The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1895-07-20
JERSEY WASH-DAY.S
a Saltwater Festival on the Coast at Sea
GIrt.


Girt.
Mrs, Burton Harrison In an article
on American Rural Festivals" in the
Century for July. writes as follows:
OF those which l have seen, and those
of which have been able to gather ac-
counts. the one smacking most pleas
antly OF old-time rustic revelry, and
therefore to be offered honorable preoe-
dence In this recital, is the salt Water
Day." or Wash Day." of the New Jer-
sey farmers, that since time out Of mind
has been celebrated on the second Sat
urday in August, upon the coast at Sea
Girt.
To make this Jersey holiday, assem-
BILE o thousand back-oountry vehicles,
Of all sorts, from the hooded farm wag-
on which has not greatly altered its
pattern for centuries, to the rude buck
board and the pert sulky. The horses
are withdrawn from shafts or pole to be
tethered behind the wagons or picketed
at q little distance in the rear. Around
the impromptu camp gather people
enough TO blacken half O mile Of the
sandy shore--people who for months
have been looking forward to the coca
sion as the chief holiday of the year.
Cedar chest and camphor-trunk and
f1owered bandbox have been called
upon to disgofge 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 1t
Col a1n, A sal
strained, expression of determination to
revel or die sits upon the majority of
faces. During the embarrassing of
wagons which have been arriving upon
the scene since early dawn-camping
overnight being not infrequent-the
good wives unpack 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 far
nners' wallets. There Is also rifle
range, a merry -go-round and a doll tar
get at which balls are thrown for prizes.
Moyxr opotha,, nbaa ', f5ivorcioy, affnrc !.
sa1f d,, ,,i az avniora t,ana 80 ~ far-
:, q, and his vy,fa and nIarnriny nrora-
nv ana moro ma an ninch Of dire ex-
,,eri e. faSls ~ mo IN ~ the navtna
roanoher ~ tha marty The nasal cries
- tha ya,l,aa Auto1vc,rs ofraring HID
inls,as caddtees and lawns are confirm
civ a,ra aho1,a +ba srye1li,o, ro,,rr,,,rs
NJ Jersey iovial,tv
Taivinp over thera ia a general re-
+rsat N |be +ent sressin y-rooms i,onro.
vised with sbaw1s and canvas curta ms
IN connection with tha vehicles The
graa+ annual hath of tha nilgrirns l.
nayt IN ordar ana down II the SHINING
reach Of ocean. where the crisping BIZ
lows hurry IN presently troon the
a,,aa,sest rroces s,ons If FATHERS evar
saa, AZ - naricat,,ra Manv If IN
nan and hovs di.daining change IA
arass % into the water Al their ordina-
~ 81 o,o 81 s,,n,,ng tbann calves after-
n,oua IL +bs Nj sand 11nti1 tossted dr1,
agafn otbers NM IN shirts from which
sieavos havs Mean rer,oved and trn,,s-
are o,,+ off 81 +he lynee The bathing
ontet ~ tba women reveals drol mis-
oe,lan,ee If hveona fashion IN, cut and
teyt,,ra SONS ~ tbe more GOV among
AZ a+rn,. ;,,oI,,s,,,o o. ,,o,,+ale+a s,,n.
tasna+s and s.,o1yes With sohar n,,rth
i1e - =, .., ,. u 4.