Wilmington daily commercial., 1876-07-25
FIRST EDITION.
nathing NJ Cane Way.

HOW IT LOOKS TO NEW vIsFToR-THE INNS
AND OUTS OF THE eURF-THE LADIES AND
BFAUX.
Correspondence of The Commercial.
CAPE MAY, July "a Long before the era
Of railroads, and in fact before the introdu-
tion of steamboats,, the extreme southern
point of New Jersey became known as re-
sort for health and pleasure seekers. The
situation of this Cape, which the Dutch ac-
quired and named more than two hundred
years ago, gives it peculiar advantages, as
sapitarum. Surrounded ON three sides
by the waters of the Atlantic, the Oceans
refreshing breezea fan it without stint, while |
the beach upon which the breakers roll in
cessantly, is perhaps the least dangerous
and most perfect for bathing purposes of
any resort upon the coast. Inland, there |
are fine forests, and wide pastures inter
sected by inle:s and caves
ABoUNDINe IN FISH AND oYsTERs.
Possessing so many natural advantages it
was lorg ago frequented by those who
sought to borrow health and strength from
its lnVigorating atmosphere, and tonic surf
SWausdale, as Cornelius Jacobus May
called it, was we'll known resort before
other now we'll known places on the Jersey
coast were heard Of
But the Cape May of to-day bears littlo
resemblance to the primative retreat OF a
century ago. Its lawns have been inter
sected by streets, ita rude cottages have
been replaced by beautiful villas and large
hotels, one of which, the Stockton House, is
tho largest on the the Atlantic Coast.
There is perhaps no summer resort more
roplete with the resources of health and
pleasure than Cape May. Smooth graded
and shelled thoroughfares with turnpike
and beach roads, furnish delightful drives.
The ocean front has q hard smooth beach,
along which it is pleasure to stray, watch
ing the crowds of bathers in the foaming
surf the schools Of porpoises rolling in the
waves, the graceful white sea-gulls gl2nc-
ing through the air, and the sails of ships
gliding by close to the shore, or sinking be-
hind the horizon. To the citizen of the
interior, where sea air and sea views are
unknown, an experience OF few days upon
the coast is the opening of new existence,
invigorating the body and expanding the
mind.
THE CHIEF AMUSEMENT HERE
is sea bathing, though those who prefer,
can have hot or cold baths in bath houses
for very reasonable price. The hour
preferred for sea bathing is between eleven
and twelve a. M, or about three hours
after breakfast. Then the surf for dis
tance Of half mile presents very lively
appearance. Men, women, boys and girls,
and small children may be seen in their
! grotesque sea costumes, bobbing up and
down with the waves or being tossed over
by them without ceremony. The Stockton
Hotel bathing rooms are only few steps
from the surf. The discreet bather will
leave his money and jewelry at the hotel
| Office, where for fifty cents he can buy bath
ticket which secures bathing costume,
| -, I,foI, To o1A
| and don his robe de mer, and attendance,
which means a servant to bring towels,
water, and to lock and guard the room
while you are in the bath. II you desire
| to
BATTLE SOCIALLY AND FAsHIoNABLY,
you present. your ticket at the office of the
bath-house about II 80 q. m. and select
your bathing habit. II you are man it
will consist either of one woolen garment,
including both shirt and pantaloons, or, it
may have these indispensables to every well
regulated masculine wardrobe in two pieces
also coarse straw hat. If you are wo-
man l don't know what you will wear !;
| there are some mysteries that even news
paper correspondent may not find out.
From cursory view it is evident that a
pair Of pantaloons, and very brief dress,
and a hat, are components of the toilet
Some ladies', l am told, wear corsets and
other things, only know that most of
them look astoniehingly natural after their
clothes become clingingly wet. Occasion
ally you will see an outline that suggests
the Venus of Thorwaldsen, and quite as
frequently the extremes of Ceres and Fa-
mine are presented. That at least one lady
wears stripped stockings in tho surf, am
convinced, for / saw the stocking stranded
on the beach yesterday, and soon
PRETTY BLONDE CAME CUT
of the sea with its fellow on the other
limb-I should say foot, but in truth the
foot was the smallest part of it. If it had
been handkerchief would have handed
it to her, but was never very romantic.
i 1t would be we'll for all atfianced lovers
to try sea bathing together it will smooth
the way to the inevitable dsenchantmentf
that follow swift on nuptial familiarity
The abandon of the waves is contagious
= young ladies that were at the Stockton Ho
i tel hop last evening, inspiring everybody
i but a snob with awe by the elegance oi
their toilets and the austerity of theil
manners, refusing to waltz with any bu
their brothers-leaye their prudery will
a their clothes in the bath-house, and come
!. out upon the sands, their white ankle!
q flashing in the sunshine, sometimes naked
a in the idiom of Virgil, 'as to the knee,
Such is the abandon of surf bathing at al
q American sea-shore Watering place.