Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-24
DOWN BY THE SEA.
How One Can Have Enjoyment at
Atlantic City.
A FAv RITE ORT.
Visitors OF All Glasses and Conditions Are
There and All Find a Field for Pleasure
or Recreation-Some of the Varied Amuse-
ments.
rrespondence Of The Evening Star.


or all the summer resorts on the shore OF our
glorious old Atlantic its namesake city is the
prime favorite OF the great majority Of people,
who when the summer time comes leave the
hot towns, the dust and the noise. for the sea-
shore and its cool breezes. Nowhere on the
coast can you find opportunity for greater
diversity of recreation. From the rock-bound
coast of Maine to the Florida Keys there is no
place like Atlantic City.
There is Old Orchard. with it's pine woods
and rock-strewn coast and Its coterie Of old ad-
mirers that troop down there wear after year.
There is Newport, with its garrison and train
ing station. its handful Of army people and ito
cottagers. who spend their summers at the port
and their winters elsewhere. Then comes Long
Branch, that delightful place. where 9 man who
would be anybody must be somebody. This is
really a charming place if you have plenty Of
money; that is all that is required to foot the
bill. A little further down the coast 10 Ocean
Grove. with its feast of tabernacles and its
tented avenues Of pilgrims place Of rest, q
haven of safety, boon and blessing to mothers
and children. And then We come to Spring
Lake. an orchid among the common plants that
flourish on the Jersey coast--a seaside park
stately array of private cottages beautiful trees
and lakes and broad expanse Of blue sea and
hard white beach unobstructed by board walk,
pavilion or pier.
Old Point, Jacksonville and St. Augustine all
possess attractions for the few rather than
the many; but Atlantic City is the resort Of and
for the people; attractions are there for all
sorts and conditions of men.
The city itself is gay and bright, and the
people seem to be always contented and happy
There is large resident population, a
theater, several newspapers. two railroads
electric cars and many large business house
and stores.
The seaside hotels are particularly fine. They
may be ranked among the best on the coast.
These, with the great number Of handsome pri-
vate cottages, the broad streets and grassy
lawns. make an attractive place out Of what
was once barren waste of sand.
MIXED POPULATION.
Atlantic City's population is made up Of peo-
pie from every state in the Union and large
percentage of foreigners. travellers from abroad,
members of legations, &c. You will find all
kinds of people here, for this place seems to
possess panacea for all the ills known to the
body and soul. The blase man of the world
comes in search OF something new; the society
woman comes seeking the elixir Of youth, the
rejected swain seeks balm for his broken heart
and finds 1t in the smiles OF the summer girl
who has nothing else TO do: invaIids come in
| search OF health. and you meet them at every
| turn, reclining in their wheel chairs. riding on
the board walk or on the beach, sitting in the
sun parlor or on the pier. There is one dear
little sunny haired girl here who has infamma-
tory rheumatism. She lies in her wheel chair
all the time, and her nurse pushes her about.
/ see her every day. Sometimes she wheels
herself from place to place, smiling and greet
ing the people who pass, for she seems to know
everybody and is q general favorite.
For those who like to observe people and
faces the board walk is a never-failing source of
interest and walk from the inlet to Excursion
Beach is as good IA going to the play. There
,,-Ia l<~t, - IL
with dudes holding on to them, old people and
Young people, wealthy and poor, consumptives
and conva.escents. sick people and we'll people,
the lame, the halt and the blind, and last,
but not least, the excursionist-all these find q
field for their pleasure recreation and plenty
of room In which to air their hobbies.
In the booths which line the inland side Of
the board walk you will find wares Of all kinds
and from all over the world. There are tricks
and nicknacks from Paris, talismans and pot
pourri from Turkey. bead work and sandals from
the Indians. mosaics from Rome (Which range
in price As high as $3.50. curios from China,
Japan, Arabia and South America. jewelry from
Switzerland and France, coral from the isles of
the sea, moonstones and diamonds from the
pebbly coast OF the Atlantic. and shells and
shell work Of all kinds. One of the prettiest
pieces of this kind was a napkin ring made Of
single pearl shell. At one place saw in a tank
exposed for sale a skate. several turtles and q
baby shark.
There is more sale for shovels and buckets
than any other article of merchandise. and
every child you see is armed with q shovel and
bucket
THE FISHERMAN IN HIS GLORY.
The fisherman is in his glory here. You find
him perched on the cross beams under the pier,
regardless o. the gay laughing crowd that
promenades back and forth over his head; you
find him in a bit of boat away up in the salt
marsh, far from the madding crowd you
come across him out on the ocean, his sail max
ing fair picture against the sunlit sea and sky.
The small boy, too, takes great delight in
dredging up clans. catching starfish and crabs
l must not leave out the dear girls. for some Of
them fine fishermen. 1 watched one Of
these soft-hearted creatures catching a starfisb,
and she ensnared the willy thing adroitly that
it was not injured at all: but then her courage
failed and she had to ask the help Of one OF the
old fishermen standing by, who procured n
block of wood and fastened the poor fish down
with tacks to dry. The fair maid then proudly
carried off her trophy, satisfied with her sue
cess for the day.
Every visitor here ought to be contented. He
must be hard to please il he is disappointed.
There is no lack of amusement for the young
and old. There are the merry-go-rounds, with
their prancing steeds, horses, lions. goats and