Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-07-28
THE SEASON AT CAPE MAY.
CAPE NAY, July q, 1876.
MoRALIZING A BIT.

most
people here have come to escape the late red
hot weather or for rational enjoyment,
rather than to air suobbery and show fine
Clothes. The gaudy and vulgar throng who
few years ago had full swing everywhere,
and who affected to think they couldn't
make ont comfortable meal with less than
three or four kinds OF wine, have mostly
faded from view. Some OF them found a
short cut through their excuses to early
graves, and great many of those who are
left are nowadays often IN want of q modest
breakfast. There is far less driving of fast
horses and snowy carriages at watering
places than there was q few seasons ago; the
popping OF champagne corks, that would
Ialriy drown ones voice IN dining room
during and just after the war, is a sound nov
almost unheard; and the diamonds that used
10 dazzle ones eyes from every side, like
locomotive headlights, have found a resting
place in the dark recesses of the pawn
brokers' safes. Other evidences Of a Quieter
and better condition of things may be seen
on every hand. Here, for instance, more
than half the summer cottages are unoccu
pied, and can be rented or bought at figures
which their owners would have scorned
few years ago. These changes may seem
hard To the fast boys and gay girls whose
circumstances are SO altered, but the rest of
the country can stand it. They are the dawn
OF healthier era.
LIVING AT CAPE MAY.
or cottages, for those who prefer them,
jority of visitors here, whether for the sea-
son or only temporarily,-as most of them
appear to be,-manifestly prefer the hotels
And happily the accommodations of this
character are ample, except at times OF ex-
traordinary rush, SO that every one who
comes can be cared for in some kind of
STYLE; ana however badly one may be located
In the promise that "a first-cIass room ON
the ocean front will be vacant to morrow %
even tnousn mat tomorrow never comes, as
Tor many an unlucky wight 1t never does
come.
Taken together, suppose the hotels here,
large and small, can accommodate in one
10 say nothing OF the numerous boarding
houses and the many cottages occupied dur
the p Sos Is SOME
is also the newest, and therefore perhaps the
best In point Of cons truction, room accomo
equal ii not ahea Of It in popnarity. comes
Congress Hall, which, as all Washington.
lans know, or ought to know, Is kept by Col.
Cake, mine excellent host'' Of Wizards.
Then the Columbia (Which did q wise and
profitable thing In reducing its rates this
year, the Center, the Ocean, the Atlantic,
the Arctic, Kept also by couple OF well.
Messis: Geo. B. Dyer and r. ?. Hill and
from fifteen to twenty smaller hous es each
with Its full complement of patron 8, either
regular or temporary.
Naturally enough, most Washingtonians,
who are usually on the look out for good
things and capable OF enjoying them when
found, make their headquarters at Congress
Hall. This doubtless comes In part from the
fact that Colonel and Mrs. Cake are REGARDED
as neighbors and friends, so to speak; but
underlying this circumstance are the M Dre
important facts that they keep most excel
lent mouse In every respect, aud that, in
point OF situation and surrou ndfngs their
establishment occupies the choic site OF Ihe
whole Cape region. The beach immediaseiy
IN It's 'front.' is the very best; the smooth greei
a dawn, stretching from the wide cool vers1
equaled, any where on the coast; the payi,.
ions are admirably located and am pie in ex-
lent tsns; not ana cold tue baths are provldet for
those 1ndisposed to brave the surf; ami TO
still farther increase the attractions OF the
place, Col. Cake last year CONSTRUCTED q
staun CD pier which runs out nearly a thras
In the shade all day long
Catching the heavy earthly scents
That blow from szmmer shores,n
and ne ssR n ae s e9rps
play, without ris OF wetting or mai de mer.
CATCHING BLUE FISH,
or snap mackerel, as they are called here, is
the principal amusement for those who are
willing to take the chances of little sea-
sickness, and capital sport 1t is. They are
to be caught In plenty on the fishing banks,
something like dozen or fifteen miles out
at sea, which are reached by steam or sailing
yachts, as visitors may. prefer. The only
out ut necessary Is suit OF old 5clothes
broad trimmed hat, and q pair OF stout
gloves, or, still better, pair of heavy wooden
mittens. The ordinary requir ement OF bait
Ing Is omitted here, as these gudgeons are
both greedy and silly enough to bite at q
bare hook, although when once hooked they
struggle as stoutly as any one may desire
ambitious amateur has pair of badly cut
hands to show as the price OF his success. It
is quite unusual for party to 60 out with
these voraclous ash, Weighing on an average
from ten to twelve pounds apiece, though
occasionally rough sea does send boat
load back trophyless and ready for another
meal.
Another more common but less exciting
form OF pastime is walking on
THE BEACH AT SUNSET
or riding on the avenue down to Sea Grove,
the newly established summer resort about
two miles below; and a couple OF hours can
hardly be spent more pleasantly than IN this
way. The sunsets are almost always superb
here. and with the sounding sea close at oues
feet, ard the sums last rays turning to silver
scene is presented upon which memory Will
love to dwell long after 1t mas faded from
sight.
SEA GROVE.
Ii Is not ukely tnat tne pOSttl0 or Cape
May as a favorite and fashionable resort
will ever be shaken, but 1t is quite certain
that Sea Grove will also become place Of
considerable importan ce In its way. 1t was
established mainly in the interest OF the
Presbyterian Church people, believe, some
thing on the same plan that Ocean Grove,
near Long Branch, was founded some
years ago for the benefit Of the Methodists.
Nevertheless the worlds people are invited
and made welcome, only 1t Is expected that
there win be somewhat less Of fashionable
folly and extravaganza than at places where
they entirely control things. Although 1t Is
only year and half since the enterprise
started, three good sized hotels, O large pa
vil.on for religious exercises, and some thirty
comfortable cottages have already been
built Ithas also telegraph and post office,
and signs OF 1rther Improvement are to be
out on Q regular and liberal plan, al the
streets and avenues are graded and named,
and horse Rail road connects the embryo
CITY with Cape May village, and likewise
with steamer landing, on the bay side, about
mile distant. The beach at Sea Grove Is
not so coed as that at Cape May, nor IL the
situation so good otherwise, but the new town
boasts othepa yantaSos over its older neigh-
bor in the aDIeDdfd li0ht hOuae n nfgual sor.