The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1877-06-08
ON THE BEACH AT LONG BRANCH
Fun, Folly, Fashion, and FEMALES
The Wrecked Rusland.
New York, May 23d, 1877.

DEAR Journal: Where to go to
escape the heat and dust of the city
is question easily answered by New
Workers, for there are hundreds OF
Summer resorts near by, and the
means of reaching them is both quick
and cheap. This last fact is great
blessing to the poorer classes in New
York, for it enables them to enjoy
on a small scale, what their richer
neighbors enjoy on a grand scale
LONG BRANCH
is one of the pleasantest of these re-
sorts, and while the poorer classes
cannot enter into the very expensive
pleasures of the majority who Suns
mer there, they can get sniff OF
country air, sight Of the ocean, and
tumble 10 the surf, a. but little ex
pense.
spent day last week at Long
Branch, and wish to give you my ex-
perience of some of it's pleasures. |
left pier s, N R, on the swift ocean
steamer Arrowsmith. at ten o'clock
10 the morning. We steamed down
the bay, passing numberless sails Of
all descriptions, through the Nar>
rows, and off towards Sandy Hook.
Just outside the Narrows, we met
the S S. Celtic, of the white Star
Line, on her return voyage from
Liverpool. She had on board a
large complement Of passengers, and
there was a mighty waving of hats
and handkerchiefs, and deal of
cheering, as we glided swiftly past
her. In an hours time we were
landed at Sandy Hook Pier, trans
fered to the cars of the New Jersey
Southern r. r., and speeding Oh our
way through the low, sandy, country,
to our destination.
Arrived at Long Branch, we were
met by forty >thousand hacks, and
assailed, in all the dialects under the
sun, by as many hackmen (proba
bly, those figures are two large, and
if you'll allow, Iii fall ten on each J
| prepared to walk, so as to take in
the beach as made my way to the
Rowland House, and escaping
through the ranks of the yowling,
yelling hackmen, | was soon on the
beach shifting the cool sea breeze.
The sweep of beach at Long
Branch is very large, afording spleno
did opportunity for surf bathing.
All along the bluffs are hundreds of
summer houses or pavilions for guests
of the various Hotels. Bath houses
on the beach abound, and indeed,
every facility for enjoying life on the
beach, and of spending money in
huge quantities, is afforded.
The hotels are all of wood, of from
three to four stories high, and of i'm
mense size. They all have veran>
das for every story, and extending
all around the front and sides. These
verandas are excellent places for
promenading and flirting, and it is
more than safe to say that large
amount Of both is done. The hotels
are very cool and pleasant, although
not a tree is to be seen. The cool,
delightful breeze from the sea amply
compensates for this want, and there
is also no obstruction to the view.
The hotels front on the ocean Av>
enue, which lies along the bluffs just
above the beach. 1t is a most de
lightful drive, and in the afternoons
is lined with handsome turn>outs.
There are many cottsges-so called
ON Ocean Avenue, which are oc>
cupied by families or private parties.
Elk President Grant owns one OF
these, it being one of the numerous
gifts he received while President.
The air a. Long Branch is reda>
lent of firtations, and it is not sur
prising, for where so may airily
dressed young ladies, with nothing to
40, and so many ditto young men,
with ditto to do, cougregate, Irritation
is as natural as for Porcupine to be
in a bad humor on a wet day. How
the angels do dress One may see
the most wonderful and fearfully
made costumes ever hurled upon an
innocent people by the Queen of the
kingdom of Tied>backs-and Turbe-
loves But | must confess that
like this dressing business, (excuse
the clumsiness with which | handle
the subject, | am not one of the in
itiated for without it, things at Long
Branch would look bare indeed. The
bluffs, avenue, and hotels, certainly
present one of the gayest sights in
the world twards dark, for then eve
ry>body is out, all is s:ir--in an in
doleLt sort of way.-and the pretty |
costumes of the ladies and the hand |
some suits of the men, add greatly |
to the beauty of the scene.
Long Branch is very expensive
place, board ranging from five to
seven dollars per day, and unless one
is made of money, long stay is not
healthy for ones purse. The place
is not SO fashionable as in former
years, it being too close to New York
and consequently easy of access to
the middle and shoddy element. Still
it is wonderfully pleasant place,
and | should have no objection to