Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1895-08-19
JERSEY WASH DAY.
"A Saltwater Festival on the
Coast at Sea Girt.
1t Is Held the Second Saturday in August
and Smacks Pleasantly of Old-Time
Rustic Rcvclry-Some Drou
Sights and Incidents.

MIS-. burton HARRISON, in an article
on american Rural Festivals" in the
Century, writes as follows:
OF those which | have seen, and
those of which | have been able to
gather accounts, tho one smacsine
most pleasantly of old-time rustic rev.
elry, and therefore to be offered honor.
able precedence in this recital, is the
salt Water Day, "or "Wash Day." of the
New Jersey farmers, that since time
out of mind has been celebrated on the
second Saturday in August, upon the
coast at Sea Girt.
To mako this Jersey holiday, as.
semble thousand bacl-country We.
hiclcs, of all sorts, from the hooded
farm wagon, which has not greatly
altered its pattern for centuries, to the
rude blackboard and the pert sullSy. The
horses are withdrawn from shafts or
polo to be tethcred behind the wagons
or picketed at little distance in the
rear Around the impromptu camp
gather people enough to blaclsen a mile
OF the sandy shorc-pcople who for
months have been looking forward to
the occasion as the chief holiday of the
year. Cedar chest and camphor trunk
and lowered bandboX have been called
upon to disgorge their treasures; but
there is no other attempt at costuming
than the assumption of mere Sunday
best. An odd feature of the great con-
course is the seriousness with which it
takes its pleasure. A solemn, even
strained, expression of determination to
revcl or die sits upon the majority of
faces. During the embarrassing of the
wagons, which have been arriving upon
the scene since early dawn-camping
over night being not infrcqucnt-th
good wives unpaclt their luncheon bas-
kets, take tally Of their pies, and, if
need be, while away the time by me.
thodically administering punishment
Of the good old-fashioned variety to
their impatient youngsters.
Around the outskirts of the concourse
are seen the booths and rostrums of the
fakirs attracted from New York by the
promise of rich harvest from the farm
ers' wallets. There arc also n rifc-rangc,
q merry-go-round, and doll target at
which balls are thrown for priacs.
Many another cheap diversion offers
itself during the explorations of the
farmer and his wife and clamortnp
progeny, and more than one pinch of
dire experience falls to the lot of the
paying member of the party. The nasal
cries of the Yankee Autolycus Offering
his inllles, caddiSos and lawns arc con-
tinually heard above the swelling mur.
murs of Jersey joviality.
Fairing over, there is a general re-
treat to the tent dressing-rooms, i'm
proviscd with shawls and canvas cur
tains in connection with the vehicles.
The great annual bath of the pilgrims
is next in order, and down to the shin
ing reach of ocean, where the crispina
pillows hurry in, presently troop the
queerest professions of bathers ever
seen out of n carl caturc. Many of the
men and boys, disdaining change of
dress, go into the water in their ordi-
nary clothes, summing themselves after
ward in the hot sand until toasted dry
again. Others put on shirts from which
sleeves have been removed, and trousers
cut off at the knee. Tho bathing outfit
Of the women reveals droil miscellanies
of bygonc fashion in cut and texture,
some of the more coy among the ma
irons including pantalots, aunbonnets
and gloves. With sober mirth, denure
smiles, suppressed cries Of excitement,
tho phalanx moves into the surf, taking
hands to jump diScrcctly up and down
In long lines, Safa within the danger
line. To the great number this ven
ture into the sea is actually no more
than an annual experience.
After the bath, noontilne turns all
thoughts dinncrward, and the camp
settles down into one vast picnic. Pics
of all kinds suggest the litany-chant-
cd without taking breath-of the fem
mime hotel waiter in the ear of the
summer boardcr: "Apple-pie, mirce-
pic, custard pic, lemon pie, squash pie
and pieplant pie" Doughnuts (callcd
nuts" in the vernacular), cheese in
liberal wedges, ham sandwiches, hard
boiled eggs, and pickles, supply the
favorite menu; and lemonade and root
beer-perchance "a stronger beverage
are produced in bottles each con Tess,
ing by label to a different intention in
its earlier career.
Then, while the summer sun slants In
the cloudless heaven, the merriment
goes on to it's climax, more dips in the
ocean are taken, more money changes
hands, more solid food is consumed, till
at last the shades of evening close upon
the scene, and a general "hitching up"
of teams betohcns the end of Salt Wa
ter dav at Sea Girt.