Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-04
GENUINE CLAM BAKE
A Generous Bill Of Fare That Calls
Loudly for an Appetite OF Large
DimensiOns.
OF The Evening Star.

Correspondence OF The Evening Star.
PLEASURE BAY. N. J., August ., 1894
A big clam bake is a very interesting
sight to see. as well as q very good thing
to take an active part in. They have one
every Friday afternoon up here at Pleas
ure Bay. and from all the country round
about people flock to them. Quite early In
the afternoon preparations for the great
feast begin. CLAIMS are brought up from
the sea in big baskets. packed in a liberal
supply Of seaweed. Potatoes. both white
ana sweet, are carefully washed. and from
bushel or more Of green corn the silk Is
removed, leaving the outer leaves about
each ear. Then sea bass, just in from the
on great hattened stone, all but the top OF
which Is deep-buried In the earth, a huge
bonfire is laid First, some kindling is put
Upon It, then about q quarter OF a cord OF
when the last piece of wood has been put
In place n match is touched to the structure
ana the bonfire reaches up its long arms of
flame toward the heavens.
While the wood Is being consumed tables
are set In the grove back of Hotel Ayenels
at the entrance of which the stone lies. A
NUMBER or tables are set. because a goodIy
company is expected. Through the grove.
hanging from the trees, electric lights have
been placed, so that IL the guests lineer
over their repast they will not be in dark
ness. When the wood is all burned the big
stone Is almost at white heat. and ready
TO receive the provisions to be cooked
Carefully the clans are placed with the fish
In the center, the potatoes occupying one
side and the corn the other. over all a lot
OF seaweed, damp and salty, is spread, then
a large canvas cover is stretched over il TO
keep the steam from escaping, and the
COCKS have nothing more to do until the
supper Is ready TO be served.
About O'Clock the people begin to arrive
M
Some come from New York In one of the
steamers that land at the little pier which
stretches into the picturesque bay; some
drive up I'm snowy turnouts from the neigh
boring summer resorts: merry parties come
in stages with much blowing of tin horns
and gay snatches of song, and family parties
even come over from Long Branch in that
most plebeian OF vehicles-the horse car
The Feast Begins.
Presently the tables are filled and the
feasting begins. Huge dishes of clans, both
hard and soft. are piled up on the boards,
together with potatoes and sauce. As the
plates become filled with shells fresh plates
are brought and in their turn are heaped
up with the debris of the bivalves for peo-
PIE VINO come to clam bakes usually bring
served as a second course, with the corn
and very toothsome delicacy il is when
cooked in its seaweed oven. Crabs and
Holsters are not cooked usually on the stone
for they must be served cold, but, never,
theless, they form part of the dinner as
does also broiled chicken. Watermelon is
the dessert. after which cups Of black cof-
fee are served, and the meal is over
Colored men singing to their banjos and
guitars is considered the ideal accompani-
ment to clam bake. They sit under the
trees. adding picturesqueness to the scene,
while their sweet melodies float through the
grove. The horse car line which rms he
tween Long Branch and Pleasure Bay Is a
very curious institution. One naturally
connects horse car with the city and city
ways and methods, but the way these cars
are managed is altogether different Your
correspondent started on one from Long
Branch yesterday. The fare was promptly
collected and tickets given in exchange. and
the car moved slowly along its tracks for
about nve minutes. At the end of that time
II drew up alongside OF another car and ALI
the passengers-some eight in all-were fold
to get into it, The driver Of number two
was standing in his place. but no sooner
were the passengers seated than he left his
post and disappeared within the door Of q
neighborfng saloon. The car meanwhile
stood STILL After about ten minutes wait
ing a ger tlemsn turned to the driver of the
deserted car alongside and asked when u,e
were likely TO start
The driver has gone to the office" he
said: You should have started ten minutes
ago."
This was hardly consoling, and the gentle
man. who was evidently tired of Sitting
waiting In the sun. asked sarcasticaliy how
long II usually took the driver to get a drink
7 guess" said his comrade, that he was
AWFUL d:y and is taking two or three"
few moments later the festive gentleman
appeared. He looked exceedingly warm, al
tnough unincumbered by q coat and was
hailed with. Say, Jim. one OF your pas
sengers wants to know how long It takes
you to get drink. told him reckoned
you were taking two or three. Was I
right?'
I've had FIVE" said Jim, as he took the
reins and called to the sleepy looking horses
to get up" No wonder he looked SO warm
anu red After a few minutes he tied the
feihs 10 the brake and started back to col
lect the tickets. while the horses logged
along at their own pleasure
Her First Bath
Rather an amusing incident was Witness
ed on the beach at Long Branch this morn
ing. girl emerged from her bath house
gotten up to look like the fair bather in the
pictures and 1t was immediate evident TO
even the most careless observer that shs
had never bathed in the surf before She
had on jaunty dress of nice black serge
with very full pulled sleeves, stiffened with
crinoline until they stood out in the height
OF the mode, and on her head a little rel
rubber cap was perched. from under which
charming curly bang fell in soft rings
over her forehead. A male companion WIS
waiting for her on the sands and hand-in-
hand they entered the surf. For a few
minutes all went we'll. but presently a great
big breaker came rushing in, taking the fair
bather of her feet and shaking her IN a
good deal before it let her go. When at
last she emerged from its too eager EN-
brace. the cap had disappeared. and went
floating OF. carrying with IL that lovely
bang, which was nicely pinned In around
the edge. There was another curious object
hoating away. too. which on examina ton
proved to be the maiden's back hair, which
she had neglected to leave In the bath
house.