Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-22

lists make up the population and crowds in
the summer. The shopkeepers rather scorn-
fully serve them. But these fine shadings
of distinction are willingly recognized and
borne by summer tenants, and are never
seen by those to whom one day in the year
at Southport is the sole inspiration of a
twelvemonths' brave saving.
Scenically Southport is winsome rather
than striking. 1t would be ranked beauti-
ful in itself were there no added charm Of
shore or sea. Its long, cool streets, reach
ing back countryward, are beautiful.
Crossing these and running parallel with
the shore, but shut away from it by a single
great range of sea-view baths, pavilions
and hotels, is one of the finest avenues in
| Europe. 1t recalls Princess street, Edin-
burgh, the Paris boulevards and the Prado
of Havana. This is the great avenue of
shops and bazars, of equestrian display, a
sort of Rotten Row for brilliant equipages,
and the grand promenade for beautiful and
beautifully dressed women. With all its
| splendor it has hushed and quiet air In
deed, this dreamtul pensiveness is charac-
teristic of the entire place. 1t is not
languor. 1t is the sea airs tender bidding
to rest. Something like it comes with the
soft breezes in Florida, in the Bahamas,
and with those witching, narcotic breaths
that pulse and throb in Cuba and the
Azores
I Exclusive of it's seashore delights the
place is provided with so great number OF
genuine attractions that the dearth of these
In our own watering places becomes hui
initiating reflection.
| WASTE PLACES BLOSSOM.
On land reclaimed from sand there has
been made one of the most exquisite parks
in England. Its winter gardens, open all
the year round, and affording various forms
of entertainments and recreatiOns, cost over
$500, 900. "A conservatory and aquarium,
among the finest in Britain, are also here.
Its Kew gardens are only second to the
Royal Kew in London. Its free public
library and art gallery would honor any
city. The Victoria Baths cost nearly $780,
900. And its botanic gardens and museum
are alone worth days visit. 1t would al
most seem that in this extraordinary pro-
vision for the recreative and educative di-
version lies suggestion of value to our own
managers of great resorts. There are var
iety and diversity in it. 1t minimizes the
loahng tendency in huge crowds which be-
gets rowdyIsm. 1t pays because it attracts
the same people again and again.
The city faces the sea to the west For
three or four miles along its front runs the
Marine Esplanade. The great hotels, the
most imposing private residences, the grand
| baths and payilions, extend to the north
and south along this, forming an almost un-
broken facade of great beauty and interest.
In front of all this, the sands and the sea;
the sands an ample playground for millions,
| not thousands, of visitors. the sea q dream
| of majestic sweetness and repose. From a
central street u pier has been built across
the sands, which are covered by spring tides
| and often left like polished gold by other
| I. IL
a mile in length and one of the longest in
England. 1t provides awide promenade all
this distance; and cable passenger railway
runs nearly to its seaend.
| A WOODEN PLEASURE GROUND.
Here the pier is broadened to perhaps an
| acre in area, and there are refreshment
rooms music pavillions and room for dane
ing Seats are everywhere, and the pier
can comfortably accommodate 5000 loung-
ers and pedestrians; while from the sea
channel beneath it, exclusions are made to
as far north as Barrow, as far west as the
Isle of Man, and as far south as Llandudno
in Wales.
To the right and left of the great pier is
always to be seen the real holiday activity
of Southport. The sands, or foreshore as
they are called here, are fully three-fourths
of mile broad. One could follow them,
along this or greater breadth, for 20 miles
to the south, and to the north all along the
Lancashire coast and around Morecambe
bay on the north, q distance of more than
100 miles. | have never elsewhere seen so
noble reach of beach. 1t is pure sand, with
no "shingle" and scarcely q pebble within
it. To the left is marine park within the
sands, a salt water lake within this, and all
the grotesque shows .inseparable from a
great popular resort grouped beyond in a
manner permitting the closest police sur
veillance.
b To the right, there is little but the sand
and the sea. 1t is the playground of big
and little children, and gloriously the thou
sands enjoy it. A stranded brig, sitting
bolt upright in the sand adds zest to the
picture. A fleet of sandboats-curious,
wide-tired wagons propelled by sails
course over this level plain. At the shore
edge beyond, are rows of ragged bathing
vans, like an emigrant train gone into en-
campment. Donkeys, Salvationists and
vagrom musicians are everywhere; but not
a single beggar is allowed in all the parish
| precincts.
| THE MINERS HOLIDAYS.
| For myself love best to come to South
| port when the great interior hives of indus
| try belch forth their thousands for DAYS
outing here; or the Lancashire or Cheshire
miners come down stronger in numbers
| than any one of our single armies during
the late Civil War. That may seem like
exaggeration. Only few days ago was
| one of Just such crowd here at Southport.
| Not only did 10, 900 miners leave the black
coal pits voiceless behind them, but many
| of their families came. The great wheels
at the pit mouths were. still, and all the
''pit-brow lassies,' with some of my own
good friends among them, came also. More
than 100, 900 of these sturdy folk were here
nearly as many souls as are housed in
Rochester or Louisville-and all in one day.
1t is at such times that one may know, if
he will use his eyes, how precious thing is
the CLINT of the waves, the cool touch of the
golden sands, the whispered lullaby and
mysteries of the sea, and all the benefcence
of Gods blessed sunlight kissing through
life-giving airs the pallor from out these
toil-scarred faces, to unused, eager eyes and
haunted, hungry hearts.
EDGAR L. WAKEMAN.
SUMMER RESORTS-A feature of the
Sunday issue of THE DISPATCH Is news