The New York herald., 1879-08-31
THE NAvESINK HIGHLANDS.
HIGHLANDS OF NEvEsrNK. N. j..


The full glory Of the at the Navesink High
lands to be synchrnous. year in and year
out. with the astronomical climaxes of the dying
summer. 1t is just about this period of the month
OF August every year that the sun and moon are
in their closest opposition regards the earth
go much as 10 give us almost annually all eclipse
OF the tho other. 1t is at this juncture
that the sun by day is great orb of molten gold
and the moon by night disc of brilliant silver.
Under tho light of tho former the ocean.
as viewed from the Highlan Is. flashes and
glistcns like q diamond mirror. while under
the brilliant rays of the moon the swollen Shrews-
bury upheaved to the limits of its banks by tho
double magnetism OF moon and sun. becomes q
river Of quicksilver. To pass from the picturesque
to the practical. this conjunction OF sun and moon
has luckily occurred this year. later than the time
Of the dreaded northeaster. The damage to rail-
road tracks and to wharves and shipping which
usually results when the NORTHEASTERN catches the
tides high is almost calamitous. For many
seasons the ocean beach has been preached by the
driven in by the force Of the gale when tho tide
puts the little strip of sand at the mercy of tho
angry ocean. There is general rejoicing. therefore.
that the northeaster made its visit early this time
and that the swollen waters of ocean and river may
be admired without fear of penalty. day at the
Highlands is now romance and night poem.
THE EBB AND FLOW OF VISITORS.
The approach Of the 1st Of September, tho day for
the reopening Of the public schools has occasioned
a great thinning out this week Of the crowd which
filed the hotels al the summer 1t is said to have
been one Of the most prosperous record.
Tho proprietor of the Pavilion the Oldest hotel in
the place. says no compelled to turn away
about five hundred applicants since the 1st of July.
The rival hotel the East View, has shared this
cess and third edihce recently erected on the
waters edge, between the other hote.s, has had
increasing run OF patronage The cottages on the
hill slopes also evidently doing well as proved
by the crowds who como down from them daily to
the surf.
A new bathing pavilion Of extensive proportions
has been built at the terminus OF the bridge 1t
supported on piles above the highest high water
mark and Is comfortably appointed with looking
glasses and like accommodations heretofore
known to the rather primeval bathing houses of
the beach. Hero. at Long Branch and elsewhere.
on the seaside tho impulse communicated by the
great improvements ut Coney Island are plainly
visible. Indeed the time may be not distant when
great corporation will step in and construct
at the Highlands hotels and bathing houses not in
to the character of the bridge the Sh
bury and by starting the shore end from the light
boats and little craft which compel it to open so
many times in the day. to the great annoyance
OF passengers ana To-, to those IN carriages rriaas
bridge may bo soon necessitated by the shifting
channel OF the river. and the opportunity can be
availed of to make the greater Improvement sug-
cested. The change in the channel referred
to is tho recent rapid deepening Of the river
on the side nearest the beach, threatening
a complete transfer of the course of navigation
from its present line Indeed. this tendency is SO
marked that the Shrewsbury may soon seek its old
short route to the aud make its exit into the
ocean abreast Of the lighthouses. History
records that it's mouth opposite
Minturn's Point. This before the Revolutionary
War. little patriot prvateer darted into the inlet
for refuge aud. becoming wrecked on the passage,
blocked and filed it up. The river then burst forth
in couple shallow inets to the north of the place
now callod Bellevue. and later cut chan
mel through Sandy Hook. whereupon the
west side of the river at the to Sandy Hook
Bay las increased. forcing the channel to the east
ward with the promise OF cutting through the beach
into the 1t said that the State authorities
have taken the subject OF the rivers improvement
hand. and 1t is to be hoped that maps ingenuity
this Leighborhood
As many rs seventy-fo vessels have passed
through the drawbridge in one day.
The sultry weather OF the past few days Is sending
down u second crowd OF pleasure seekers.
The water Is considerably warmer undor the hot
midday sun. and SURF bathing has been resumed
with great animation.
Ex-Congross Thomas c. Piatt, of Oswego, and
family have rooms VI the Pavilion.
General Edward ferrero and family among re-
cent sojourners here.
The iireworks ut Coney Island are. as O spectacle
overshadowed nightly by the highland lights and
the lights OF the shipping IN and around Sandy
Hook.
Monday will bring down the steady and conserva-
tive pleasure seekers who. like the English people,
wait for the bracing OF Septem bor to enjoy them
selves in the country. There quite a number OF
regular visitors OF this kind who occupy the hotels
here until the first or middle of October.