Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-09-09
LETTER FROM ATLANTIC CITY.
(Correspon dence of the Alexandria GAzETT

a1LhNI1S NIL SOpp' o.1As oPAi6S, VI
the Southern Churchman, says, speaking of
Summer Resorts" eff people want home
comforts, they must stay at home" We
beg to add, "or 60 to the Shelburne, at At
lantic City," A sojourn at this most home
like and thoroughly comfortable house,
presided over by Mrs. A. B. Roberts and
her efficient staff of ladies, has convinced
US that one may have home, comforts, and a
great deal more besides, with literally no
physical want unprovided for; at, at least,
one summer resort. We only wish we could
gather up the scores of tired women in our
circle of friends, who plod on from years
end to years end, in wearisome round OF
home duties, which, at times, grow monot-
nous to the most devoted wives and
mothers, and transport them, as they do
"the babies" in some of the large cities, to
this restful, delightful place, even for one
week (tVo would be better!). We would
promise refreshment of soul and body that
would make every home better and brighter
for months to come, returning such COM
pound interest as would surprise skeptical
husbands and fathers who are fond of re-
peating that odious couplet-
"Bien and dogs abroad may roam,
But women and pussies should stay at home"
The Shelburne is directly on the beach,
which is an excellent one; so safe and COM
paratively free from undertoW that it is
common thing to see little children of four
or FIVE years padding round in the surf
among the bathers. There are comfortable
bath houses opening out to the ocean from
the hotel, besides an Immediately kept
suite of bath rooms in the house for those
who prefer hot and cold ocean baths with
out the fatigue of the surf. Ample porticoes,
lin winter enclosed in glass; excellent beds,
and most fastideously neat and appetlz-
ing table; furnishing all one could ask,
upon which to exercise ones powers OF re-
sistance) all this enables Us boldly to
| throw down the gauntlet and challenge
DR.. Sprigg to 60 to 1.-THE Shelburne"
ere he rashly repeats his assertion, that ''if
one wants home comforts, one must stay at
home" So much for the physical comfort
of our "outiug"-but oh what pen can do
Justice to the deeper, grander side of soul
| lifting and thought widening, with which
one 'wanders by the sea-beat shore" and
listens to what the wild waves are saying"
The sea is never the same on any two
consecutive days-to-day, blue and calm
and sparkling in the sunlight, the quiet
waves lazily washing the beautiful white
sandy beach, tomorrow, lashed by the
winds into seathing, foaming mass of huge
pillows, that beat-beat- beat-angrily and
sullenly, like some Gagged wild beast long
| ing to free itself from the-"thus far shalt
thou 90, and no furhel"-that chains, its ebb
and flow. Perhaps, too, the wild waves
never say the same things to any two peo-
Pile, of all the crowds that come to look and
lsten-even the life long friends, who wan
der hand in hand along the beach, hear
voices and echoes out of a past and future,
that is known only to the individual soul.
Yet we venture, that somehow, consciously
or unconsciously, one voice speaks alike to
man and woman youth and maiden. Yes,
| and to the little child too who stands like
| "little Paul" and wonders
'Tis the voice of the Great Creator
| Dwclls, in that mighty Tone"
Happy he or she, who can add in the
lines of the grand old hymn
"This awful God is ours,
| Our Father and our friend.'
But it is time for our dip in the ocean,
and we must stop our scribling and away to
a frolic with old Neptune.
ALExANDRIAN.