The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-10-16

slippery gangway into rocking boat is at
tended with so much difficulty and dis
comfort that we land in Heligoland with
feelings quite other than those with which
We first beheld the island rising from the
waves.
But when we have found our rooms and
rearrangei our disheveled toilet, the spot
less cleanliness of our surroundings, the
CHEEKY asp ect of town and people, and,
above ali, the indescrlhable sensation of
freshness and strength awakened by every
breath of the strong sea air, have quite re-
stored our good nature and we sally forth
10 explore.
The first few days the visitor to Heligo-
land finds it difficult to shake Off the im-
preston of being in a toy town, as if he
were walking under green paper trees.
The houses are all built on the pattern in
vented by the gentleman who designs the
cardboard towns-and whose name history
unfortunately fails 10 state-the streets
are so narrow and so regular, and the
whole is SO startiingly clean, it does not
seem possible that it can be
real town for real mortaIs TO in
habit The houses are so close to one
another that word III more than ordinary
tone can be heard throughout the block,
and an infectious laugh will enliven al
most all the town. The lower town bears
the mark of the water place too plainly to
be interesting. 1t is entirely given no to
the summer guest, the houses all built
with an eye 10 possible boarders, the
stores full of useless. expensive 'souven-
irs of Helhgoland," the massive stone
structures OF the Casino, facing the
peer, the equally massive bath estab-
fishment, it all looks about the same
as any other European seaside resort,
only q little more So" that is, there are
no hotels al all, the guests take rooms in
the various houses and their meals at one
or the other OF the restaurants, whose
number and size astounded me not little.
so out of all proportion to the town are
they until discovered what an appetite
the air here arouses. For those who
love the sea and its pleasures, He'll
eoland possesses ali the qualities
necessary to successful watering place
hut for those who care more for the
social side OF summer life il would not be
attractive The new Casino is not vet
fufiy completed, so the attendance is di-
yjdei between that portion of the build
ing already omen and the old Casino, fur
Their back in the town. There is no beach
ON the island, so that the bathing is done
on q sandbar reached by from one to three
quarters vi an AouR > san, according to
weather.
The boats are rOomy and comfortable
running every four minutes during the
forenoon. and On the sandbar there are
tro good restaurants and every possible
convenience for bathing. Men and women
have separate portions OF the beach allotted
n them for bathing, each with polite AZ
PENDANTS, and provided with sufi-
Gent mum Der of the queer green
bathing carts used all over Europe.
The women's bath is the most in
terestlng from pictorial point of view,
the attendants in their queer white cos
FUMES looking from a distance like great
white birds. These good tshereiyes have
no easy time OF II, standing up 20 the
knees IN the icy water Of ther 0rth sea.
with an equal icy breeze blowing their
vet garments about them. while they
hold the bands Of some timid female who
sits on the sand and marvels AT her own
bravery in ventur.Dg ont thus far
The waters OF the North sea are ALWAYS
cold. and one cannot remain III the bath
LONGER than five minutes. but tor those
strong enough to bear the temperature
thew are said 20 possess strengthening and
healing properties far beyond those Of
warmer waters.
In very stormy weather the boats TO the
sand bar do not ran, but one can battle in
the bath house with It's superb plunge and
arrangements for every variety OF bath
The sailing IS suPerh. fishing and shoot
ing-gu.ls, ducss, eCc. excellent, the aC-
commodatioDs and the tables at the var
ious restaurants likewise, so that one
can pass several weeks here very
pleasantly. Dress IS out Of the ques-
tion, the climate makes woolens a
necessity. the wind Clsarranges ANYTHING
out the simplest nacdgear and the want vi
. celtra4 point OF meeting t0r the summer