The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-07-29
CAPE NAY LETTER.
sEooK1Os HorEE, Jolly 24.h. ls7!

nAhy centehnlni fisitofB 70 resorts, where
the fiery rays Of spotless sun are tenn
pered by ocean or mountain breezes. Last
week feeling that could not endure the
heat Of Philadelphia longer, ! bought an
excursion ticket on the West Jersey Rail-
road, and after . ride Of three hours, pass
ing through q portion Of the famed fruit
region Of New jersey, and stopping few
minutes at VinsIand I was at Cape Nav.
Long before the era Of railroads, and in
fact before the introduction Of steamboats,,
the extreme southern point Of New jersey
became known as resort for health and
pleasure seekers. The situation Of this
Cape, which the Dutch acquired and
named more than two hundred years ago,
gives it peculiar advantages as sanitari-
um, surrounded on the sides by the waters
Of the Atlantic, the Oceans refreshing
breezes fan il without stint, while the
beach upon which the breakers roll inces-
sanity, 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, interseeted
by inlsts, and coyes, abounding in fish and
oysters. Possessing 80 many natural ad-
yantages it was long ago frequented by
those who sought to borrow health and
strength from its inyigonting atmosphere,
and tonic surf Swansyille, as Cornelius
Jacobus May called it, was well.known
resort before other now well-known places
on the Jersey coast were heard Of. But
the Cape May of to-day bears little resem-
blance to the primitive retreat of century
ago. Its lawns have been intersected by
streets, its rude cottages have been re-
placed by beautiful villas and large hotels,
one OF which the Stockton House is the
largest on the Atlantic coast. There Is,
perhaps, no summer resort more replete
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 hard smooth beach,
along which it is q pleasure to stray,
watching the crowds of bathers in the
booming surf, the schools Of porpoises roll
ing in the waves, the graceful white sea-
gulls glancing through the air, and the
sails of ships gliding by close to the shore,
or sinking behind the horizon. To the
citizen of the interior, where sea air and
sea views are unknown, an experience of
a few days upon the coast is the opening
Of a new existence, invigorating the body
and expanding the mind.
The chief amusement here is sea bath.
ing, though those who prefer, can have
hot or cold salt baths in bath houses for
very reasonable price. The hour prefer.
red for sea bathing Is between eleven and
twelve, a. m., or about three hours after
breakfast, then the surf for distance of
half mile presents very lively appear.
ance. Men, women, boys, 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 a bath
ticket which secures a bathing costume,
small room in which to leave his clothes,
and don his robe de p,er, and attendance.
which means a servant to bring towels,
water, and to lock and guard the room
while you are in the bath. If you desire
to bathe socially and fashionable, you pre-.
sent your ticket at the Office Of the bath
house about ll;3O, a. M, and select your
bathing habit. If you are man il viii
consist either Of one WOODEN garment, In.
Guiding both shirt and pantaloons, or, IL
may have these indispensablss to every
well regulated masculine wardrobe in two
pieces, also coarse straw hat, IF YOU
are a woman, | don't know what you will
wear, there are some mysteries that even
q newspaper correspondents may not fnd
out Froma cursory view i is evident
that a pair Of pantaloons, very brief
dress, and hat, are components Of the
toilet Some ladies, I am told, wear cor.
sets and other things ! only know that
most Of them look astonishingly natural
after their clothes become clinginaly wet.
Occasionally you win see an outline that
suggests the Venus Of ThorwAIdseu, and
quite as frequently the extremes of Ceres
and famine are presented That at least
one lady wears stripped stockings in the
surf, | am convinced, for | saw the stock.
Ing stranded on the beech yesterday, and
soon pretty blonde came out Of the sea
with its fellow on the other leg, limb I
should say foot, but in truth the foot was
The smallest part Of Il. If Il had been !
handkerchief 1 would have handed Il 10