New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-03
A SUNDAY AT SOUTH BEACH.
FEATURES OF THE PLACE AND PEOPLE.
HOW THE pAsnFUL N1ckEu. is CoAxED FROM


HOW THE BAsHFUL NICKEL is CoAxED FROM
THE EASTsIDE wANDERER BY THE SEA-
The motto OF South Beach Is "On'y five cents.
gents ~ South Beach Is not proud. ii is the most
Democratic OF seaside resorts, vertabe Bohemia by
the shore South Beach has no public works. no
body polite corporate no government except n
rusty police force and a rus,ier system OF country
justices Every Is for himself and the particular
brand OF beer susages that he Is selling for the
small sum Of cents In coin OF the realm Inc
booths struggle along the shore for q mile or t"o
along the south shore of Staten Island, 1olne each
other cheek by jowl. rambling board walk OF the
kind that adorned Chicago before the fire, and has
similar number of ups and downs TO the running loo''
skirts the beach and the booths. There are ro"my
verandas and broad platforms, where, for the P,re
OF q glass OF tad beer. may sit In a comio''"Oie
rocking chair sunday afternoon ana rcN'o" :"
procession OF 10000 denizons Of the Fast side wards
What an Goddess variety OF types are presenter !
There is the pink and white German girl, With naHeh
hair and smooth round neck half hidden. har ols
closed by rs cheap but neat lace collar. There Is
the great raw oned blue-eyed scandinavian speak
ing the rugged Runic tongue OF ancient ban ana
scald. Next come the dark eyed daughters % I'di!
with bare heads, weighted with orhaiiieiO' Vi
Etruscan gold and gaudy handkerchiefs folded across
their breasts Following these in endless succession
ore the buxom strong voiced Irish GIRL the slender
spaniad and the Jolly negress; while over all rise
the sdent tones and piercing laughter OF the 'oueh
cr of on q lark along with the young ruhiah OF her
choice.
IL Is q study In humanity and II the student is
catholic in his views broad IN his sympathies ne
Will see much to interest and amuse. The pale urei
mothers dragged out by the cares Of maternity turn
ones thoughts TO those scenes so common IN lhe
homes Of poverty
Where by the swinging clocke.
And through the Growing COCKS,
Some weary mother UckS
Some weary woe.
There are the inquisiive Youngsters who WANDER
far afeld In the pursuit OF novelties and get their
little hands we'll slapped when ovetaken by ex-
asperased parents There is the numbering muscle-
hound figure of the laborer who has come down IN
his workday dress and his Sunday Gag VINO tugs
OF every lifting machine with much splitting on ca
hands blows INTO every lungtesting apparatus until
his eyes bulge ont like Holsters. and has go al
every other ingenious indicator Of muscular powers
All this and much more may the visitor see as ne
rocks upon the shady vcranda, with the sea and lis
ships before him. and the vide sweep OF smooth green
meadows behind him stretching away TO ree-clad mus
dotted with white famhouscs and luxurious cottages.
Down upon the sands crowd OF hardy youngsters
are shouting in the surf. The stalwnrt bathing master
marches up and down In the conscious pride OF his
buging biceps, while solitary shopsrl stands
shiverng upon the brink heStating between her fear
OF the water and consciousness that her stocking is
coming down.
As TO the nickel-ca,ching Devices thar name Is
legion. The sepentne railway is a snaky, endless
train OF that run round and round upon figure
dght track with roar that can be heard mile up
the beach, But above this uproar rise the
shneks OF Ellen Marla who Is taking a ride on
pelghboHng roller coaster with her young man. AS
the car goes over q particularly vicious thank you,
marm.' she screams aloud and hangs on to John IN
evident determination that they shall die together.
At every turn encounters the eloquent ond
30 tafuQ fipfvu No c<
His witness only equalled by hts persistence. Fond
mothers and fonder lovers his legitimate prey.
Have picture. Marin Mother and child 10
gether, satisfaction guaranteed"
This is his rash promise and seductive offer to a
snub- nosed with cr0ss-eyed baby In her arms
"Take the lady's picture. siri Take You both In
group remember the day by Is his line OF attack
when Phyllis and Corydon appear No one was ever
seen to 60 into his BOOTH and the collection OF TN
typed freaks by the door IS never added 10, ana yet
he neither weares weakens
Up by the railroad station is the representation OF
feroclOus steer. standing with head and EOrs lowered
His owner, In stenoran tones invites the public 70
walk mp ana be afraid bui 20 deposit cents for
the privilege Of hitting the steer or the rose With It
heavy beetle. When some curious lOngshoreman has
complied with the request the Imitation steer drops
his head half inch and emits palntivc "mO1,"
suggestive Of mich COW with an empty stomach
and effective lungs.
mring crowd, has an awfully and wonderfully con-
structed apparatus that smokes like peat fire and
smells abominaby OF kerosene. The faklr sits up be
hind II, attlred In a white linen jacket high white
hat and benevolent looking pair of spectacles. With
owlllke solemnlty, he shoves in and out Of vat Of
boiling fat series Of racks containing crullers.
couple Of girls pick mp the cooked crulers as they
drop into PAN squirt q modcum Of sweet iuice into
them. out OF nozzle the side Of the machine and
pass them 10 the hungry multitude. The dis
ngushng Characteristic of this establishment Is the
abnormal silence and fawless dignity with which busi
ness IS conducted. While dime museum men, concert
hall and peanut vendors are yelling
side the rites Of this temple Of kerosene smoke and
fried crulers are conducted In solemn silence.
Last Of all the ride home In the evening
There Is the OF tired humanity packed into the
cattle pen the station. and then damned into the
to be hauled across the island At the boat there
Is wild scamper for seats, and Then the sail the
moonllt Bay affords half hour for romance
one thing be said Of South Beach lovers. They
are not bashfu They nothing for the cold eve
Of the unsympahetic world. They simply wind their
arms around each other and give full swing 10 the
sentiment Of the situation. No fears the rdlculc
OF his neghbOr. for his ncighhOr throw stones
From half dozen different musical centres arise the
strains Of the latest popular airs. And with song
and jest and laughter the big boat bears Its load OF
workers back TO the city OF toll.