Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-07
WHY OCEAN CITY?
Gossip About the Maryland Resort, Where
Sea and Bay Unite.
How IL Might Ee Made Most Atsrac.
Plnce for children.



OCEAN CITY. Md, August q. 1887.
Why Ocean city," The founders would
have shown more wisdom had they re-
tained the old Indian name, '-SinopuNent-
The fll-chosen name sreacks Of the cross
roads, where. after the tavern and the Lost
Office have been planted. the settlers pro-
coed to call their place city. trusting 10 a
name to buoy IL.
This place has been exploited consider
ably a resort for Neutrality-suspicious. I'm the
past few years, yet Washington people
generally know little about IL. Its lack OF
accessibility is largely the cause. Untn
there is a daily train service from Wash
ington, prompt and reasonably rapid
Ocean City cannot become n popular re-
sort with Washingtonians.
Yet Ocean City il well worth a visit
With suitable railway facilities IL would
become the most popular resort of the
Washington public. Ii is nearer Washing
ton than Atlantic City. Cape May, Virginia
Beach or any other ocean resort. This
should commend II In the first place. Then
the bathing Is much superior TO that on
the New Jersey coast. The beach Is steep
er and the waves DO not break untl al
most in shore. One can go out beyond the
breakers in perfect safety and feel the de-
licious grading of the pillows. II is
claimed that the gulf stream runs nearer
Ocean city than any place on the coast
but Hatteras. However that may he. the
water is agreeahly warm. IL is also claimed
by the too enthusiastic admirers of the
bathing that there is no undertow. but this
is on par with the erring boast that mos
quitoes are unknown here, and that net
ting is never used on the windows. The
undertow Is a powerful one. and the MOS
quitoes are likewise. But If one is prudent
there can be no danger I'm the undertow,
and IL is only when there is a land breeze
that the mosquitoes make their appear
ance.
This is an ideal place for children. A
safer place could not be imagined. There
are no shrieking trolley cars, no horses and
wagons, nor any of the perils that mena re
young lives in the city. A two-wheeled car
drawn by OK els the popular vehicle.
Form. Of Amusement.
OF course, it is slow here compared with
Jersey resorts. A few dances in the pavil-
ions OF the larger hotels about comprise
the gamut of social gayety. There are
respectable places where ladies may go,
where bowling, billiards, pool and shuttle
board may be INDUCED in. Then there is a
merry-go-round. which infeiicitously plays
Home, Sweet Home" while the youngsters
are being swung around the circle. IL one
still hungers for recreation there IL the
shooting gallery, and he may visit thea
ter, which recalls Nicholas Nicklebys emo
tions on being introduced to MIR. Vincent
Crummle's temple of Thespis. For IL cents
enc can see performance which appar-
emily is not much patronized by the people
from the hotels and cottages. IL is of the
Bowery order, and the ladies who per-
form seem to be on friendly terms with
the audience.
OF course, there is a boardwalk. 1t is
about two miles long and cottages ant
hotels front upon it for the greater part
of the distance the piazza extending to the
walk IN the case of the Atlantic Hotel.
or being connected by a gangway as in tee
case of the other places. The boardwalk is
guiltless of a railing. Ii is lighted by a
series of incandescent electric lamps On
posts, AMI some of the lamps give light all
tine evening. No buildings are allowed be-
tween the walk and the ocean. Conse-
quently from every building fronting
the beach a magnificent view is obtained.
There is talk of a pier. Ii is to he hoped
that the monstrosity will be placed down
near the theater and the shooting gallery,
as far away as possible from those who
hold that an ocean view excels all others.
The chief charm of this place is that man
has been content to let nature alone. It's
a desolatei spot, to be true, not a tree, not a
blade of grass. not a flower, but for all
that one gets closer to natures heart, APP
preciates more keenly the grandeur and
beauty of the ocean itself, than at those
places where art has tried to make things
attractive.
A deliciously lazy week could be passed
one Of the piazzas looking out on the
sea- pipe and book at hand, luled into for
getfulness of the world of business by the
ceaseless swish and roar of the surf But
be sure to select a good boarding house or
hotel Your happiness will depend upon
your cook. The rates for board. which, L
am told, is good, range from IS week up.
the leading hotels not giving rates below
So.