The Portland daily press., 1893-08-21
THEY AFFECT THE RESORTS.
How Hard Times Are Felt at Asbury Park
Corbett and His Neighbors.
Especial Correspondence

the prevailing hard times than almost
any other summer resort. said as much
to the driver of the stage which brought
me from the railroad depot to the hotel
this morning. BY way of reply he gave
me concise review of the situation
from his standpoint.
''It may look to you," he said, gazing
contemplatively over the backs Of his
rawboned horses, "as if business was
jess as good here this year as twas last.
But faint, nowhere near. They's jess
as many stages here by the depot sheds,
an they meet jess as many trains, but
they amt near as many folks gifts off the
trains an on the stages. An them as
comes don't spend near as much money
Now, amt had one tip this year where
useter have three last year." and
panied look settled upon his face, sal
though I'm jess as careful with my pas
sengers now as was then. AS fer cigars,
the gents this year don't hardly ever
offer me none Why, certainly; don't
care if d." as broke the record by
handing him cigar. ssTimes is pickin
up fer sure, but the relief is only local
an temporary. That return of general
confidence we read about an don't know
nothin about, amt here yet.
81 don't say that we amt a-doin Of no
business here in the Park this year." he
went on, biting and lighting, ''fer we be,
an fair business, too, as you kin see
fer yourself, sir. But comparin with
last year it amt in it. Last year was a
hoopin big year. Wenever had no bust
ness like it afore. This here old stage was
loaded every trip all day long, an the
hotels an boardin houses was all full an
overhowin, an times was good. Yes, sir
reel Biz was SO almighty good that as
soon as the season was over with the
landlords begin to make additions to their
houses an spent lot of money that-a-
way, an now they wisht they hadn't.
s.Some of them that didn't build their
houses bigger is filed up now, but they
amt near so many men in the crowd as
they was last year, an more folks comes
to stay fer week an no more by long
sight. The highest price hotels gifts it in
the neck more'n the mejum places, but
guess nobody won't bust up here if con-
gress does something pretty soon.
don't know nothin bout them things,
though" he added apologetically.
The facts in the case bear out the
drivers statements in general. The
railroad authorities say that they are
running the same number of trains as
last year, but will shortly take some of
them off. Travel is about one-quarter
to one-third less than last year, although
quite as large as it was the year before.
The hotel men with few exceptions say
that their business is fairly profitable,
but the men who run the cigar stands,
the fruit stands, ETC., report consider
able falling off. It is clear that the hard
times have not yet seriously affected the
pockets of those who come to Asbury
Park for their summer outing, but it is
also clear that the cream has been skim
med off.
The people who come here are home
like lot. Few are rich as we esteem
riches these days, and none is poor
They almost all belong to the stratum Of
society that is by common consent called
the upper middle class. They are quiet
in their tastes and not given to drink
ing or doing startling things. If they
were, they wouldn't be here, and when
by chance pronounced wording To-
Gates for the summer in s'the Park" his
or her stay is likely to be cnt short.
1t soon becomes apparent to the per-
son seeking mad pleasures that Asbury
Park is frightfully dull when ones OBJ
ject is a lively life, and it becomes no
less nor tardily evident that ones room
is preferred to ones COMPANY by the rest
of the people whoEare here.
James + Corbett Isl one of the board
ers at one Of the hotels, and his presence
is variously regarded. The older ones
among the townsfolk generally, as dis
tinguished from the summer folk, are
noncommittal. If his presence brings
others and SO adds to the sum total of
the seasons business, well and good. II
it drives away any of the conservative
element and SO damages business, the
reverse will be held.
The young men of the village are en-
thusiastic about their pugilistic visitor,
ttAu oO 10 uIlO Up1iSl, ua+O A1OfapCAo VI WiI1On
went i'll body to the hotel where he is
staying on the night of his arrival and
gave him rousing serenade, free Of
charge to any one. There was some
growing about this at first, but it has
died out. The summer folk do not seem
to be opposed to his being here, because
he has habit Of conducting himself as
quietly as the most conservative among
themselves
"He don't put on no airs" my stage
driving friend said i'll talking about him.
'You wouldn't think from his ways or
his talk that he was the first an only
blokie as ever licked John L. Hes reel
sociable, but he don't put himself in
where he amt wanted. He's a gentle
man, say"
Sunday is of course the big day of the
week. There are more men here then.
Husbands and sons and brothers and
sweethearts who have not thought it a
good thing to leave business during the
week begin to arrive on the early trains