The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-09-12
OCEAN GROVE.
A. Letter from the Twin Cities by the Sea -
by a Potomac Comrade.

by a Potomac Comrade.
This is good place to rest both body and
brain. S0Iae quarter of a century ago the
Methodist founded Ocean Grove ~ a camp
meeting ground, and Asbury Park, just across
Wesley Lake. soon after sprang up as child
of the former enterprise.
Ocean Grove is to all intents :" walled
town, having the ocean on the east, Fletcher
Lake on the south. picket fence on the west,
and Wesley Lake on the North. Within
these bounds lies a city of about 10000 peO-
pie. such as is to be found nowhere else in the
world
Secular people may, perhaps, think the
police regulations somewhat restrictive, bat
they certainly promote quiet and rest only
egualled V Washington Irying's legend Of
"Sleepv Hollow At no time is car pro-
PEELED by any kind Of motor permitted to en-
Ter the place; neither is GROWING cock, a
cackling hen, nor dog unless accompanied
by his owner.
No intoxicating drink nor tobacco in any
form can he sold. For these luxuries you
must pay a penny to the boy with the small
boat, or to tole-gate keeper on the bridge,
and cross over into Asbury Park, which is
not SO much of holy land.
On Sunday no wheel of any kind, except
the inyalid's chair the baby carriage, and the
child's velodpede, can enter upon this sacred
soil The gates are locked, the tole-house
closed, the boats tied up, the postoffioe shut,
and DO sound is heard louder than Metho-
dist hymn or sermon.
If you want 10 mail or receive letter YOU
must 20 over to Ashury Park, and if you
break your leg burst blood vessel, or fall IN
ct Of apoplexy, your doctor, if he lives out
side the walls Of the city, must stop bis car
risge outside the gates and walk 10 see you.
Bet the bathing al Ocean Grove is fine, 50
that even a one-leggcd veteran can don his
bathing suit, walk on bis crutches to the
beach, and taking hold OF one of the many
ropes extending out as far As il is safe for the
unprUfeSSional swimmer TO venture, enjoy a
refresling dip in old ocean.
However, / wish TO call the attention Of the
City Fathers " of Ocean Grove TO the fact
that if they wish TO keep up the reputation OF
their town as a healthlnl seaside resort, they
must very soon provide for carrying the city
sewage much farther cut To sea.
Some funny things occur at the seaside
" didn't know the ladies bathed in such
costumes us that, laughingly shouted gen
tleman yesterday at the beach where a fat
lady was seen in the water with her suit
ripped half way down the back. The poor
Lady had been rOmping about in the water. as
only a fat person can TOmp. and was not at
tracing much attention, until the time ar
rived when one Of those unforeseen accidents
occurred which sent a chill down the spinal
column of all who saw it. There was rip,
and vision Of shoulder blades, enough TO
turn the faces Of all the lady spectators.
How long the lady had been ia the water
before the accident was discovered is not
known but when it was noticed that she was
in that decidedly decoiette costume the alarm
was at once given. Hundreds Of men laughed,
and II was not long ere the women were con-
yulsed with the same disturbing element.
Meanwhile, the lady, who was giving such
racy entertainment gratis, was taken charge
of by the bathing master lie took it upon
himself TO inform the lady Of her dilemma,
and tried to surround " her He finally bit
upon the plan Of making female guard of
honor which WIS soon secured. Two guards
were placed before, one behind TO hold to-
gether the ripped suit, and two more behind
her. Thus formed, the procession took it's
march 10 the batb-houses. When the lady
reappeared, no one knew her, Of course
During my stay at Ocean Grove a number
OF popular lectures were delivered each even
ing, and, among Others, Gen. J. T. Gordon
OF Georgia. gave his famous lecture The
Last Days Of the Confederacy'' NV corps
having fought his division al Gettysburg. and
having fallen into the hands of one of his
regiments after being twice wounded, / felt
some interest in hearing what be had 10 say
He spoke to an audience of 5000 for two
hours and ID minutes, his lecture consisting
largely Of anecdotes pathetic, sentimental.
and humorous, and descriptions of the inside
life Of soldier. such as rarely find their way
into books. The center block of seats of the
Auditorium was occupied by members OF the
O. R. and their friends. He began his adj
dress with this salutation: Comrades, ladies
and gentlemen"
The Century Dictionary defines comrade
an Intimate associate in occupation or friend.
ship; close companion" is Gen Gordon
now an intimate associate in friendship -
lie claims 10 be such, and we cannot do les,
than accept him as sincere unless his actions
show otherwise.
Bishop Fowler, Of the Methodist Church
during the some week delivered a mastery
lecture on Abraham Lincoln. He did mo-
speak so long rs Gen. Gordon, but to an audi
ence quite as large and attentive and inter
csted. Never before have ] heard the salient
features OF this great man and patriot y
fully and forcibly poTtrayed.-J. J. PURMAN
Medical Division, Department Of the Potomac
GAR, Ocean Grove, n. j.