National Republican., 1883-08-23
The Ladies Sit in the Shady Porches
and Make Crazy Bed Quilts,
The Children Fall Into the Water and the Young
Folks Waltz TO the Tune Of Old John Brown.
All This at Cool Spot on the Shore of
Long Island.
Spccial Lkher.

New York and Brooklyn people, and indeed
for people from all of the northern cities. 1t
is delightfully."- situated on the south side Of
Long Island, about midway between Long
Island City and Montauk Point; on the Great
South bay. 1t is very easy of access from
New York, which makes it particularly
desirable when the dust and heat
of tho city, the baked and sun
burnt streets, tho unclouded suns and
red moons prompt q longing for the seashore
without incurring the fatigue and discomfort
of long journey. The place possesses an
entire freedom from the petty worries and
formalities of the more fashionable resorts,
which Is boon in itself to the weary, worn
business man, whose "perturbed spirit" only
longs for rest, to the tired mothers" and
even to the gay city belle. There are great
many hotels and boarding houses of all Sizes
to suit purses Of all lengths; indeed, the prin-
cipal drive to the water is lined on both
sides with them, from the village
proper down to tho waters edge The
avenue is pretty one, shaded by large old
trees that in places meet overhead. The
largest hotel is the Ocean Avenue,
which is within fifty feet of the water and
commands charming view of tho bay. An
other house, about 100 yards east, called the
Clifton, though not so large, has the advan-
tage of being entirely new this summer That
the season Mt both of these houses has been
entirely successful is demonstrated by the
well filed registers, the crowded porches, and
the radiant countenances of the proprietors.
This is certainly the coolest place | ever
passed q summer in, the Thermometer rarely
going higher than 7S degrees. The air, both
in light and in shadow, seems of an even
warmth, happy medium between heat and
cold, which, like perfect health, exhilarates
us with so much subtety that we are hardly
aware of it till it is gone. There is joyful
potency even in the sunshine, and the place
is 80 well shaded as to be entirely relieved of
that white, colorless glare which is generally
so Objectionable at the seashore.
Last Saturday night the first "hop" was
given at the principal hotel, and all the
guests of the other hotels were invited; the
large dining room was cleared and brilliantly
lighted, and made fine and roomy dancing
hall. The porch was hung with profusion
of Chinese lanterns, giving it quite an air of
festivity. Dancing was kept up till the
hands of the big clock pointed to mid
night and reminded us that the day
had come, which we have all been
taught to keep holy, and in a short time all
was silent where before had been mirth and
festivity. The amusements are varied and
eminently adapted to all tastes, from the
most energetic to the LATEST. As l write,
little groups of ladies sit on the long, low,
shady porch, deep in the mysteries of
crochet or the latest atrocity, Japanese crazy
work." the latter consisting of scraps of all
kinds and colors sewed together with a
charming disregard of symmetry. Over this
Is embroidered bewildering array Of impos-
sible flowers, deiormed animals and hideous
insects, with q running accompaniment
of rail fences and heiroglyphics that would
stagger Japanese. Some of these being in
tended for quilts. cannot but speculate upon
the nightmare which must of necessity be
thn pf pl, uarin ha
younger and gayer ones trips to the ocean in
the trim little sailboats are daily in order.
There the glorious surf,with its grand crested
waves comes rolling in, tempting even the
most timid to take header" The breath
of tho ocean as it greets you is tonic invita-
tion to resist depression and decay. Every
thing speaks of power and inferentially of
accomplishment.
The resistless eternal splash, splash of the
waves suggests power with ease and beauty
as each scattered drop is gathered and dashed
again and again at your feet. This sense of
power is an antidote to WEAKNESS and
ennui. AS you stand and listen to the sea,
whose roar is not commingled with other
sounds, it seems as though tho abodes of
civilization were far remote; the noise
and bustle and hurry-scurry of busy life,
things of the long past Some distance
back from the surf stands a large pavil-
ion, where everything that tends to re-
fresh the inner man can be obtained, "clam
bakes at all hours " being speciality. In
front Of the Ocean Avenue hotel we have still
water bathing, which is preferrea by many,
and the water is sufficiently shallow to make
it perfectly safe for the small fry, of which
we have goodly number. These youngsters
play all day on the long piers and in the row
boats, and if now aud then too daring one
tumbles overheard he has only to wade
back to shore, exchange his, wet
right back to the same place with
no fear of catching cold, and perhaps all the
better for his unexpected bath. This sort OF
amusement may not be in high favor with
the mothers and nursery maids, but it causes
great glee among the children, and is harm
less in the extreme. 1t is quite amusing to
see the upper windows decorated with rows
OF small shoes in different stages of humidity.
This is paradise for little ones as their
bright eyes and glowing checks testify. To
tho lovers of the limo and reel the waters
about Fire Island arc most generous large
numbers of bluefsh being caught especially
in August. A sail boat can be hired for an en-
tire day for the moderate sum of "a. This in
cludes unlimited sunburn and the conversa-
ton of the skipper, which am told is varied
and lasts from the rising of the sun till the
going down of the same
Last week, when that hoary old sinner, the
moon, rode stately and white over the water
thu odily oNcHiug Oh ydCHlS
and boats. freighted with happy groups stirred
the crystal waters into silver waves, tho gay
voices ringing out with laughter or snatch
of song. One night jolly party, numbering
nearly thirty, sailed to Water Island, across
the bay. There is O rudely constructed
wooden building there which is dignifed by
the name of the white House." When we
reached it, though the hour was far from be-
ing an unseemly one, we found the occu-
pants sleeping the sleep of the lust,
but few vigorous thumps on the door and
a succession of demoniacal shouts from the
entire party resulted in a hurried and scram-
bling toilet within and prompt opening OF
doors. Tho principal room in the building
is about fifty feet long. At one end of this
we put fiddler, whom we had picked up in the
village, and in a few minutes were rushing
through the "Centennial Lanciers" " TO the in
spiring strains Of "The Girl l Left Be-
hind Me-" 1t mattered little what he
played for the scrapng of our feet on
the rough floor and the peals oi
laughter completely drowned every note,
and we only became conscious of the fact that
we had musician when in the pauses of the
dance we stopped for breath. But the height
of the ridiculous was reached when he played
" John Browns Body" for waltz. de-
liciOus supper of roast CLANS followed, and
we started for homo only to find thick fog
had obscured everything in the heavens above
and the earth beneath. A few Of the Older
Dnes grumbled at the prospect of not getting
iome till morning, but the majority rather
felished the adventure and were prepared
with songs and artations TO make night OF
.satN BEnA