Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-07
Colonial Beach Has Many Charms
for Washington People.
SUMNERING BENEATH CANVAS ROOFS
Costumes Vary, but All Include
Coat of Tan.
SAILING ON THE POTOMAC
Special Correspondence of The Evening STIR.

SIceial CHrrcspondeI CO of The Evening Star.
COLONIAL BEACH, August 3. 1897.
Colonial Beach is the Atlantic City of the
Potomac There are other places on the
river with greater natural advantages
other spots where many people prefer to
spend the summer, and other points which
are more desirable if one is seeking entire
freedom and rusticity, but Colonial Beach
is easily the largest and the liveliest resort
on the Potomac. AS regularly as summer
rolls round. just so regularly the crowds
begin TO gather here, and from the middle
of July to the middle of August every boat
brings down host of Washngtonians who
are eager to get taste of outdoor life by
salt water. Part of them spend the sum-
mer in their tents or cottages, while others
stop at some of the hotels. On the
whole it is Il gay and merry crowd that
gathers at Colonial Beach during the sum-
mer months. and something is always going
on from sunrise till sunset and often into
the wee hours of the night.
1t is often said that the campers have
made Colonial Beach. AT all events they
have always contributed large share to
the life and fun here. There are not so
many campers this year as usual owing
principally to the law which was passed
early In the season preventing their loca-
ton on the river front This. however. has
able number of campers have come down
during the past week or So and are tenting
on the river front by the new pier and
also further down the beach, from DIR.
Eatons all the way to the point Many
old stdndbys among the campers are miss
ing this year, however.
According TO the unwritten law of camp
life here at Colonial Beach every camp
must have a name. and in general the
worst name which the campers can invent
IS the best The official uniform of the
Colonial Beach camper is pair of trousers
and bathing shirt The bathing shirt
should be well faded. and usually bears
some mysterious scroll or monogram in
dicative of the name of the camp. or of
nothing in particular To vary the costume
some of the campers turn out now and
then il a pair of red, white and blue trous-
ers. The noisieSt possible combina tons in
bicycle trousers and the most audible col
ors in golf stockings always in vogue
while all kinds of fantastic hats are worn
with impunity.
brown badge of Courage.
No camper would ever think of trying to
rise to the inner circles at Colonial Beach
without first getting a thorough coat of
sunburn over his face and arms, with spe-
cial attention to the neck and ears. Sur
burn is the trade mark of the genuine
camper here. Nobody is considered the real
thing without it, and to be fair and lily
white is regarded as decidedly "ofY color"
In fact. sunburn may be said to be the Off
cial badge or the sine qua non of camp life
at Colonial Beach. All new arrivals who
are minus this important feature are re-
garded as tenderfoots. and so great is the
stigma attached to fair skin, and so anx-
ious are they TO remove it, that they often
spend the first few days stretched out on
the sand in bathing suit beneath the
broiling sun, which usually results in
large consumption of witchhazel and the
securing of the country for miles around
in search of cold cream. Eventually, how
ever. the job generally proves eminently
satisfactory, and recently returned
camper from Colonial Beach would make
weak advertisement for a complexion
soap. Eating at all hours and partaking