The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-06-25
AT TIE SEASIDE.
A Trip from Washington to the
Shores of the Atlantic.
OCEAN Cry, June 10. 1896.

OCEAN Cry. June 10 1896.
As soon the train pulled out of the Washing
ton station, we all three quoted "'Pipl says
no; Pip.-what 1arksi'" We we're on a hunt
for those birds of joy. and in coming to the sea-
shore even in cold June" were not disap-
pointed.
It IL true the crowds the excitement. the
bands ofmusic, the merry -go-rounds the dances
and usual festivities Of a crowded resort are
lacking, but nevertheless "the larks" are not.
We started away in great glee. We had so
many bundes-umbrelas. sunshades, maein-
toshcs. cameras, books. aud all the parapher-
malta that Summer travellers find necessary.
Resides. tile mistress had her laundry tied up
in The sleeves Of her great coat. The laundrcss
had been tardy and the cxpressman prompt to
take the trunks away, so there was nothing else
TO do but make the best of it and be thankful
for big leg-o'mutton sleeves
We were three--the master and mistress, who
were celebrating the cotton" anniversary Of
their wedding day and were repeating their
| honeymoon. and !. We found, on counting
over our bundles, that we had forgotten the
bicycles, the camera films, and one tennis
| racket, but were in possession of the camera,
our bathing suits and library consisting of
John Ingesant," Poems of Robert Browning,
and alice in Wonderland"
-.
We arrived in Baltimore promptly and trans
70 he
without serious loss We iourneyed down the
| bay for some three hours-past the ships in the
harbor, past the city lines, past the lighthouses
and Fort. McHenry, and finally, at twilight
landed at Claiborne, where train awaited TO
carry us further on our journey. The train
wasan accommodation" Weenioyed the slow
travelling while the twilight lasted. In the
charm Of that time between the sunlight and
! starlight-when the sunset glow is still in the
sky and the star shine is yet faint-s procession
| of beauty delighted the eye. The oat-felds
and the bundles of wheat cleaned gold, the trees
were dusky, little breezes dusk and shiver."
the little reach orchards (all the farming
here seems diminutive to Western eye) looked
busy aud prosperous, the freaies twinkled in
the meadows, and the home lights shone on the
Tho lights of the village were "a jewels
about its hem, shining against the duskY
shadows of the trees and meadow. The slen-
der spire of the church, rising above the low
rooted cottages. gave the landscape a look of
peace and content.
The Maryland towns seem to have an ohjec-
ton to having the railroads invade their peace.
The stations are all quite distance away from
the settlement ard the tracks are all kept at
q respectful distance.
-
Maryland is delightful in many ways.
Think of seeing oxen hitched to a cart
and submitting patiently to "Gee-haws In
these days of impatient trolley cars and wilful
bicycles an ox-cart seems a charmingly- peace
full vehicle. The sand here is so heavy that
horses would not be OF much value in pulling
great loads, all the lumber and building
materials are transported by means OF oxen.
~
The sea air is said to Improve" the appe-
tite The following poem, written by The
Mistress, who ordinarily is Quite n spirit
uelle girl, but who here devotes herself to
waiting for the next meai-will best express
our own experience:
AT DINNER.
-Four ROLL, five rollsl
Ind lots aud lots Of butter,
And large supplies OF berries red,
And littie crabs that splutter
Aud then some more of honinv.
And then some meat and bread,
An then SOME rhnbaTb pie. and then
e heu's supper tifne?" they said
~
The sea itself is a continual delight-when
it is angry and makes great noise like a
mighty wind in the forest: when it is merry
and dances and losses in pretty glee; when it
is sunny and sparkIes and darkens and pales, !
and runs about the sands finging mist and
spray; when it is misty and only shows its
curling edges along the sands. or when it only
means and means with the winds. In the
morning at noon, or in the night season, it
always has a charm.
The beach here is very hard and smooth,
yellow in the sunlight and white at night
There are little shells, deep blue violet, laven-
der, pink, and white. There are curious sea
weeds and the very jolliest of crabs The sand
fleas hop about like animated pearls. Truly in
their vivacity do they resemble the wicked
fieas of the inland. They let human beings
severely alone, which is well for US.
The spiders here are great nuisance and
during the Winter months when the hotels are
closed to other guests, the spiders take posses
sion of every thing, aud are not easily dis
lodged.
The main amusements here are eating, sea-
bathing, chasing the crabs, aud criticising ones
neighbors.
The sand crabs have some delightful charac-
teristics. They eau run sideways, they can
bulge their eyes way out and pull them in
again, aud they are expert dodgers aud bur-
rowers. They play 'possum and pretend to be
very dead when they are caught. only to scut-
tie off in highly ridiculous fashion when they
set free. If you come one suddenly
lie Immediately draws in his claws. buges out
his eyes and refuses absolutely to tell where
his hole is, and it takes both patience and live.
illness to trace him to his lair.
80
We quote continually from "Alice in Won
derland -" Curioser and curioser"-or
The warus and the carpenter
We're walking hand in hand,