, 1877-08-19
CAPE MAY.
The Safest Sea-Bathing Beach on the
Jersey Coast.
SeG-Destruction Made Impossible
by the Authorities.
Infantile Arnusen1ents on Land
and Water.
The Charming Lolita and the Notori-
Gus Edward Stokes.

The Charming Lotta and the Notori~
GUS Edward Stokes.
Sp,ctal Correspondence Of The Tribune
CAPE MAY, n. J., Aug. 16-Eyery one knows
that Cape May is situated at the southern tx
trcmity Of Ncw jersey, and is one Of the most
fashionable watering pIacesi in the United States
philadelphians and Ba1timoreans pour BY hun
dreds every summer into this ''City by the Sea, -
and hither also flock others from every State
and city in the Union. The beach is said to be
the safest On the Jersey coast, and the Cape
Mayans boast that nobody can be drowned
here except OF their own free will, since q we'll
manned life-boat is on duty always in front Of
the principal hotels during bathing hours. And,
II We may believe the gossip of the place, sell
destruction is not as easy as 1t might be with a
whole ocean to drown in, for the story goes
that an unhappy wife did her best the other day
to find waterY grave, and was rescued by the
lfe-boat whether she would or no. This season
there has not been a single fatal accident,
and, although several persons have been
half drowned. either the life-boat OF some b2thcr
who could swim has managed to save them In
good time. 4 young man from Philadelphia,
member Of a Yachting party, was drowned re-
Gently at Sea Grove, new bathing place which
within the past few years has been established
near Cape May lighthouse, about three miles
from here It is said here that he was seized
and drawn down BY q shark, aud apprchensiVe
people have since been on tho watch for like
fish here, but they have not made their appear
ante inside the bar, and outside OF that nobody
ever bathes. Most Of the shipping down the
coast from New York, and all OF that from
Philadelphia, passes within sight of the Cape.
At bathing hour they venture IS near as posi-
bic to shore to see the crowd in the water,
and on cleaf day We hare counted thirty sail
clearly visible to the naked eye Some pass SO
near that the people on deck may be seen, and
then deafening shout goes up from the
bathers, to be answered by ringing cheers from
the vessel thus greeted.
1t is common saying here, as at other seaside
resorts, that nobody is pretty in bathing suit,
and, though there are exceptions to the rule,
they are exceptions which prove it. The ortho-
dox style, which use has proved most convent
ent and suitable, is Of blue flannel cut with
blouse and Turkish trousers all In one, to which
garment short skirt is buttoncd at the waist.
Next TO this in popularity comes sort OF bclted
poonaise, with drawers supported by shoulder
straps Blue is the prevailing color, ranking as
ten to ono above al others: but gray and red
are frequent also. Indeed, all sorts Of rigs are
worn in the water, some Of them pretty and
picturesque enough on shore, but losing all
beauty In the surf. 4 Wide-brimmed, coarse
straw hat covers the head. and feet go bare, or
are clad in stockings without shoes or
in bathing-shoes Of linen, as one
chooses. Thus aeooutred, few women
are good-look1ng, and most OF them resign
themselves to that fact- Some, however, make
desperate struggle TO iook well, ana 60
u bedecked Win bangles, 9rooches, eaff1nss,
lace coltarrettes and various oa1ntyittle n1!nSs,
which as may DC supposed are often LOST: raise
Lair Is worn unuer breaker, at great flsk ano
occasionally bnncn OF II Is among tne notsa}n
apd 1etsa1n OIL the Gay.
Ordinarily the oath is 1rot1c' ana reverence
dlslnes ana gray-nalrea statesmen lay asloe
their dignity Win the dal1ty earo lett IN Inc
Dath-house- l nave seen learned Je"lsh
Kabbl ducklng LADY TREND with az the mis-
chieVous gicc OF scnool-ooy, and Protestant
u. L. splashlng water Orcr his companions with
the zest OF the same boy at game OF snow
ball. Floating. diving, and swimming are the
aMueements in the surI, while many enjoy
standing on the beach, and watching the break
ers sweep in over the several lines Of bathers.
There Is as much diversity OF opinion among
the children with regard to ocean bathing rs to
Tubing at home. One youngster Is carried in
shrieking and Yelling while another has to be
hcld by n3ain force lest he should 60 in too far.
One OF the best bathcrs here is an S-months' old