The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-08-28
SIDE PATH ACROSS yEssSr.
Down tho Coast and Through the Immense
Pine Forest TO Philadelphia.

There are more ways to go to Philadelphia
from New York than most persons imagine.
but the way that 10 most unlike the others Ia
the route through the pine barrens OF south
Jersey. To make that journey one must take
the Pennsylvania Railroad to Long Branch
and then take q shore line train for Philadel-
phia. A quicker way Is to 90 by way OF FREQ
hold and Jamesburg to the main line ut Mon
mouth junction. but except that the cars pass
over the Monmouth battlefield there is nothing
peculiar about TINT route. though it is one OF
the ways New Workers know little about. But
tho shore route is like ride in n foreign land.
To begin with the train goes to oil the Jer-
sey coast resorts that lie below Asbury Park.
and that are to be big and famous next CEN
fury. but are not so yet There Is n host OF
these resorts. They stand shoulder to
shoulder. all looking out to sen, In such
close neghborhood that watering plnces
grow rs common as farms in other
places and each new square OF white sand
has It's station. its notice OF cheap lots for
sale. its big hotel and naked group OF cottages,
and its girls In flanpels and mon on bicycles.
Some arc MS shabby rs IL the mien-
mum was far away. and Others are gay
with fresh paint. but all are small
aud calculated to arouse wonder as to why
they wore built and who goes to them. At Bay
Head Ia met the upper end OF Barnegat Bay.
and below that the new little resorts huddle
on a narrow. breezy strip OF snnd. with the
ocean in front and tho bay behind. as II they
could not get away without learning to swim.
but were well satisfied whore they are. One OF
these places is Chadwck,s. long famous as a
place OF only its share OF the few ducks that
still resort to tho bay. At place cal ed Sea-
the ocean and dart inland. making n stop ut
ancient Toms River. which was quite lively
and somewhat tloody place in the time OF our
The whole width OF New Jersey lies before
tho locomotive; and tho whole distance at
is covered by the Pines-th queer. dwnrfed.
silent. sparsely peoplcd forest INTO which
t alter aterward as II he had been to Esyp INFO
this, forest, which covers the whole lower end
of the State. the train thundders; giving the
white sand and short: thin PING trees; OF un.
certain wO?d rNnd Of
ike tracts. where the ground is as clear as
Il force of men had cleaned it up.
The railroad statons amid little .iUrl knots
Dimes are fuil Of people. Of villages. and, Of
Lakewood and the thrifty towns OF Nineland
and Brdgeton are the tiggest, places: The
others ere queer little hndd!ss OF house, nn as
Trouble. Alligator, Sluankums Caiico Martha t.g.
Mary AnTs M Rn Msepy 05G
on. The most peculiar and interesting place
in the forest is tho dead town Of Alaire. once
the seat of n great iron works and nov. n brick
village with empty houses. over which vines
trail most picturesauely. There is no largo
game in tho forest and no fishing worth the
trouble OF doing. But duck and occasional
geese. quail. and grouse are to he had Ii pow
der waits ON patience. Apprecia!ive. nature
loving eyes are more valuable there than a
gun for in the woods. which are clean and
easy to penetrate in most, places. are many
sorts Of onks, Of cedars. wild naples. the dog.
wood. tho tulip tree. holly. laurel. and wild
flowers and berries in great plenty.
The inhabitants are as n rule less beautiful.
hut help out the foreign aspect OF this queer
route to Philadelphia. A slouching. ignorant.
poor lot OF people are the "Piners." ms they are
called. They correspond with the poor whites
Of the South. and many Of their surroundings
are dist lnctly Southern. like he Spanish moss.
the stained waters. the persimmon trees. the
gum berries. and much besides. suddenly tho
woods thin. tho soil darkens. farms appear.
and coscy houses. Then the conductor calls
out Mount Holly. and the passengers are back
in the routine Of Middle States civilization and
only thirty minutes from Philadelphia.