The age-herald., 1898-07-10
Copyright. 1S9S.l

The man who makes cartoons for the humorous papers and has added many a thrifty greenback to his exchequer by recent representations of the solitary condition of the seashore resorts is fun ny, but inaccurate. War, that those who did not know the temper of the American woman thought would work havoc with the seashore resorts, has been a blessing unalloyed to seashore hotel and real estate owners, and this, too despite the fact that at the out break of hostilities many bonifaces were so discouraged at the outlook that they concluded not to open their houses at all this summer
 In New York city is a summer resort bureau managed by two bright young women who keep in touch with all the suburban retreats of the country all though their chief interest is in those of New England. They represent the different railroads, steamship lines, ho- tels and real estate agencies. They have patrons from Maine to California and from Florida to Oregon. In speaking of the extent to which the war is af- fecting the summer resort business the most self satisfied expression over spreads the face of the fair manageress. She says
 Its a surprise to us all, but is an unusually good season-in fact, the best we ever had. We thought people would be afraid to go to the seashore on &C., count of the Spaniards. Instead they tn ha n coast, perhaps in order to catch first glimpse of the enemy. People who never before spent a summer on this side of the ocean are periodically remaining at home and swelling the ranks of those who are making a prosperous if quiet season at Newport Bar Harbor, Mar ragansett Pier, Long Branch, etc."
 No one who notes the newspapers can fail to be impressed by the spirit of activity that pervades all the resorts At Newport the young Prince of Bel gium's visit to Mrs. Potter Palmer at her villa, Friedman (Mrs. Potter halls from Chicago, was an event of absorb ing interest. Prince Albert is reported to have said:
 q might like to marry an American girl and make one of them real queen, and could, you know"
 Whether any American girl would or not, considering the reputation of Prince Albert's royal uncle and cousins, is an- other question. At any rate, Newport, with it's Prince Albert, has been a great center of attraction for thousands of people who never visited the place be- fore. The dearth of men usually com plained of has not been so noticeable as one might imagine. In spite of the en- 1istments in Lieutenant Colonel Roose- velts rough riders, there are enough summer young men left to make life tolerable for those women who have not husbands and lovers at the front. More over, men are not popular at the sea- shore or the mountains this season. Said one belle:
 "I scorn @ man who has no family to keep him at home and who is not anxious to enlist and fight for his coun- try"
 The Oyster Bay colony on Long Is- land, near Camp Black, has been popu- lar out of all proportion to it's size with fashionable and other people. Young MT. and Mrs. Clarencea Mackay have been spending their hofexraeon there and have, with Mr. and Mrs. o. H. P. Belmont, been leaders in the semimili- tary society of the region.s..ss
 Wherever a military camp has been planted a temporary siiflner colony has grown up, which has had it's origin in the interest friends of the gallant boys in blue take in spending every possible moment with them. The lead ing country families about the camps vie with each other in arranging din ners and dances for the amusement of the officers and such of the men as are used to figuring in society. The militia " camps have been the excuse for the origin of an entirely new variety of so- cial life in parts of America, a blending of the civil and military, for in the imagination of the summer girl of 1898 Prince Charming undoubtedly wears a blue uniform and brass buttons.
 On the piazzas of the hotels and cot tages one seldom sees a woman sit idly, as used to be her habit. In her hands will be bit of work housewife or a bit of clothing or Red Cross sewing, at which she is diligently stitching for the soldier boys. Hotel par1ors that were once devoted to hops and gossip are now seldom vacated by enthusiastic committees auxiliary to this or that or the other society for the benefit of the army Hotels are gay with flags, and the very peacneS at pathing tines Wouiu lead the uninitiated to imagine that the Goddess of Liberty was out on dress parade. Red, white and blue bathing costumes are the popular .colors with the dashing up to date maidens who used to array themselves in scarlet and orange and white and other ultra and Undinelike creations.
 The very possibility that the summer resorts might be deserted this year and consequently lower in prices than eyer before has lured many people from their homes. The real fact of the matt ter is that rates are, if anything, lit- tie higher than in most seasons. Agents