National Republican., 1883-07-27
The Attractive Features Of the Most Popular Of
Coast Resorts.
PhiIadelphians and Their PecuIarties
on Parade.
Jersey Notions Of Government Boy Who Feared
the President Might Hang Him.
An ObIiging Washingtoninn--.Th Won
derruI Boy on the DeniLot Pier.
Special Letter.

CAPE MAY, July 25.-People who come |
down from tho northern resorts, and espe- |
cially from those in New York, express sur
prise at the abundant life they find here. The |
summer is a dull one at most places-in fact
at nearly qll those which depend upon the
very northern and the very southern cities
flate days the southern people, who used to
be very good patrons of the hotels IN Sara
toga and at Long Branch, have taken it into
their heads to go to the Wisconsin and Min
nesota lakes; and this turn of once full
tide to other shores has not been
without its effect Tho present summer
is not insuficrable in most northern cities,
and great numbers oc people who would go to
the springs or the shore if the weather were
hjt are contenting themselves with short
va ations, or trying the country farm house
plan for a change Thus it is that only the
middle coast resorts are filed up. The crowd
here is greater and more varied than 1T has
been for many years. The upper southern
cities and the cities Of the lower north have
poured their families all along the Jersey
shore, and Cape May has the bulk of them,
as it should have, for 10 other place
on the coast can equal its attractions. With
water on almost every side, and consequent
tempering of the winds, the air is always
cool. During all the perfervid weather that
has cursed the middle Atlantic states since
tho first of June, we have not had to exceed
three hot days; and in even these
nobody need have been uncomfortably
warm, for the escapes to sea are
easy either by way Of Cape May
Point or SewelPs inlet, and those who dislike
yachting have the piers at hand, where it is
never hot Overheating to discomfort is not
at any rate among the things that are un-
avoidable at any place where the surf bath
ing is good, and this is luxury in which
Cape May excels. With beach as wide, al
most as level, and quite as clean as Pennsyl-
vania avenue (broken at a little below the
high tide line by pools in which
children are as safe as in their
beds), the surf is good at any hour of the day,
and there are very few hours when no people
are in it. There is nothing to be surprised at in
the number of visitors who are availing
themselves of these advantages. The Won
der would be greater If the number were less,
and think you who are steaming in WASH
ington could realize how much of comfort and
pleasure may be had at so slight cost so near
home, the capital would be practically de-
populated until the middle of September
The one drawback and distastetul influence
of the place is the high prevalence of the
Philadelpbian. Philadelphia is aggressively
narrow. As the place itself is at best but
poor imitation of large city, so its people
are but poor limitations of city people, They
are intensely local, intensely self satisfied,
and preudiced against people from other
places, with a prejudice that is ludi-
crously tinged with pity and tolera-
tion. New Workers have something
of these same characteristics, but Now York
ers are broader in their general views of
things, and their local pride is based upon an
indisputabe local greatness which eliminates
the pity from their consideration of other
people and makes their liberation less often
sive in its quality. They are, moreover,
brighter and quicker than your true Phila-
1plnhian and plnpa IO which thew resort
soon takes on metropolitan feeling.
They do not come to Cape May in num-
bers sufficient to make an effect
against the Philadelphians; and the prevail
ing social atmosphere being exhaled by these
latter, is unpleasant to any true citizen of
the world. 1t is an atmosphere of contracted
propriety and of-Philadelphia-W Wanamak-
ersville-Broad street-Chestnut street-ln-
dependence hall-old graveyards. The conf
pensating fact as opposed to this is that you
may if you like, decline to be social, and yet
have all the fun you want. The cottagers
understand this BETTER perhaps, than the
guests of the hotels, though TO even these the
liberty of dissertation is very widely open,
and the surf and sea and breezes are just as
kind.
The main centers of interest away from
the immediate shore are the Stockton and
Congress hall hotels and the main delights
of these are their music and their lawns.
Excellent orchestral bands are retained at
both houses and at the Stockton special mu
sical evenings are frequent, One of the
most enjoyable and brilliant sights to be
seen anywhere is an open air hop at the Stock
ton. The Philadelphians and Jerseymen being
conservative and given in sort of way to
setting their own fashions have not yet learned
that dancing is no longer the thing it was
ard they turn out on these occasions in great
numbers and their best apparel. Two occa-
siOns of this kind within the ten days last
gone were particularly gorgeous in their way.
One of these was the formal ball given the
National Rifles at Congress Hall, and the
other the lawn party at the Stockton last Mon
day evening, when the President was here.
At this last named there must have been at
least 10000 people. The vast verandas of
the Stockton were filed uncomfortably, and
the dancing floor was so encroached upon
that the comparatively few dancers crowded
it. Every one was in full dress>that evening.
The music was good, the lights high, and the
life of the place both bustling and brilliant.
Over here in Jersey they have curious ideas
of government. When tho President came,
some of these cropped out. 1t would have
:. amused most Americans to hear the things
= ina, we're said. The boy who blacks boots at
the corner of Washington and jackson streets
(he has chair and carpet, and puts on
deal of style in his business), was not at all
an extreme case of ignorance on the subject.
When l asked him if he had seen the Presi-
dent (every one asked that of every one else
all day long he replied that he had.
mighty fine lookn' man, boss-'deed he
is" was his complimentary comment ON the
chief magistrates appearance.
Did you shine his boots ?' asked.
My king, no /" said he. 81 done git too
scared to ask 'im."
"What would you charge him if you were
to black his boats 2"
He balanced his brush curiously moment,
and rubbed the back of his head
"Deed l dono; but l think bout five
dolla's."
"What! And you black mine for dime |"
"Wel, he's got mo- money N anybody
else, N he ought to pay mo-"
"Why do you think he has more money
than anybody elsep'
Don't he own this country? Course he
does Deed he's powful rich, He can do
whatever he likes with anybody, 'nif he
wants money all he's got to do he can take it.
We all got to do what he says"
"If that is so, what would you do if he
were to tell you to stop backing boots and 90
right back to Philadelphia i"
This posed him for a moment, and he looked
rs though the suggestion hit him like dis
NAL threat.
"Well" said he finally, "ef he said so l
S'pose I'd have TO do 1T, but I'd kinder hang
back twel he'd forgot men I'd sneak out an
20 to shinin' agin."
But suppose he were to catch you at il 2"
4. = haVt, hon hos