The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1888-04-21
THE QUEEN OF THE COAST.


lions offered by Cape May.
There is perennial youthfnlness about
| old Cape May which is continually TAX
| ing shape in some new enterp. Use de
| signed to add additional attractiveness to
the famous resort. In the days OF Old,
when the fame of Cape May stood out
boldly against all the world AS the pleasure
resort OF the American people, popular
demand was not so exactlng. The vide
| reaching beach, the grand surf, good
hotels and fine company gave abundant
pleasure to the hosts Of visitors who
.iourneyed thither by boat or stage or
cumbrous family coach. They demanded
no meretricious features to heighten the
natural loveliness OF ocean and sky or to
| add to the fascination of atmosphere. IL
ras enough if they lived well aud rereled
in the beauty that surrounded them.
Liter on the world seemed to revolve
more rapidly, the visiting hosts were
whlrled over the Jersey sands in hours
instead of days. They found the same old
Cape May which their fathers and grand
fathers had known, but the tastes of the
children had changed. They lived more
in a day than their ancestors did in a
week. They longed for Dewness and
freshness, and pined for excitement.
Great hotels were built to conform to
their uotions. Society held summer
court on the sands; glitteriDg equipages
rolled along on the glistening beach, fes-
rivals of music and song mingled their
harmony with never. ceasing music of the
waves; great pier was projected out into
the deep, where mirth and iestivlty
chased away care. 1t was a new Cape
| May evolved from the substance of the
old
The charming characteristics of the old
| queen remained intact. She was only
dressed in the costume Of a modern day.
| Year by year the old queen has appeared
to renew her youth and III the same pro-
portion has she grown i'll popular favor
| Thousands of rivals have sprung into De-
ing and developed into prominence, but
Cape May, like the brook, goes on for
| ever holding the old friends and gaining
new cues.
A striking fact in this connection is
that everyone vino visits Cape May
always returns. 1t may be for day only
or two days, yet they go back. There Is
a singular charm in sea and air and surf,
which tempts the one time visitor to re-
| new acquaintance with the pleasuretul
surroundings.
| The prospects for the coming season
are bright. There is more activity in
real estate than ever known before, and
the demand for cottages and accommo
datious ioreshadow that not only are a
large number of old admirers returning
| to their first love, but hosts of new suitorS
are joining tae proce ssion. The moneyed
men, who have proven their faith by
| large investments of capital in various
Cape May enterprises, are contributing
~. IL. I.
season will see inaugurated. They recog
uize the fact that in order to hold her
high place amid the keen rivalry of her
nelghb ors, Cape May must offer other
attractions than those which nature has
so generously lavished upon her.
Last summer, after hasty organization
aud rapid preparation, the grounds of the
Cape May Athletic Club were opened
The success of the undertaking was con-
spicuous. It's organizers and patrons
embraced all the prominent residents and
property owners, and the spectators OF
| the sports included everybody. This
season the handsome grounds will be
| improved and series of athletic exhibi-
| tions and sports of every character ex-
tending through the summer will be
arranged. The club is regularly -accreu
| tied member of the Amateur Athletic
Association. and its membership in this
band gives it many privileges aud advan-
| tages that 1t would not otherwise enjoy
| The lovers of good sport will undoubtedly
witness some fine exhibitions on these
grounds The glitterng gem of this
years acquired attractions is the race
track. \ very eligible piece of ground
JUS outside the city limits on the turn
pike leading to the Point has been pur-
chased by the Cape May Driving Park
| Association. A mile and halt mile
track have been laid out and built, and
work on the grand stand, club house, ana
stables is to be commenced at an earl,
| day and pushed forward to completion
| against the opening of the season. The
| grand stand will accomG Jdate 5000 people
and the stable is to furnish stalls for -
to 100 horses. In the arrangement ami
| construction of track and buildings some
novel improvements will be added. There
is hardly room for doubt that the race
course will be Il most successful one, as it
will be au excellent track, both for run
ming aud trottng; and the easy means OF
access from all the sporting centres OF the
land assures the presence of the best
horses.
The old Cape has long borne the palm
for the beauty of it's women. and it. may
now win new laurels from the physical
strength of its men and the records made
on its Philadelphia Times.