath-house 10 put ON the
narb of lanlsman again,
But the waves are cominga little nearer;
they are dashing up at my feet; the chill
Lrcn are gone, the bathcro are few, and the
Ioycrs have left. | recall the words in
Longtcllow's Spanish Studrnt-"llow still
il is about me and how lonely but poetry
ciycs place to sober prose for I'm alone be-
cause ii is dinner time. T. '. e.