National Republican., 1880-07-13
ouR WArER1Ya PIECES.
Atlantic City ms n summon or Winter Resort.
10 ho Editor of The National Republican.
Arrt , sfrv,. Trrv Tale


ATLANTIC Cry, July o.
SIR Philadelphia has so patron2ed and
improved this seaside city, that within the
past ten years the strip Of sandy island and
salt marsh has been transformed into a thriv-
ing town Of 5000 permanent inhabitants and
q summer population Of $4,000. Fifty miles or
ninety minutes by express trains separate II
from the Quaker city, aud it partakes strongly
Of the characteristics Of that ancient aud hon
Orable burg
Atlantic City claims some advantages over
the other resorts. The days that the Their
mometcr registered 90o at Long Branch found
IL cool aud temperate here, aud the hot waves
have merclully passed il by The peculiarly
mild, dry air Of the place caused the physi-
clans TO investigate it, and hither they order
their weak.lungcd and nalaris-sirickon
patients, be it February or August. As q
winter resort its popularity is fast increasing.
Forty hotels aud bourding-houscs were open
and well.flled this last winter by invalids,
who came for the benefit to bo derived from
the soft sea air. The clouds Of fog aud the
clammy dampness that cuts short ones pleas.
ure at Cape May are escaped Mt this point, and
the surf is free from the dangerous undertow
OF Long Branch. Therefore tue Philadol-
phians turn their attention to Atlantic City,
and every week thousands of them come down
to spend Sunday, IN addition to the perma-
nent legions of their wives aud daughters.
The life of the place centres on the beach,
where every one spends their days. II is
fashionable TO bathe here, and thousands Of
scarecrows in blue flannel suits cross the sands
in the morning aud bob their ragged straw
hats up aud down IN the waves. The surf Is
black with bathers aud the shore with car
riages and spectators. In the afternoon the
children have possession Of the sands, and the
shoyols and pals arc used industrously. At
sunset the board walk is tbronged, aud then
Is the display of tho beauty and fashion.
Until dusk there Is an incessant promenading
on this broad platform that extends along the
beach FOR three miles. All that tho dress
makers of Philadelphia can do with seaside
materials is TO be seen, and on Sunday even.
ngs the display is more brilliant than ever.
Hats are unnecessary at the seashore, and
dress bonncts u useless commodity, for these
pretty girls of Philadelphia recklessly walk
the beach in the morning with nothing but
parasol to protect their heads and hands. and
in the evening whip veil or zephyr scarf
over their rebellious bangs and sally forth by
dozens. Some of them are rs bronzed rs the
goddesses on meersChaum pipes, and at hops
mahogany-coloredc countenance ces and nut-brown
arms emerge from the most delicate white
toilets. No southern girl would risk her
beauty like that, and western girl would
bring her complexion to the proper tinge with
glycerine and powder, but these obstinate
little Quukers arc rather proud of their color
than otherwise, and do nothing to conceal the
ravages of sun, wind aud water.
The Racket is the fashionable dance aud
rick.raok the fashionable work. The racket
is rs much beyond the Boston dip as dane
ing masters fancy could make it, and the
wild and fantastic kicking, the ungraceful
swaying and bobbng is startling to new
conner. Every season some wild dance like
this is taken up, and fortunately dies before
f,A9 e. tl,N ,f l..
transpanting to city parlors.
Washington people have made headquarters
here at the Colonnade hotel, property owned
and kept by Mrs. Rines of that city. The
Washington papers can DO found there, and
every attention is given TO the comfort and
convenience Of the guests The furnishings
are new throughout, perfect cleanliness reigns,
and the cuisine is most excellent-tho three
indispensable things to summer comfort. The
house will be open tho year round, and
quinine'fod patients can find a sure cure for
their malarial ills in delightful surroundings
grand hop is on the tapis next week. and
now that the season is we'll begun round of
festivities will succeed one another.
At tho north end Of the city, whore the
lighthouse juts into the sea, are the hotels and
swell cottages From there southwark the CITY
follows the bend Of the shore, and throe miles
below are the excursion houses, where the
railroads land their long excursion trains
Every day some guild or association comes
down. aud for two months there is not u day
without one, two or three excursions. Tho
mammoth swings the merry-go-rounds, Punch
and Judy, side shows, booths for the sale of all
kinds OF trumpery and knick-knacks, oyster
stauds, dairy maids, bowers and everything
to catch the nimble sixpence are ranged along
the beach and around tho house. 1t is anus.
ing to watch the arrival of the trains, disgorgug
the hundreds OF pleasure-seekers with and
without lunch-baskets The first wild skurry
is for the water, and the engine has hardly
let of steam before somebody has popped into
tho breakers. All afternoon the scrape of the
fiddle, the blare of trumpets, tum.tum of
drums and scufllng feet resound from tho
dancing pavilion, aud as extraordinary things
as the racket, are seen on the floor Il,