West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1894-07-12
ALL ABOUT AsBuRY PARK.
Special Features of the Place-..The
Annual Baby Parade; Hotels, Nor.
ais. and Inducements for
Summer Visit.
Editorial CORRESPONDENTS.
AsBURY PARK, n. j..
July z, 1894.


One Of the unique features of
this place Is the Annual Baby Pa
rade, which took place this after
noon. 1t originated in 1890, and
the first parade took place July
2lst of that year. 1t was such n
success that it has become one of
the special attractions OF the place
and is extensively advertised every
year and attended by thousands of
people. Excursions are run to it
from all along the line of the rail
roads entering here, and it is esti
mated that fully twenty thousand
people witnessed the Grand Parade
of the Ancient Order Of Toddlers
to-day. There were near four hun.
dred children in the procession,
ranging in age from three months
to five years. The kid!ets were on
their best behavior and seemed to
realize the Importance Of the occa-
sion, for not q wall or sob was
heard from them. Those too young
to walk were wheeled in baby car
riages by their mothers or nurses.
The route lay along the splendid
board walk, which runs for miles
along the beach. A Band marched
IN front playing Sousa's :" Mother
Hubbard March," and the little
toddle:s tried to keep step like an
army marching to victory. Many
were riding in baby coaches, carts,
and en- bicycles, tricYcles and veloci-
pedes, and these were olaborately
decorated with flags, flowers, rib
bons and bunting. OF course every
coolng cherub in the parade was
just the cutest, prettiest and sweet
est baby in the whole world, and It
would be very reckless person in
deed who would assert anything
else to the fond mother. There
were babies from Florida, Texas.
California, Arizona and many other
States of the Union, their parents
being summer visitors here. Hand
some and valuable prizes were given
for the best decorated carriages. the
youngest baby, the largest for its
age, the one the furthest from home,
for twins, triplets, for the young.
est mother, the family with the
most babies III the parade, etc.
Of course no Prize could be Of
fered for the prettiest baby, as
any decision on this point, even if
it came from old st. Peter or Solo
mon himself, would cause riot
aud hnr-pulling enough to start a
wig factory.
A few years ago this place was a
tangled thIcket of briars, brush and
sand lots. To-day it is considered
the finest place on the Jersey shore.
and the growth and improvement
every year is wonderful. There are
about one thousand very handsome
and beautiful summer residences
and over two hundred first class
hotels, and many boarding houses
besides. Among the best OF the
hotels, we may mention the Bruins.
wick, West End, Coleman, Ocean,
Plaza, Colum bia, Carleton, Metro
politan, Layfatte, Berkeley, Grand
Central, Angola, Orange, Sunset
Hail, Hamilton, Bristol, Seaside.
Sea Girt, Surf, etc. They are all
elegantly furnished and have a chef
who can serve yiands that will
tempt the most aesthetic epicure,
and some of them have room for
the whole population Of Kingwood
at one time. The train service is
first-class, and is furnished by the
Pennsylvania r. r. and New Jersey
Central with 100 trains a day here.
except Oh Sunday, so that you can
get IN or out every few minutes,
and you can leave Kingwood after
supper in the evening aud get here
in good time for dinner next day,
with but two changes, at Tuunelton
and Philadelphia.
Senator James a. Bradley was
the founder and original proprietor
Of this place, and being very
strict church and temperance mau,
be determined TO have seaside re-
sort free from drunkenness, inn
morality and disordcrly and objoc
tional characters, and q model place
for man to come and bring bIs
family 20 summer at the scashore.
and where fho 0ucstg ara poarIy oIl