New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-08-01
SUMMER LEISURE.
FFsTIvITIEs AT COMFY ISLAND.

The AriOn Society held Summer-nlShts
festival last evening at West Brighton Beach.
The hotel and the grounds about 1t were es-
pecially engaged by the society. The crOWu
was immense. There were music and dancing
and all sorts of hilarity. The festival was very
successful. The rush of visitors to other points
at Coney Island yesterday was immense. Inc
races at Brighton Beach were interest
ing. Good time was made. Long
Branch continues to enjoy pros
pefous season, the hotels being crowded.
At Saratoga the season is at its height.
Many prominent persons have arrived re-
Gently at the hotels. Newport expects that
this and next month will be very gay and
festive.
A SEASIDE SUAlNiER-NIGHTS FESTIVAL.
THE ARIoN SOCIETY AT WEST BRGHToN-FIRE-
WORKS. MUSIC AND GREAT SPORT FOR AN M
MENsE CROWD.
The Arion Society, which apparently is never sat
lsfed unless it does something more than extraor-
binary at least twice In the year, held what
was called a seaside Summer-nights festival
at West Brighton Beach last evening As al
Ways happens at the balls gwen by the so
eiety IN February, the only obstacle. to the
successful carrying out of last nights programme
be done under the circumstances. and if any one
was disappointed it was because he was shorter
than other guests and could see nothing, or was
lnlucky in his efforts to get home at q seasonable
hour.
As an outdoor evening festival the scene
last night at the West Brighton Hotel
was superb. The space inclosed for The
Arion Society and its guests contained as many
as it could comfortably hold Thousands were at
tracted to the beach by the promised water specta-
ole of Arou on his dolphin and Neptune in his shell,
drawn by trtoDs. II was only unfortunate for the
several thousand who had paid their dol
lar to GO within the West Brighton Hotel
grounds that the vast multitude outside had
the better view of the spectacle. The thousands
who crowded the iron pier, and stood without cere-
mony on the tables and benches were the most
Favored of all. From their vantage ground the
view of the West Brighton grounds, illuminated by
electric lights and 1000 Chinese lanterns was
magnificent. A dense mass of persons was seen
standing on the sand between the hight surf and
the paying crowd on the hotel platform. When
sver tie fireworks on the raft, anchored
many yards out, were especially brilliant,
a good impression was obtained by the
glare thrown upon the shore Of the vastness OF
the multitude which luod the beach almost for
balfmilo ON either side of West Brighton.
Owing to the perseverance of Mr.. Bauer the pro-
Drietor of the West Brighton Hotel, aud the MEM
oers of the Arion Committee, everything was IN
readiness for the guests before 4 O'clock. when the
festival was advertised TO open. Arrivals were
not very numerous until D D. N. great
deal was effected in the way OF deco
ratlons. The flags of the principal nations
were flying from the hotel roof, and evergreen gar
lands and lines Suspcnding lanterns hung grace
FULLY rom the corner tagpoles. The dancing plat
form Was on the east side oi tbe hotel. Facing tlls
we're two silhouette tabIcauN, with the figures CO.
oss in slz. and erected along the caves of the hotel
Ihey were comic IN character and attracted much
notice EvcrCTecu> and American flags were used
20 trim the double piazzaS OF the hotel ana
n every other pillar Were dec'IaINe Gus
.eTs of mammoth sea shells, HOLSTERS, shrlmps
aud other deu!ZenS OF the sea. over
he principal east entrance was a large banner Icp-
ftscntug Neptune m his sca-charOt surrounded by
his court.
Similar decorations gave a holiday appearance TO
the vast interior of the hotel An iron fence had
been erected around the hotel grounds and four
gates afforded m-ress and egrCss. With the eXcep-
bon of che dancng-space, the platform was provided
with diuiug-tabies end chairs and the sky after
very beautiful sunset was sufficiently clOudtd 10
allow the Chinese lanterns suspended over The
platform TO show 10 the best advantage The moon
was nearly at the full and showing occasionally
through riffs of clouds, made sky-SceneS OF great
beauty, heightened by the reflection on the sea.
The musical programme received lts IVY snare oi
attention. At halt pass Lelboidts Military Band
occupied one OF the outside pavllIcns, and
after D o'clock alteruated with the Red
Hu,sars who were near the dance platform
"Fdtuitza was played apparently every half
hour by one tine other, and PnaiOrc p, was
shamclully neglected. About halt-past Dr.
DamTusch assembled ms leaders pedestal within the
hotel and iea the principal concert winch included
chorusrs by he AUOu Society, orchestral muse
and solo by Franz Remmertz,. who sang schu-
mauu's DE uelden GrenadeTe.'
Dinner was served IN the interval between the
concert and the fireworks aud sea tGbtaUN, winch
were announced to occur 1T o'clock, but as usual
RON ext
masquerade suits aud costumes. About half-past
9 fireworks were discharged at intervals from the
raft moorcd at equal distances rom the shore ana
the iron pier. lie raft Was the base OF operations
John ). Dlehl, who pcrSonaied Aron. was ready
about his time 10 90 out 10 the scoW asiIide
of the dolphin thai had been placed on
small platform bulit over large TOT boat
Neptune was embodied Oy Paul /. Sch0en
who costumcd himself in the most approved
manner winch took tune. lie was stu further de-
lgyed by ms groicHqle Journey =, IhF9uEh
the dense crowd on the iron pier. followed by
his cOurtiers. He was Obliged TO 90 to the end OF
the pier to get aboard his chariot. luls consisted
of two row-UOatS covered with platform on which
were the canvas tutOns with fiery HO>tnls. NcI-
tune earned big three-iued spear on trident, and
arrived at the raft few minutes before
10. There supposed arrival at this
time of the steamship Intolerance carrying
the Exilos of Saratoga and Manhattan Beach"
These eNles IN their masquerade dresses aud art-
fcial noses promenaded about the platform and the
beach.
at the raft whcreupOn two wtll-manned roT-bOats
took them in tow aud proceeded very slowly toward
the beach for II was hard pulling. AriOn led
the WAY. Fireworks were pleEtituliy dis
charged during the procession, and were the
principal attraction. for the fabulous persOnages
were scarcely perceptble when the light was
brightest Tie doiphins and the Jrltons jumped
wildly over the surf, and a procession formed on
the sands which included nymphS and the Hebrew
mas0ueraders. They marched into the hotel
grounds bringing with them an enormous sea ser
pent which was cut open at the hotel and found 10
consist OF choice tidbits such champagne bottles,
tongue sandwiches, etc.
Dancing, prOmenadiug and mostly becoming
bilarity prevailed until long after midnight Trains
and steamers running until after O'Clock IN
She morning. and some even continued To run unui
O'clock Those who tried 10 20 home at "A season.
able hour perhaps Jared the worst. TINS Was true
especially of those who came and went by way of