Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1879-07-17
E.tPcr from Long Branch,

lC,r:espJUderc2 ct lie AIeZ4 D1rIa G.z:ttc.
LONG BRANCH, July l5.-Perbaps Jew
items from this plsc, may not be unacceptable
to tic readers Of The Gsz,tte:
First, Their, as to he name. Where the
"Brarch" oom.s in am not accurately ln'
ftrm,d, though believe i. is derived from a
village a nile Or so back. situated Oh branch
Of something, this bci0g, properly, EtSt Long
Frsrct; but as 10 the Long it i5 certainly
not MISSIONER, for, beginning with Starlight,
about four miles above. there are cottages aud
hotels 10 cleGa IriXlmlty down 10 point three
Mills below. Tho coast bends rather south
wes.wardly, with comparatively narrow beach
from which rises perpendicular hill from ten
| 10 twenty feet high. Aioug the edge is prom
| enado bordcred by pavilions looking out over
| the sea. The vsld1ro here is bright, and be-
tween it and the hotels and cottages, hun
dred feet or 50 back is Ocean Avenue, soIen
did drive, kept constantly free from dps: BY
wateIiog csr,s The hotels are very large, but,
| like The cottages, al Of wood, there being, go
| far as have noticed. not single brick or stone
house 10 the place. All, even the one stcrled
shantics which serve Tor shops, src or0amcuted
AID painted 10 two or mcro ooltrs. ADD the ct.
FEC: is very pleasing. The bill is descended BY
numberless Il gifts Of steps, mary OF which lead
to rGW; OF lltlo houses on long pla'ioIm,
which serve for batLlcg purposes. The path
en-" that is the man Who owns aud rtIts cut
these and lets bathing suits to those VITO have
none, has stakes driven into the sand sOmo dis
tauc. out into the ocean. aud life lines extend
ed between them, to be graSped by timid bath
cra. aud to prevent accidents when there Is an
under tow, and he tells people how far they
can safely &c out, ard assists ladies' and feeble
pcrsors vino have no c0mfabl0oS 10 20 out
With them. There IL not much swimming done
except by tXptc; swimmers, es the waves roll
10 heavily, and the water near the shore is qal;e
shallow, bu! it is culIous to watch The ladies',
cspt cally, and see them boiling up and down
az they cling to the Lille lines aud jump, as the
big waves threaten to 30 over their heads.
Bathing dresses are not, as rule, very becom
iug, bu. some contfiVo TO make them quite
pretty, cncasiug their feet in neat little kid
boots and wearing bright coors. beconicgly
trimmed. The hats however, spoil ell; 20
miIiner could possibly make 40 old s1udoTn
with the brm tied down over the cars attrac-
tive, and that is what they all wear. i CON-
parstvely small portion Of the day, when tho
tide is low, is devoted to bathiog, Tie rest Is
passed 10 driving, playing crcquet. AMI GOSSIP
With, CT cour:c, ball at each hotel at hl2ht
There is little or no sa.!itg or rowing.
How many people arc hero l canlot guts;,
and nobody seems to know, but theto IS great
crowt: people of wealth ard retirement; Shot'
dy and his wife, and all the cbildrcr; aud many
plain peoplo who como for rest and recreation
and GGd them. 1t djcs ouc good to sec The
children On the beach, the younger oDe5 N
charge Of their mothers or rur!cs. pIaylog IN
the sand. Most Of thcm have little wooden
spades, or paddles, With which 10 dig holes,
| and little buckets to carry of sand or sea water
They dig pits and build mounds which the RS.
ing wsv;s destroy, aud let the surl ehssc them
If they wear shoes, or paddle 10 il il their feet
are bare. Nor is tho AMUSEMENT coaflned 10
children; men with long boards ii. upon the
sands in their b,lhog suits and partially bury
themselves like b5ys, aud ladies recoc ct their
case under umbrellas and watch their children
as they play. There is very little convention.
ality On the beach. Three times day o boat
comes down from New York bringing hun.
drtds TO cti0y The fresh sea air, which, though
the temperature is Yearly nlocly as ! write,
makes it very pleasant iodecd, so that 1t does
not seem 10 be over seventy five. Tho great
iron pier at which these steamers land Is al
ready Gi0 feet long, eod is 10 b,'xsended 200
more. Ii has nov fItetn feet Of water at lnw
and twenty at high tide, and ox'cGds far b.
You'd tho breakers. Three rows of iron tubes
from to l. feet 10 diameter, have been driven
by hydraulic PRESSURE into the sind some 10
to IS feet, at dlstarc:s variIg from 10 to -
feet. They Use twenty feet abovo the sen Lowell
and tr. strongly hraccd together with iron re
s,mblng trails. Upon them rest three rows Of
four inch tubes tightly cnmpei together. and
Oh these il the supcrstrrc,ure. At the outer
end the pier is protected by wooden piles driven
arouol it, and there is a landing stage ten iect
down reached by steIs. An iron railing tx
tends aloug the sides. and iron oolumos sup
port elegant pas Ismrs and strcam?rs Of various
coors, which fiat over tho awning, giving il q
vcly gay appearance. There are plenty Ct seats
srd at night Tho pier is brilliantly lighted up
AM; used as promenade, whilst Z baod gives
a concarf. The cos: tt the pier was $780,
and the builders expect to be reimbursed by q
fee OF len cauls cx;cied from all who aud rr
20 cut upon it. Ia q future letter [ will rive
other items. flDEIl3.