New-York tribune., 1881-09-12
WANING SEASIDE PLEASURES
GLOOMY SKIES OVER CoNEY ISLAND.

GLOOMY SKIES OVER CONEY ISLAND.
BATHING AT BRIGHTON DEACH-sCENEs ABOUT ir'N
MANHATTAN HOTEL
There was nothing to attract visitors 10 Oon.y
Island yesterday except the love OF the seaside o "
crowd and the summer habit of escaping IRON W
every Sunday. The sky was gloomy anu 49," - srnnie
of the time though such persons as hao h.
enough to allow them to look into tno He ,, naaas
80, -, a.. anoce of milky blue over their heads'
Th aror,h which has sadly defaced the beauty oi 'he
country along the lines OF the raiiroaus n"s o'o Wv
,ar,s and aowerbanke of Manhattan Beach uhouche"'
oy,pg % the liberal of the waterihgpot Inc sea
did not run very high yesterday nor was the AR no.
70 drive visitors the surf who are indifferent
70 the pie of bathing Enough prac-
tisers OF the noble art OF swimming were founu
bowever to give the bathing-ground diversified
and yiyacious look. Brighton Beach particularly was
covered with monstrosities of costume mostly worn by
womenfolk The Manhattan and Oriental Hotels
were hardly with their usual record of visitors
but the Brighton the patronage of which s more
la gely composed of professional" pleasureseekers
was crowded as usual.
There is booth by the Hotel Brighton where fortunes
are told by the aid OF phrenology and the occult sci
enees." One-eyed man sits behind the counter ana
plays upon the credulity of the unsophsticated by
means OF pair Of glass cylinders filed with water, in
each of which floats an ugly little mannikn that rises
or falls IN obedience the motions of the enchaners
hand Fortunately for the of the trick the mans
foot concealed This exhibition of the occult sciences Ia
faint
full candidate-after paying 10 cents-is directed to
choose an envelope from a parcel. The one-eyed man
takes it puts it into little Golfer remarkng that
the mysterious writer" will fill it. After half min
ute raises lid and takes out envelope containing
the much desired information Any doubt regarding the
identity envelope would be ocous and unheard Of
Young man came up to the stall and asked 60 have his
fortune told tall and freckled, and dusty
Derby hat while his two comrades crowned with
yellow straw
"Go ahead. Dick" said of the smaller men, with
sly wink at the other al" you get your fortune told
right, III maybe try, too"
Dick paid his dime and chose his envelope with
sheepish look. "Only thirty seconds-the mysterious
writer said the oneeyed man, putting the envelope in
the box "Thems the angels of Coney Island said he
while the hafminute passing, pointing to the
hideous figures In the glass jars They obey me like
fellow that's laughing there will have to obey his
day. and he pointed at one OF the two youths
who were making game of their lank companion. But
the mysterious writer's work was done, and Dick !"
took the envelope contained the key of his destiny
On the outside written: "You cant prevent the
birds sadness from flying your head, but you
may prevent them from stopping 10 build there"
"Now, that's mighty poetic, think, like the things and
they say the theatre sa the stripping breaking the
seal. "Heo - he cried suddenly. that's her bet
and % he held n up epS Mrs. wGf RaDSI ws y
dark face, with an open but slightly saucy
gathered up side, and lew vagrant locks stray
ing the forehead gave the youth the finishing blow
"say, mister couldn't you tell the girls naiue Z"
he sd a % deG 5s HI: @
oracle of avail the fortunate young man took paper
the envelope and read, Resolute brave, deter
mined fond of argument quick TO resent insult cool in
times of danger"
By JOve" he exclaimed, interrrptng himself that
man knows his business, and don't you forget it,"
A people walked and down the
beach between the Hote! Brighton aud the Manhattan
evening approached This seems 70 be the favorte
promenade, though IL is not accessible when the food
tide in IL perhaps be attributed to the fact that
the Marine Railway prefers to carry the he
fween he
Manhattan ia s difficult. The only to get down
from boardwalk the beach Is by clambering
several rods rough and broken rocks between
of damp and Jagged piles. This reproduction of
the Z" Fat Mans Misery" in Mammoth Cave is 30
and difficult that persons meeting find IL hard
to pass, and women are often in danger of receiving
sprains bruises. The principal recreation this
beach to watch for unwary who get invol
untary foot-bath now and then. Couples absorbed in
"mutual bliss are the most common victims, but
and then who is chuckng at the mishap Of others
surprised by the enemy in the rear and the laugh
turned upon himself.
safe say that nobody enjoys Coney Island so
thoroughly the children. good many we-dressed
boys and girls usually to be on the beach in
front of the Oriental Hotel under the overnight Of tidy
petty look. Some of the youngsters dig in the
sand until they half hidden from sight,
while others prefer to build ramparts and
fortresses The keen enjoyment with which they
struc aborous embankments for the purpose OF
them swept away by the advancing tide doubtless
nishes many caow philosophers on the bank with
The privacy OF the Oriental Hotel Ia well main
tanned, and it is that anyone be seated
the piazza whose name Is not upon the register.
Some persons promenade upon the walks far
as the hotel. but few remain there, and even
the is almost free from interlopers although
open at all Nobody TO the fine tract of abeach
that stretches beyond the Oriental Hotel That is held
as private ground for the present.