The record-union., 1891-08-29

background to innumerable modern
structural elegancies, and as the accom-
modations in '1udgings," the more
spruce and dignified apartments" in
dainty and cozy old inns and in great
modern hotels, are vastly more import
ant, the places have more the everyday
air of occupation and enjoyment, and are
the less dependent upon the sudden ac-
ceSsion of enormous numbers of one day
visitors, though the latter flood down
from London in mighty human tides.
Both Margate and Ramsgate are reached
by the London and Southeastern railway
and by the channel steamers from Lon
don Bridge. From June until October
the former sets down an average of 10000
and the latter an average of 1000 Lon
doners daily at the two resorts, while on
Saturdays frequently 100000 ''tripperS,' ~
as one day eXcursiOnistS are called, are
often gathered here from all quarters.
The English people, of all classes, make
much of what they call their week
ends" The Saturday half holiday is
universal.
While the business mans week ''end''
may begin on Friday evening, the clerks
and all manner of lowly workers "week
end" begins at one minute after noon on
Saturday. and in England, of all coun-
tries l know, the transportation lines
stand ready to move millions of men and
"OHlGh " NudUbNGI SCdSllO or country
points they may wish to go and to return
them to their homes in time for Monday
mornings drudgeries with a celebrity
and cheapneSS which are positively as
founding.
The London popular heart leans more
to Margate and Ramsgate than to much
nearer Gravesend, or to grander and
more stirring Brighton. The ride across
Kent by rail is like whirling through q
wOn6rpl1G Cror1np Tho Of hr
grasses and grains, the odor Of the vast
strawberry beds, and the soporific in
cense of the forests of hops, are in them
selves a glorious journey, while the TRIP
by steamer down the historic Thames and
out into the open sea has all the glamor
and possibilities experienced by the
worthy "Tugges'' on their memorable
trip to Ramsgate, after their sudden rise
IN the world, as precedent to their enter
ing London society.
Once at Margate there is the inevitable
pier, and a grand reach of rock, shingle
and sand in a noble crescent, whose
horns are glorious cliffs surmounted by
picturesque homes. The town dips grace.
fully in all directions to the splendid
esplanade, and this and the arena OF
toreShOre beneath it are the whole day
long filled with a seething mass of Lon
con 'Arrys'' and "'Arriets." If there
is any chance of the visitor forgetting
what his special mission is in MargatC
there are fifty people at hand to jog his
memory, and TO take care that it is carried
out with all the vigor and enthusiasm
that is possible.
There is the Hall-by-the-sea where you
can attend afternoon concerts and even
ing concerts, where you can visit the Zoo
logical Gardens attached thereto, and
dance to your hearts content in the ball
room if so disposed" There is the
Royal Theater; there is the Marine Pal
ace, with its excellent variety entertain
ment, and its balls on Saturdays and
Mondays. There are interesting swim
ming entertainments at the Marine Pal
ace baths; and there is the Grotto, with
its curious Shellwork in the Dane fol-
those who choose to investigate it. In
addition to these there are all sorts OF
minor entertainments and diversions.
There are sea excursions morning, af-
ternoOn ahd evening in the good steamer
India. There are trips in sailing boats OF
all descriptions. There are country
jaunts III every species of conveyance,
and trips to be taken to that old Roman
fortress, the Reculyer, to that pretty little
bungalow hamlet, Birchington, where
Rosetti lived and died; to Kingsgate, and
a little farther on to the North Foreland
Lighthouse, where the clock wonders OF
the revolving light can be inspected. Re-
turning to Margate itself there is the band
on the jetty. There are bands on the
sands, there are bands over the way and
bands around the corner. There are CON
jurers, there are acrObats, there are mig
gers" and other performers, who have q
wonderful pit audience on the sands, sup
ported by an enthusiastic dress-circle be-
hind the ratings of the esplanade.
There are sellers of shrimp and the
photograph phalanaxes; there are shops
full OF the most curious toys whitfield out
by sailors; there are panOramaS and cy-
ClOramas; there are glass blowers, coniu-
rors and grinders, who placard the an
nouncement upon their wares of Dear
Mothers, Dear Old Dads" Dear Old
Jacks" and Dear Old Mother-in-laws-
always in stockn' And there are the
heartiest lovers in ali the world. Your
English lovers are never ashamed of it.
In railway carriages, in public parks, at
concert halls, and here at Margate and
Ramsgate the staccato of rouslng smacks
runs from end TO end Of the golden sands,
a chirrupy picket fire OF Loves advance
forces. Nobody is shocked. Every
body is glad. larry, if you love me,
be 'artyv' is 'Arriet's invitation to her
lover, and AIRY fails not of improv-
ing the sunny hours at NIargate and
Ramsgate.
The rollicking humors of the Ramsgate
sands are precisely the same. At both
places LOuuOn people come TO breathe the
air of absolute freedom. Sentimentality
and stateliness, save of the Mr.. Cynon
Tuggs variety, have no room for devel-
opment here. Everybody is ''going it''
The universal spirit of the place is "going
in for going it." 1t is a frolic to be even
donkey here. Everybody is indefati-
gable. The fly men and bus drivers roar
it and below it. The boatmen, bathing
machine men, walters, porters, photo
graphers, donkey boys and 'busketers''
seem to exist in the same atmosphere OF
going it," Drinks are swallowed at a
gulp; meals are bolted; everybody
lunges; the faces of all are in a crimson
stew, All tastes and inclinationS are cat
cred to.
1t is the one and only pleasure day of
the whole year to, perhaps, a million
souls who come to Margate and Rams
gate. II these have no time to study the
grand rocks of Margate and the grander
chalk cliffs of Ramsgate. if the real beauty
of the former is never recognized and the
charm of the endless shades of the an
tique terraces Of the latter wholly escape
those who come to ricochet in Iurid heat
and ivid nervousness through thousand
uncouth advertisements, it is not because
Merry Mother Margate holds not innu-
merable noble charms, or "Royal Rams
Britain, is not itself one of the most pic
turesque old seaside cities of the world.
EDGAR l.. WAKEMAN.
He WAS AND HE WASN'T.
When Jonah created that stir on the ship,
And his comrades concluded they'd finish the