Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-08-12
OCEAN BEAoH.
rival Of the First NIpsqnsao-W where
the old Centennial TsUiIdings Lave
ARaIn--Thc SURF nnd SIie BathinE
In the Churches.


and obliged TO remain nt home, have some
satisfaction In looking over the papers and
learning what is going on. Every day they
can see notices from Cape MAY. Atlantic
City Sen Girt, Spring Lake, Asbury Park
and Ocean Grove, while there Is IA little
paradise lying suugly aud unostentaclously
In between all those, Of which no account is
taken, and yet there is not a more delight
full and restful summer resort than this
same retiring, uuassuming little Ocean
Beach. Until within the past two years,
mosquitoes were unknown. One evening
In August, 1883, while sitting In the pa
vilion of the Neptune House, one OF our
friends screamed mosquitoes" whereupon
rush was made for the house, and all the
guests crowded around to see tho novelty.
The innocent little creature received an
ovation worthy Of some dignitary from u
foreign land. There was when our first
and grand mistake was mAbB, for since
then dits uneles, Its cousins and lis aunts"
have been gradually coming In upon us,
but We are thankful TO say, have never yet
intruded upon US in our rooms, and only
occasionally do they annoy US outside.
Ocean Beach proper, stands back about a
mile behind us-as yet, only a village, with
its several churches, Its public school, Its
saw mill, and last but not least OF all, its
Imposing real estate Office, showing more
what it is to be, than what Ii really Is. The
bench certainly Is the most inviting place
along the shore. There are but one or two
full fiedged hotels as yet, the largest, the
Columbia, and then comes the Surf House,
the first one built on the coast, IL or more
years ago. The other houses, the Neptune,
Colorado, Crystal Palace, Delaware and
Atlantic, are situated on Ocean avenue, and,
with the exception of the last named, arc
the original buildings, moved and placed
together from the Centennial. The Atlantic
was built, / have been told, Of the leaYings,
10 ifnf t,fF n ul
rs II Is under excellent management this
year, and Its guests very enthusiastic over
IL, II can only speak that | do know"
having been guest at the Neptune
for many years, and though 1t has
changed hands this year, it still retains
| its usual good reputation, and Mrs. Sank Is
| always on the alert, concerning the comfort
and happiness of her guests. The children
| are perfectly happy, and could not get in
| any dangerous place, for there Is none. We
have music every evening" and on Sunday
| evenings the parlor Is filled, and Moody
| and Sanky thoroughly interviewed. We
/ aspire to none of the luxuries, such as gas,
| hot and cold water, &C., and astonish our.
selves by becoming so easily and amiably
| adapted to our surroundings. AT our end
| (south) there Is nothing permitted TO be
placed upon the beach to intercept the view
Of this grand old ocean, which Is rolling In
at our feet almost, the street only between
1
Spring lake. At the north end the Columbia
| is situated, and has the one advantage over
| us, and that is gas. There are the bath
| houses also very near, where any one can
take a hot or cold sea bath who does not
feel equal to tussle with tho breakers out
side.
Next to Cape May and Rehoboth this
beach can claim all that Is required for
bathing purposes. II keeps one exercising
pretty constantly, as the surf comes In very
rapidly, and is no respector Of persons,
knocking an Englishman over with just as
much gusto and satisfaction as his more
humble American brother. The sisters
hang on to the ropes, and rush pall nell
over and into each other. Like all bathers
there is little dignity displayed in appear
ance or motion, when we all go down to-
gether, to pay our respects to old ocean
There is board walk from Spring Lake &c
the Columbia, which, whom lighted by the
lamps presents n pretty sight. Then we
have full-1edged wreck the Malta, higt
and dry Mt low tide, opposite the Sur
House, making quito picturesque and i'm
| posing picture. There are a few pretty, In
! decd quite handsome cottages, but no store
nor dwellings, to- remind us OF the busy llf
We left behind us.
This Is emphatically resting-place, an,
II any one tires Of rest he can In u shor
time find all the. gaiety and frivolity h
wants, either ut Spring Lake or Sea Girt ol
, | tho right or Ocean Grove and Asbury Parl
I on tine left. Excursionfsts steer clear oil III
n we rejoice to say, as we glory In our In
4 significance, in their estimation. The ride
around the country are beautiful; vegett
= tfon comes to the very shore. Last week
5 storm, that filled our hearts with fear an
Q awe, and severed so many fond ties In one
happy homes, will long be remembered b
i us all. 1t surrounded us during th
g evening and night, but came upon u
i in all its fury q suppose should sa
: grandeur) about o. m. There was flyln
:, through the corridors of white-robed ange
and knocking at the doors. and gather
s ing together Of weak human beings Afte
!, the worst was over, we ventured near tn
Q window to sec what had become of a sma
q schooner that cast her anchor just below |
a the evening before, apparently becalme,
y | She had dragged her anchor until she WI
Just opposite our house, and with the assis
ance OF opera glAsses we watched OF
IS poor man balling out the water fl
u one long hour, as If his life depende
d upon It, when he sank exhausted. Anoth,
"a came to the rescue, but was unable to
q much (either seasick or had taken his tur
: before) however, between them they final
% succeeded in getting under way, but thel
was great anxiety and greater doubts as
| whether they would be lost or not. Nor
| of our fishermen could brave the wave
It and the life saving station does not ope
N until September. The ocean was mag
: | niflcently grand the evening BEFORE Wit
z the phosphorescent light just one blazs {
fire. Wherever we stepped the sparks he'
q out like electricity. Had we not known tt
l. | cause some of us would have been great
@ frightened; as 1t was the colored waite
,s seemed to think the sweet chariot" ha
" come, and there were so many white foil
to jump In the eolored folks would |
! crowded out. Il really was enough to te
= rify the ignorant and superstitious, an
10 | there was enough of human nature ar0u1
J. to take advantage of the occasion
k demonstrate the fact and cause no HIT
d CONSERVATION, /
a There are many lessons to be learned al
q taught In place like this, and the chief ol
i, here is to make our neighbors' comfort al
: happiness our own, be they high or lo'
= rich or poor. There are about $50 guests
Is the Neptune, which Is its allotted numht
y yet the coming and going create vacancl
,s which are soon filled. We are like one lar
+. family, all distinctions are laid astde
n that the social element Of the house is o.
/ of Its many attractions. Fishing, sailin
= grabbing, tennis and baseball keep tho
u Interested in such sports constantly g
n gagged. Bathing hours are regulated by {
IL tide, on account of the shelving beach.
ie are carefully guarded by boatand a memb
Q. of the life, saving station. The faithl
re- bather who has taken us in charge for {
last ten years died suddenly about mon
ago. His loss L. deeply felt by both old nj
young. especially by the latter, with who
he was great favorite. Harry Pyott cou
g. be seen at any time, sitting around literal
ii covered with the little onnA, who loved hi
" dearly and whom he dearly loved. He W
ty a most excellent, good and conscientio
of | mau, and though not a member of t
a church militant we havo Nvery reason
a. believe that he has been bgtlIed In his t1lI
,d not with the water of earth but with Chris
he righteousness, and his name enrolled In t
+, church triumphant.
mi The Christians privileges are ample
this charming spot. Every denominati
has its own substantial dwelling. Tho
who do not care to go far from the oce
drop In the Presbyterian Westmlnist
nd Chapel, which presents more the appei
til ance of huge stable thnn a church, MS
ay has no windows except In the nrched re
no above. Large doors (exiLctly like the ha
X doors Of our childhood we used to swt
y, open) arc thrown back upon each 9TH
pu and the refreshing breezes pass throuc
ar while we are listening to tho first talent
gh the country. Last Sunday we had DR.. ALI
.e- formerly Of the old Pine Street Church
Philadelphia, and Sunday week the IL
John Dewitt. The mention Of their nan
is sufficient. We gather In more orphan
suppose than any other church here, |
1t, because we arH Pr3shyteridps, hut becaI
ID, tho chapel is so delightfully."- cool, and evt
TO one Is euro OF kind reception. Why
elr wo persist In clinging to ourdenominatiol
~ titles2 When we give an entertainment
~ our house, do we not invite representati
VI of every denominations And do they st
pe to think whether weare Episcopaliani Pr
of byterian, or Baptist, or Methodist, bef
they aecept2 No, they come gladly, che
fully, and sit at our board and partake
our hospitality. Why cannot we go to es