Morning journal and courier., 1884-07-11
Those Who Go to the Rock.

The Varieties Of People Whom the Lamp
 Post Philosopher Observes on the VVest
 Haven Horse Cars, and @t Ghe Great
 savIn Rock Shore.
 Anyone who makes it part of his busi- ness during these days of uneasiness and sweat that don't come from hard toll for the daily biscuit to lend ready hand to the sup port of one of the lamp posts or elm trees in the neighborhood of Church and Chapel streets, must have noticed the Hooks of peo- pie who gather around that region as the day draws on apace and wait until the oars that ply between the city and It's suburban water ing place, Savin Rock, bear them away to the shores where the cooling breezes play about the no-license shores and the land lords have plethoric purses with which to pay Justice Metcalf's fines. A careful observer must have observed the fact that the people look less fresh and cool when they return
 from their seaward wanderings than when
 they left the cool xegion of the town pump.
 But that does not matter, if they have been
 well dosed with the frigorific waves of air
 and water in the meantime. Another fact
 that must have struck the lamp post phiIoso-
 pher is that the people care very little about each other. They come in small parties, and
 seem to have very little notion of enlargtng
 by the addition of outsiders. They are in-
 tent upon the business of getting cooled of.
 There is the mother with her children, who
 brings a comfortable looking basket we'll stuffed with edibles; the young man
 who goes first to purchase his tick. ct, and then to buy 8 Franklin Sla ko61
 seats himself on the back seat of the car and smokes and reads; the family from the country districts, looking as if sttired in their best, and talking volubly about everything their watchful eyes see the party of young men on the back seat; the b usinsss man, looking tired of life; and the old woman, very feshy and perspiring freely, who forgets to buy her ticket and has to have the car stopped for her at Spaulding's. Of course all the nationalities who have their represent atives in this country are represented on the cars and all sorts of people unite in the common longing for few hours outing at Savin Rock. One class of men well known to the intelligent and obliging horse car con ductors is composed of those who come run ming down to the corner, hailing the car and asking the driver to wait for his lady friends who are coming, possibly up near the New Haven House or at City Hall. These men seem terribly put out if the car doesn't wait at least five minutes for them.
 On board the car nearly everybody tries to look happy. They talk, and sometimes if there is a party of young men or young
 women or 8 Sunday school class on board,
 they break out into song. Nearly everybody
 talks, however On the warm and pleasant
 days the cars are crowded. Ladies with little ones hold them in their la s, and sometimes by the force of circumstances the young into that service. The ride down is certainly pleasant unless the dust is too numerous. If the people who ride on the horse cars have not the splepdor of those who roll by in village carts or landaus, they are still in motion and can be happy. Even such sources of annoyance as the deep-sound. ing whistle of the conductor can be oVer- looked. Now and then bicyclist with hel- met hat and we'll padded calves rides by noiselessly, the admiration of all the young and fair. Now and then the general monot- ony is broken by the woman who has been carried by her destination yelling at the tor of her voice.
 voices of the children are raised in expres,
 
 to empty itself of it's load. The people scatter everywhere. Many wande, about from grove to grove and from hotel to hotel. They find some secluded spot sit down upon the grass and look at the waves, supremely indifferent to science, the- ology or politics. No thought of race for ' office need trouble them there. The large picnic party generally busies itself with at- ! lacking soda water fountains and bananas, and in dancing, bathing or skating. Of course there are many of the rural contingent I to whom the beauties of roller skating or the glories of clambake are almost total strang I ers Such people get some rare enjoyment and create amusement for others. Those who try to do least enjoy themselves most. The numerous devices which the good people of the shore have for inviting the public and their dollars are well patronized. The skat- ing rinks are the scenes of gay parties. The bathers disport themselves in the water like intoxicated fish. The Merry Go Rounds carry their laughing parties. The deep re- cesses of the groves hide many fond couple. This is not Ooney Island. But the people are
 happy.