Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1890-08-07
A New York Letter.

the things are not; or perhaps the
proximity Of Asbury Park casts wick
ed glare on the beach and reduces all
things to it's own level. Certainly AS
bury Park would not elevate Que or
makes ones soul tremble with many
lofty aspirations, the chief desire being
to get into the water and have some
thing to eat. The last is SO potent that
people seem to be eating all the time.
Popcorn is the favorite. 1t is a fad,
and at the concerts, on the beach. in
the streets and everywhere you will
see the ball Of popcorn gradually being
destroyed. A certain amount of artis-
tic handling is necessary, as it is but
too easy to get four fingers very sticky
with the syrup that holds the corn to-
gether; the balls are done up in pre-
pared paper. which plays large part
in the beach decorations. Bathers are
few when compared with the numb Der
of people that visit the grove and park.
1t is estimated that between thirty and
forty thousand people go to the Grove
alone and more to Asbury Park. AT
Asbury you can be wicked; that is you
can go TO the hops, ride on the merry
go-rounds and toboggan chutes, row in
boat apparently propelled by swans,
and do many reckless things: then
when your conscience smites you take
a plain, every day boat, go across the
lake and you are in the land OF ch urches,
camp-meetings and young pe"ple's
meetings. At any hour in the day you
can find some kind Of service, many of
the houses hanging out bulletin boards
announcing the hour and place where
the latest arrival may be heard. Servi-
ces are held out doors and in on Sunday;
the effect of some hundreds of people
seated on the sand, with the ocean at
their backs, listening to some earnest
brother, who stops frequently to start
hymp, which is supported by cor
net, is very fine. And Ocean Grove is
liberal, it listens with equal interest to
a black or white speaker.
A board walk runs along the beach
for nearly two miles, from which at in
tervals, platforms are projected for the
use of any minister who is courageous
enough to out talk the waves. Only
those who are very near can hear, but
the others look equally interested.
The winter residents number tW enty-
two hundred, although most of the
houses look more like summer homes
than winter houses. The larger part
OF the buildings are tent shape and
ra ther small, villas and cottages being
scarce. Hundreds of people fulfill the
traditions Of the place and actually
camp, that is if living in tent where
the butcher, grocer and baker call for
orders can be called camping. The
tents are large enough to hold three
and four double beds. separated from
each other by curtains, while the
kitchen is always of wood, and gener-
ally holds good range. The front or
sleeping rooms are carpeted, and often
look very pretty with their marine
decorations of shells, scales, etc. One
is supposed to live outdoors entirely,
SO that small quarters are no objection.
Rainy days? Put on your bathing suit
and go in the surf, or else your gossa-
mer and go to one of the numerous pa
vilions along the board walk. Rainy
days are really interesting for the surf
is high and the bathers consequently
more lively than usual.
The women are always amusing, for
they never swim nor float; just stand
on the edge Of the water where they
are covered with sand and general de-
bris by every incoming wave, and as
the sewers are emptied into the ocean,
the debris is not always pleasant. Once
in while some girl, braver than the
others, will wade out to where the
water reaches her knees, then bob down
frantically when she sees q breaker
coming. The proper way to receive
breaker is to give slight jump when
it strikes you; if you keep your balance
you land safely on your feet, If you
don't land on your feet you reach the
beach in a few moments with your
mouth full of seaweed, sand and
swear words.
The costumes I saw could not be OBJ
jected to; they were ell plain and mod
est as could be de5lred, and [ saw no
Objectionable couples on the beach.
Perhaps printed request that visitors
would do nothing they would hesitate
to do at home may be the explanation.
The women look better in the surf han
the men as a rule, for well formed men
seem to go to other places, while most
of the girls look pretty. particularly in
the evening when every one prone
nades on the board walk and listens to
the worst band in christendom. They
play without any sense of the entities,
numbering "Columbia" and Wagner
with equal freedom. What astonished
me was that the people applauded.
There are two places where the band
holds forth alternating nightly with
harp and violin. One other instru-
ment accompanies these two, but it
only emitted groans and squeaks; no
one knew what it was, so felt deli
cacy about asking the performer.
The band plays "Annle Raoney" at
the sacred concerts on Sunday even
ings. the leader saving the air with
L., say~ ~