Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1877-07-18
LETTER FROM CAPE MAY.
Correspondence Of The S,T.l

There are seasons-and seasons at all OF the
summer resorts this year. They differ from
former ones just as 1.-The times change and
men change with them" Last year the Cape
May season touched the highest point of sue
cess in the Centennial wave of travel. That
there should be a reflex this year is as evil
dent as The ebb that follows the fiood-tide
along these glistening miles of sand. Tue
almost unprecedented cool weather of mid.
summer and the business depression have
made the season a late one until within the
last few days, when the hotels commenced
TO NIL up There is now a good prospect OF a
1alrIy prosperous time IN the remaining
weeks. The cottage season" was a success
long ago. Beforethe first of this month about
every cottage on the island was occupied.
Win the marked reduction in rents, one half
III many instances, and in the cost of living
Otherwise, families have found IL much
cheaper 10 occupy cottage than to 60 to the
hotels. In some of The larger cottages two
and even three families live with comfort
and even a quiet that cannot be had amid
The clatter of the hotel piazzas. But for those
VINO are fond Of a round of enjoyment the
morning and afternoon concerts of the
bands and tie evening hops at the no.
tells are unusually attractive this wear
especially of Congress Han, and | notice
That the cottagers turn out by hundreds TO
secure goodly share of il. This hotel has
Bernstein's band, which has been so well
Bn0wn for the past eight seasons in Saratoga,
and which Is one OF the best in the country
In great measure the hops are more largely
attended tLan for several summers al least
OH ACCOUNT OF ltlt excellence OF the music,
though / ought TO mention that the ball
room is always i'll charge of Prof Loomis
also of Saratoga, who gives il direction
that contributes TO the pleasure of all pres
eht. Heretofore large number have been
mere lockers on, but now ali are invited
even urged, 10 participate in one or the other
OF the evenings attractions. On Friday eve
ming there was a very sue essful german.
with one or two new figures, which were
warmly approved in rounds OF applause
from The ladies who attended.
IMPROVEMENTS MADE.
There have been some changes for the bet
ter since las, season The drive and walk
alOrg the beach 1.-The boulevard" the Cane
May papers call 1t-has been repaired aud
improved where the ocean washed IL out last
winter; the pier which the waves took i'm"
last September has been replaced with a new
one beyond the breakers; several new and
handsome cottages, on the ocean front have
been built, and the place appears TO have
improved In other quarters. As for the beach
said. They always have been good, and
probably always will be. Although the
storms along this coast were unusually Sc
we're last winter they did not cut up the sand
into bars, but left the beach as smooth aud
compact as ever. From Cape May light
house TO the first life saving station, quite
four miles away. 1 walked on Saturday, at
eob tide, fully four hundred feet from the
shore, on sand as hard as some OF your
Washington concrete pavements-aud hard
er than some OF then-and there was not a
bathing were not excellent. Within the past
few days the tide has been on the food al the
oathing hours, from IL TO 1 o'clock, aud the
ALMOST tepid pillows have been lined from
the Sea Breeze 10 the Stockton with ba:hers
enjoying the "Cape May ripples" that come
roaring in, bursting over their heads lifting
them Off of their feet, and sending them Ali
sprawliDg into the sea foam, only 10 rise
again for another plunge through or over the
breakers.
THE SEASON
having opened late will probably be pro-
tracted into September. Congress Hall does
not think of closing till tue 9Th OF Septem-
Der On The Goth of Aug Ist the governors of
the southern and eastern states meet here,
at d with other attractions in conte nplation
VIII make the last of toe season b etter than
the first
REDUCTION IN PRICES.
There has been some reiuc; lion in the ho'el
rates, and good terms can be made for the
season. Inducements TO single gentlemen
who are in great demand, are also held out
more literally than formerly. The cost of
bathing (robe and bath house, has been re
duced 30 per cent; but is still too high. There
is 10 reason why such tariff should be
levied on the main attraction of Cape May,
when 1t is one half of even the new rates al
Long Branch, Sea Girt, Ocean city and
Rockaway. The price of warm baths. though,
mas been reduced 10 reasonable rate.
among tie washington people here are Rev.
j. j. keane, of st. Patrick's churh; e. T..
Prentiss, president of the German Savings
bank; E.. 2: Halstead, Capt. Frank HOl-
lingshead, w. B. Shaw and family, Mrs. +.
X. Owens, Prof Hilgard, s. Il. Lewis, Geo.
7. Dunlop and family (of Georgetown), Mrs.
g. w. Adams and family, X. S. Davis John
w. Star, j. &. Mckelden and family, aud
others. Hamilton Easter. jr., and family
Iimore, are among the latest arrivals from
that city at the Congress.