New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-10
FEATUREs OF CAPE MAY.
THEIR notwithstanding IN VARIOUS FORMS
DESCRIPTION OF THE "CLUB-HoUsEs" AND
lrRoM A srAFF coRREsroNpENr oF LIE I'M


OF THE GAMES THERE PLAYED.
lFRoMA STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUSE1
CAPE MAY, n. j., Aug. 9.-Everybody
battles at Cape May Ever since that memorable Sep
TENDER Storm fifty years ago, swept away the sandhli
which srted Shore its beach has been the CHER AT
traction Of this place Smooth, hard floor, gently
descending with little underow and few currents, 1t Is
probably safe beach tLere is this side OF New
England People are drowned here sometimes, as they
will be anywhere where there is water, but believe
accidents in bathing on this beach almost invariably
due to the foohardiness OF the victim. ANY
one who Is oontented with water that is shoulder
deep take the full force Of the breakers ana can
SWIM float and dspOrt in the ocean to his hearts con-
tent without danger In the deeper water and about the
two piers which been built out into the ocean TO
enable visitors TO get the cool seabreeze in oil its purity
there are sometimes around against when the
best swimmers will find it difioult to make Roadway
a gentleman got into one Of those currents running
parallel with the Shore about two weeks ago. ana was
carried miles down the coast before he was rescued
The fashionable hours for bathing from IL O'Clock
in the morning till l. About the time the noon train
in linen busters and slippers and ladies IN
calico wrappers begin TO make their appearance In the
corridors of the hotels and TO wend their way to the
lighthouses You would not recognize the elegantly
dressed people who thrOnged the piazzas haf an hour
before; the transformation is complete when they
are arrayed in their bathing costumes-bathing
robes the bath-hOuse keepers here call them g1od
deal Of taste may be- and IT, displayed even IN the con
stucuon of a bathing dress. The ll-shapcd garments
formerly used for purpose have out Of vogue
here and the place OF them gentlemen have adopted
a costume which consists OF single olose-htiing gar
ment made OF dark blue flannel ornamented with light
trimming and short in the legs aud adys dress
Of the same material is similarly made with the addition
Of blouse reaching 20 the knees, and faney-coOred
stockings These allow free OF the limbs IN swim
Nrsrr al lao huf Hnr
slightly object
Tho scene on the beach during bathing-hOurs ls, OF
course, an animated thousand people are gen
orally congregated within distance OF thrd
of a mile, breasting the breakers or plunSing
through them 1t Is democratic crowd too In spite OF
the fact that Cape May Is the favore resort OF the
wealthy people OF Philadelphia The surf Is free to ALL
and you are very likely to the waiter who serves
your dinner breasting the pillows within few feet OF
the Governor Of State member OF Congress. The
ne feathers that make De birds shed for an hour
d sambo aud His ExcellencY receive the same treat
ment from Ola Ocean, VINO IS respecter Of persons.
The propretors Of the Cape May "cluO-houses,"-ior
there is dark side OF life at other resortscom-
plain of a dull Fighting the tiger" used to
be iayOrite amusement here aud profitable one too
10 the keepers OF the animal; the leading bank
ers satisfied II they able TO pay expenses and
carry away the end OF the few thousands or
even hundreds Of dollars shape OF profits There
at Cape May besides several other establishments which
have private rooms for the accommodation OF poker
players The leading clubhouse" Is situated on the
corner Of two OF the most fashionable streets OF the
city, 10 the hotels and within fun sight OF
some Of the nest cottages. It Is square, twOstory
frame building surmOunted by cupola, with a large
flag which announces the character OF the place The
house is surrounded by trees and It's broad pazzas, with
their comfortable arm-chars. very inviting in the
cool Of tle evening
In response TO the doorbe the visitor IS admittedly
n coiored servant who ushers him into large
parlor on the right OF the entrance hail. where he may
see the game progress at almost any hour of the after
noon or evening. The house Is well but not extraya-
gantly furnished II will not compare 10 elegance with
the Morrssey clubhouse in Saratoga with similar
establishments other watering-places Its re-
ceptOnrOOm, dinng-rOOm and private apartments are
ntied up more with view the comfort OF the patrons
OF the than 10 their elegant entertainment The
games regularly played at this clubhouse" are faro,
rouge ct nor and roulette. The proprietor Is quiet,
retiring" man, about fOrty-hye years OF age, whose
pale lace soft almost feminine voice. and mid manners,
would cnuse him 20 be mistaken for clergyman
In almost any miscellaneous crowd lie rolls tine
ball or deals the cards In anguid, disntcrested way,
as though be had nothing stake IA the game and be
takes the money redeems the checks, rarely max
ng remark except to announce the numOer or the card
that wins The players the occasion Of my visit
or two checks at each play and In the
half an hour managed 10 lose g. or $40 apiece. My
guide and the "banker" both Informed me that what
we saw was fair specimen OF the play OF the seasont
has generally been light aud II has been only
ally tnat some fellow with money than brains has
shown disposition to throw the former away at faro
roulette.
Tue other regular gaming establishment IA only few
yards from the first and although much smaller aud
more plainly furnished is doing much prosperous
bus ness On the night OF visit the faro table
surrounded by gray-headed who we're so much alb
sorbed in the that they took note OF the crowds
OF men aud boys who constantly passing In aud
out The bets here were higher than at the other house.
but they rarely exceeded stack OF chips or S.
iavorile game at this place is "German hazard" ar
ranged on the principle roulette, but played with
dice OF course Il without saying that all
called games OF chance arranged that the chanee"
is ali in favor OF banker" and agant the player
that the who risks his money at any OF them might
lust as well throw into the far the certainty
Of ts ultimate loss is concerned. IL sometimes hap
pens that man may play hour a whole
evening and away from the gaming house with AS
much money or even than he carried there but ia
nine cases out Of ten he Will lose part the whole OF
bis venture. The games constructed with that end
III view aud 1t requires no exceptional knowledge Of
mathematics TO compute the chances against the play
ers winning in the long run Under no other clrcum-
stances could these clubhouse" be established and
maintained with their free bars their suppers their
wants and attendants The play at both OF these places
has the reputation of being square game" that s
advantage taken Of the player except such is nhor
emit In the game ITSELF The worst feature Of It is that
the facilities these places afford for small play tempt
many young men and boys 10 risk their money and to
lay the foundations Of habit that viii ultimately ruin
80 many of them.
The /" bunker men," who played "skln game" aud
In former years carried away 80 much money from Cape
May, save not appeared here thls year Pnolo opinion
is strongly against them that think It is doubtful n
they oHd now be tolerated. The Lighthouses" Ihaye
described kept open In defiance law, 10 be- sure
but Cape May Is like other popular Summer resorts
I'm that respect-there Is disposition to enforce the
law.
The CLUB houses OF the second class where rooms
are provided for poker payers, are generally ~ the