Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1892-07-04
"a TRIP TO WILDWOOD.
THE JERSEY RESORT WRITTEN UP
BY A VISITOR.

Try the Beautiful and Healthy Littl
Town by the Seaside, in Which a Mum
Der of FreeIand People Are Interested
On Wednesday morning, June %, Mr.
Birkbeck of Freeland, Mr.. Klinger anc
the writer of Sandy Run, together witt
our families boarded the train for Wild
wood. N. j. The ride as far as Phila
delphla, although the scenery along the
route was old to us, was not tedious
one by any means, as the weather was
pleasantly cool and the whole party en-
A.ayed this part of the trip very much.
We arrived in Philadelphia at one
O'Clock and having several hours tc
spare before taking the train for Wild.
wood, the ladies spent this time in
inspecting the stores on Market and
Eighth streets. OF course the pretty
things they saw were very tempting and
as is quite natural, to see was to purchase.
Tommy and |, seeing nothing to
tempt or interest us particularly, put in
the time doing nothing but keeping up
the rear end of the procession. We
might have gone out and "seen man, +"
but the ladies assured us that they
would be only five or ten minutes. !"
So, taking their word for it, we remain
ed only to reap the reward of victims of
misplaced confidence, for tt,e FIVE or ten
minutes grew into hours and by the
time they got through it was time to
start for Camden, where we were to
take the train for the seaside.
We left Camden at 4.15 p. NJ, via the
West Jersey Railroad, and arrived at
Wildwood at $50, making the run of
seventy-four miles in two hours and
fifteen minutes. The scenery along this
route was, new to my party, and when
we struck the ocean the children's
enthusiasm knew no bounds.
At Wildwood we stopped at Mr. Birk-
beck's cottage "Silver Dean," very
pretty one facing the ocean, and only
about two hundred yards from the beach.
1t is kept by Mrs. G. Nj. Edgar, of Phila-
delphia, who cordially welcomed US and
at once made us feel perfectly at home.
Being the first arrivals at her house we
had everything our own way, and she
took every precaution to make it pleasant
for us. After supper all took walk
down to the beach. Unfortunately little
or no breeze was stirring at this time, so
after enjoying a look at the "sad sea
waves for awhile the ladies returned to
the cottage while we started out to see
the town and arrange programme for
the morrow.
Next day we took swim in the ocean,
and while padding about in the waves
the ladies said they never saw such
homely looking men in their lives.
Now that kind of talk was pretty rough
on us, as we rather prided ourselves on
our good looks, but we laid the blame to
the bathing suits and accepted the COM
pliment with as good grace as was
possible under the circumstances.
In the afternoon we took carriage
and drove up tie Anglesea, two miles
above Wildwood. The ride along the
beach was delightful and beneficial.
This beach furnishes an elegant driving
course, being as solid and smooth as
floor; in fact so firm that the wheels of
the carriage scarcely made dent in the
sand. There was a stiff breeze, chuck
full OF ozene, "a little salted however)
blowing from the ocean, which was
indeed very inyigorating.
Coming home we drove through the |
woods, stopping at Wildwood park This
is a lovely grove of holly, cedar, white
oak and pine trees, together with other
forms OF vegetation somewhat similar to |
what we have here in the mountains,
such as grape vines, huckleberry bushes,
sassafras trees, honeysuckles and morn
ing glories and l noticed the ground was
completely covered with peculiar kind
of evergreen, something like our trailing
arbutus, and which produces a white
flower, very fragrant. The magnolia
tree, which you would hardly expect to
find anywhere but in the Southern states.
ilourshes here in all its beauty, the
flowers filling the air with their sweet
perfume.
The holly tree is perhaps the most
interesting to be found there. l am not
acquainted with its history, but it is
certainly the most peculiar tree | ever
saw. One of its characteristics appears
to be that of twisting itself into all
manner of inconceivabe shapes. 1t
seems as full of tricks as a monkey, and
if your imagination is lively enough you
can find lots of amusement naming the
different forms which its branches as
sumo. Such for instance as horse collars,
horse shoes, swords, hearts, etc.
l noticed several growing together
from one stump and connected about six
feet from the ground by a ligament.
These are called the "Siamese twins"
and the "Chinese twins" Others are
twisted up so much that it would be
impossible to trace the branches. The
cedars are very beautiful trees, most of
them being covered with a growth of
fine moss, making them both attractive
and pleasing to the eye.
There is also in the park a lake of
fresh water. upon which you may enjoy
boating to your hearts content. 1t is
only two or three feet deep, therefore
perfectly safe for children. The grounds
are fitted up with every possible con-
venience and is pleasure grove in every
sense of the word. Here you can take
your choice-if you don't like the ocean
you can take to the woods.
They are now cutting channel from
the lake to the grabbing grounds, which
are about half-mile from the park, SO
those visiting the grounds may reach
them in boats instead of having to walk.
Grabbing is splendid fun-the little
fellows are easily caught if you know
how, but l assure you they are mighty
cute and you have to watch them lest
they prove to be like the "Irishman's
flea"
wildwood is without doubt one of the
most beautiful, cleanly and healthful