The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1885-07-18
CAPE MAY BELLIES.
Venus in the Bewitching Guise of the Sea
and the Dainty Gar of the Boardwalk,
Accompanied by All Her Sisters.

venus III Inc HeNltcGlfS Sulse OF the sea
and the Dainty Garb of the Boardwalk,
Accompanied by All Her Sisters.
From Phiiadclphia Press.
Whether it is that Cape May air de-
velops beauty, or that the beauty of the
country has taken upon itself to develop
Cape May, nobody knows, but certain it
is that the worshiper of the ugly can find
no sanctuary for his incense Offering at
the Cape. Beauty, attired in clinging
white flannel, walks along the beach I'M
der big red sunshades; beauty, in be-
witching black, with red ribbons and
straw bonnets, goes shopping around the
town; beauty, in costumes above the
waist chiefly of lace-black lace some
times-drives up and down Beach avenue
in fancy doaaarts; beauty, in dreams of
dresses, throssg Sehe hotel ball rooms two
or three nights every week, watching
dascing and occasionally, very occa.
sionally dancing itself.
Beauty also ethes; so do men and
everybody else at Cape May. Bathing
at Cape May is as delicious as eating a
good dinner anywhere else The beach
is as broad as the preachers estimate of
the road Bob Ingersol is travelling; as
level as the head of the Office holder who
is on both sides of the fence about the
time the Administration changes, and so
firm and easy and warm that lying on it
and watching the sky and the waves is
like going to paradise by the parlor car
70 lite.
In years past Cape May has, justly or
uniustly, borne the reputation of being
somewhat in advance of the age in the
matter of bathing suits for the ladies. A
careful and conscientious inspection of
the shore shows that this year, at any
rate, there is 10 foundation for any such
charge against the modesty Of the Cape
May ladies', perhaps because they are of
style that needs no adventitious settiup
Of in the way of excessive Authorization
of attire. \ man looking for information
on this subject one day watched the rise
and fall Of the bathers in the inviting
pillows. 4 bit of wreckage iloated
ashore near him. 1t had black eyes. dark
hair streaming to the waist, and too
wavy to hang Ill strings, and plump
cheeks softly Drowned. 4 biz breaker
had tumbled it somewhat, but it did not
seem seriously damaged. 1t didn't look
frightened, and the man ventured to in
troGuce himself as meek and lowly
seeker alter knowledge.
"Are-that is, do they wear-I mean
-well-are bathing suits shorter than
usual this year,
Sparkling teeth illuminated the reply
"Wny | don't know; think there have
been enough to 80 around SO far"
Desperation nerved, the man tried
again. You didn t understands: meant
to ask, that is, wanted to know, you
know, if. | mean whether, that is, if it
is true, that the ladies skirts are shorter
than usual this season.
A little, neatly slippered foot stole
from under the red braided edge of a
skirt. a slender hand, tipping long
white arm, pulled the skirt until it
almost covered a red stock nged knee.
The teeth CLEANED again. almost wick
eddy: do you call that short?" and be-
fore the rash man recovered from the
shock light laugh and head of dark
hair were plunged into the breaker near,
est shore, and something red and aIlur-
ing flashed a moment above the water.
Taste i'll bathing snits at the Cape this
year runs towards the old quiet blues
and grays Dark blue, set off with mar
row red braid, and cut ever so little to
tit the figure, is the favorte. A novelty
in Suricaps is u sort of oilcloth sunshade |
of bright blue or red, but for attractive
ness the red handkerchief tastefully
knotted into the hair takes the palm. A |
new and very tasteful notion is the wear.
ing of collars, in the surf-not the white |
lace frillS around the neck, but real stiff |
white collars, fastened at the throat with |
little pin, or sometimes with red rose |
bud securely pinned on. The little de-
vice sets off the costumes wonderfully. |
The collars are made of some material
that does not wilt in the breakers,
and are as neat and cool around the
throat after half an hours tumble in the
breakers, as before they were wet at all.
Bare arms are sometimes INDUCED in,
where the arm is fine one, but sleeves
are still most common. Stockings, dark
ones usually. and slippers. are still re
quisitcs of the Cape May costume in the
surf.
local paper one day mentioned that
a lady, Il guest at one of the hotels, wore
so well fitting a bathing suit with her red
stockings that she was universally ad-
mired. Next day twenty three different
ladies came to the beach by way of past
that hotel, and.I..ll wore cardinal stock
lnss Ike men couldn't tell which was
the r!hich.
Fishing excursions are very popular
with the summer visitors. \ party of
three ladies on one the other day came
back with a story of having caught four
hundred and seventeen weak fish The
oldest and best developed fish story tel.
Ter of the native population shivered as
he heard this tale, and, going out. wept
quietly for half an hour.
CROP FALsEHOODS AND CROP NEWS.