The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-06-19
Pleasant Summer Trips,


From the New York Times, June Z, 1885
With the first hot breath OF Summer come
recolections of broad highways, of hard
sand, stretches Of billowy ocean, the roar
Of surges, the cooling breath Of Neptune,
the plash Of the waves, the salty air from
the wide sweeping sea, and the countless
other delights of life on the sea coast
And nature, ever kindly. has placed within
easy reaching distance a sea coast for the
pleasure of mankind and womankind in
their hours of leisure, and which man has
improved until it seems perfection. From
Sandy Hook to Cape May the Alta ntlc
Ocean dashes upon coast of the most var
liable, but always beautiful description.
Years ago this was. for the most part a
desolate shore, but to-day it blossoms like
rose, and attracts to it the tired dwelers in
cities who have day, week, or a month
of relaxation. At one end of this shining
strip of sand lies Long Branch, and at the
other, Cape May, while between them arc
located numerous other resorts, all worthy
Of attention, and each of which has its
champions of Summer tourists.
The most important of the intermediate
resorts is Atlantic City. 1t has the distinc-
ton of being strikingly unlike all other sea-
side resorts. 1t reminds one OF striking
character IN "Unclc TOMS Cabin" young
woman who "just growed." Atlantic City
wasn't y,loppaI II iu,ppn1 ;nto av;oto,oo
apparently of Its own accord, and has
seemingly made hit. 1t is practically an
island, for 1t is separated from the main
land by miles of salt marshes. 1t is twenty
miles nearer to Philadelphia than any 9TH
er New Jersey resort, and perhaps for this
reason it is the Mecca of Philadelphians
and Of people who live hundreds of miles
from that city. Every one in Pennsylva-
mia has heard of Atlantic City, and when
the denizen of the rural districts takes a
vacation, and reaches Philadelphia, his
first thought is to get out of it and reach
Atlantic City as quickly as possible. The
first thing to do is to find a hotel, and,
with guide, this is not difficult-thcy are
numerous. There are, besides the hotels,
cottages without number and private board
ing houses beyond count. Atlantic City
has, beyond doubt, made a hit, for it is al
ways crowded in Summer with vast con-
course of people drawn from every walk Of
life. The facilities for reaching Atlantic
City are favorable. The distance from
New York, by way of Philadelphia, is 150
| miles by rail, and is covered in about four
hours by the Pennsylvania Railroad and its
| seashore connections. All kinds Of fish
! abound in its waters, and salt water birds
are numerous in its immediate vicinity.
Its even temperature makes it healthful
resort, and this, perhaps, helps to account
for the fact that it is patronized by the rich
as well as the poor. Its board walk is a
| joy forever, if not thing of beauty.
Bathing and swimmingis INDUCED in to an
unlimited extent On Sundays the crowd
is immense On week days it is also i'm
mense. Atlantic City has nothing to com.
plain of. The present season promises to
| eclipse all previous seasons in the matter OF
attendance, and the natives are making des.
perate efforts to provide for the rush that
they may make all the hay possible while
the sun remains above the horizon. North
and South Atlantic Cities are adjuncts tc
tae parent town, and are making big strides
to catch up. Between Atlantic City and
Cape May are number of other pleasant
and flourishing resorts, such as Ocean City
Sea Isle City, and Sewell's Point, but in
comparison with Cape May these are buI
as the lowly snow drop to the full.growr
rose. 1t has been said that the West Jer
sey Railroad carries the traveller through
a desert before it finally deposits him a
Cape May, but if so, does not the journey
enhance the attractions of the queen o.
watering places? Even sight of ii has {
soothing influence on the most dissatisfied
and there seems to be some ground for tho
statement that had the lotus eaters discov
cred Cape May they would have pitched
their tents there in preference to any othcl
spot on the globe. There is nothing
ephemeral about Cape May. Away bach
in 1875 it boasted of a Baptist church, and
surely If there were a church there 1t mus
have had congregation. This, of itself, IL
a sort of qualification to the residents Of
the beautiful city on the sea, city whiel
can boast of q population the year round
with great hotels. magnificent private resi-
dences, and countless other advantages
and life all its own. Nothing apparent
emily, can shake its popularity. Built upon
II strip of upland, where the waters OF bay
and ocean meet, 1t has grand view of the
Atlantic. Its beach is broad and smooth,
and 1t is considered the grandest bathing
ground on the coast. The dangerous I'M
dertow, that makes bathing at some points
insecure, is here unknown, and perfect
safety seems TO reign over the waves that
lave its silver sands. Its streets are broad
and level, and all its structures have an all
of solldity and an absence of newness thai
view of the ocean is obtained from one end
to the other of the magnificent boulevard
that runs parallel with the ocean for a dis.
tance of five miles. Its beach is its glory
and Its new iron pier, the pride of its peo-
pie. 1t is as smooth as a billiard table. Its
sky is always blue and its sun is seldom
hidden. Its bathing facilities are glorious
and are taken advantage of to the full.
Noon is the favorite hour for this diversion,
and thousands Of both sexes, all in cos.
tunes more or less unique and striking,
then take their dip in view of other and
admring or amused thousands. Cape
Mays hotels are quite as famous as the
city itself, During the Summer season,
frnm lima iili Santanhar Gana Mauia m