Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1902-11-15

A Saltwater Festival ON tAs
Coast at Sea Girt.
10 Il Held the Second Saturday In August
and smscks Pleasantly OF Old-Time
Rustic Rovolry-Some Dron
Sights and Incidents.


on american Rural Festivals" In the
Century, writes as follows:
OF those which I have seen, and
those Of which / have been able to
gather accounts, the one smacking
most pleasantly OF old-time rustic rev.
clry, and therefore to be offered honor
able precedence In this recital, Is tho
''Salt Water Day, or "Wash Day, Of tho
New Jersey farmers, that since time
out of mind has been celebrated ON tho
second Saturday In August, upon the
coast at Sea Girt.
To make this Jersey holiday, as
semble q thousand back-country We
hicles, Of all sorts, from the hooded
farm wagon, which has not greatly
altered It's pattern for centuries, to the
rude blackboard and the pert sulky. Tho
horses are withdrawn from shafts or
pole to be tethered behind the wagons
or picketed at little distance In the
rear. Around the impromptu, camp
gather people enough to blaclken mile
Of the sandy shore-people who for
months have been looking forward to
the occasion as the chief holiday of the
year. Cedar chest and camphor trunk
and lowered bandbox have been called
upon to disgorge their treasures; but
there Is no other attempt at costuming
than the assumption Of mere Sunday
best. An odd feature Of the great con-
course Is the seriousness with which Il
takes its pleasure. A solemn, even
strained, expression Of determination to
revel or die sits upon the majority Of
faces. During the embarrassing Of the
wagons, which have been arriving upon
the scene since early dawn-camping
over night being not infrequent-the
good wives unpack their luncheon bas-
kets, take tally Of their pies, and, II
need be, while away the time by me-
thodically administering punishment
Of the good old-fashioned variety to
their impatient youngsters.
Around the outskirts of the concourse
are seen the booths and rostrums Of the
falsirs attracted from New York by the
promise OF rich harvest from the farm.
ers' wallets. There are also rife-range,
. merry-go-round, and doll target at
which balls are thrown for prizes.
Many another cheap diversion offers
itself during the explorations of the
farmer and his wife and clamoring
progeny, and more than one pinch OF
dire experience falls to the lot Of the
paying member of the party. The nasal
cries Of the Yankee Autolycus offering
his inlrles, caddises and lawns are con.
tinually heard above the swelling muir
murs Of Jersey joviality.
Fairing over, there Is a general re-
treat to the tent dressing-rooms, Inn
provised with shawls and canvas cur
tains In connection with the vehicles
The great annual bath of the pilgrims
L. next in order, and down to the shin.
ing reach Of ocean, where the crisping
pillows hurry in, presently troop the
queerest professions Of bathers ever
seen ont of a caricature. Many Of the
msn and boys, disdaining change OF
eress, 60 into the water in their ordi-
nary clothes, summing themselves after
ward In the hot sand until toasted dry
again. Others put on shirts from which
sleeves have been removed, and trousers
cut of at the knee. The bathing outfit
Of the women reveals droll miscellanies
Of bygone fashion In cut and texture,
some Of the more coy among the ma
irons including pantalets, sunbonnets
and gloves. With sober mirth, demure
smiles, suppressed cries Of excitement,
the phalanx moves into the surf, taking
hands to jump discreetly up and down
In long lines, safe within the danger
line. To the great number this ven
ture into the sea Is actually no more
thnn an annual experience.
After the bath, noontime turns all
thoughts dinnerward, and the camp
settles down into one vast picnic. Pies
Of all kinds suggest the htany-chant-
cd without taking breath-of the fem
mime hotel waiter In the eur Of the
summer boarder: "Apple-pie, mince-
pie, custard pie, lemon pie, squash pie
and pieplant pie" Doughnuts called
'.nuts" In the vernacular), cheese In
liberal wedges, ham sandwiches, hard
boiled eggs, and pickles, supply the
favorite menu; and lemonade and root
beer-perchance q stronger beverage
are produced in.bottles each confess
ing by label to q. different intention In
It's earlier career.
Then, while the summer sun slants In
the cloudless heaven, the merriment
goes ON to its climax, more dips In the
ocean are taken, more money changes
hands, more solid food Ia consumed, tn
ct last the shades Of evening close upon
the scene, and q general 'shitching up
q teams betolens The end Of ealf Wa
tsR day ct See Girt
There is no cough medicine 30
popular as Foley's Honey and Tar.
It contains no opiates or poisons
auA xnauar failn m CnrQ a u Kane.