Evening journal., 1902-05-17

a look at it.
There are those who take especial de-
light in getting together a few trips and
going out into the mountains, to camp
along some stream where an occasional
fish may be caught, and now and then
a bird shot for dinner. There are a
thousand other ways that men have
Invented for change and relation from
the cares Of a busy life but there is a
form Of outing which appears peculiar
to lower Delaware, and Of sthis I wish to
/ speak.
Along the Delaware bay. extending
from Bombay Hook to Iewes are long
stretches of beach, each point having
its peculiar attractions. Here and there
at especially favored points. there are
hotels. which oftentimes do a thriving
business during the summer. At other
points the country roads lead down to
smooth white beaches where there is
only a fsherman's. shanty and the wide
stretch of the waters of the bay bring
ing the road to a terminus.
At certain seasons the farmers come
here for fish and oysters. but during the
summer months these places are visited
only by parties in search of pleasure
and recreation Along in the months Of
July a.ld August after the wheat has
been harvested, some fine day the word
is passed around among the inhabitants
OF the adjoining farms, and a beach
party is un for the next day.
It is an exciting event, and arrange
ments are made for taking the whole
! O. IL
casions the farm wagons were covered
with an awning made of bent
poles and covered with sheets or quilts.
but in recent years the daytons. spring
wagons and carriages are employed
Provisions in quantities SUFFICIENT to
feed an army are stored away. There
are Delaware biscuit by the peck, fried
chicken galore. and preserves and honey,
and every dish to tempt an appetite that
needs no coaxing. Besides this there are
apples. peaches, pears, grapes, and of
course. watermelons.
The horses. too, are not forgotten, and
food Is strapped beneath the vehicles.
and at the appointed hour the cavalcade
moves off. There is a drive of eight OF
ten miles along road that skirts fields
lof luxuriant corn, plunges through
woods damp and fragrant, and crosses
streams that gurgle over their beds Of
jewels, that sparkle under the cooling
waters.
OF course there Is laughter and song,
and a passage Of wit, for are they not
ont for holiday The more sedate may
think OF the cattle going astray, or that
the hogs are in the corn, but the mood
passes as upon the horizon appears a
long line devoid of woodland, which sug-
gests proximity to the bay.
Now on either hand are stretches of
salt marsh with specks In the distance
which we know represent cattle, and oc-
casional pools through which fiocks Of
geese wade contentedly Far overhead a
hsh-hawk sails majestically on. bearing
his prey in his falcons, and the air is
damp and spicy with the scent Of the
: salt water.
Presently the wheels begin to grind
through the deep sand, and the horses
E tug at their traces We have reached
the beach. and every one able to walk
3 springs overheard to tighten the load.
The vehicles are drawn up in line as
though preparing for a seige, at the
crest Of the beach; horses are unhitched
and tethered, and preparations are made
TOR enjoying the day. II the tide is
high, II IS not long ere the youngsters
are donning bathing suhts-and some of
these are primitive affairs, consisting of
an old pair OF trousers held by a sus-
pender. and a cotton shirt The little
p. ones minus shoes and stockings are
r. wading in the light surf, while the older
people are making preparations more
h sedately.
r In a half hour all are in the water,
o and then is the most enjoyable period OF
e the day. The frightened women stand
r waist-deep In the placid waters while the
!, men swim around them, and bring from
o their throats little screams as they lure
II them into deeper water
l. He is a poor sort OF farmer on such
occasions who doesn't think of his horse
He argues that IL bath is good for him,
why shouldn't the animal enjoy Il? And
. he is right. SO the horses are brought
N down they sniff the water and are shy
\ but after some coaxing they are led oua
In until theih bodies float. and instinct as
In serts itself, and they swim around en-.
in ioying their plunge as much as any
be human being.
~ W iltN AilN htAAiAlAlb SUMS nave hNtn Pu
r away and the normal apparel resumed
m there are appetites that would drive
summer boarding house keeper out of hi
wits; and. consequently, the dinner d
urged forward. 1t is then that the lead
Ia ing spirits take charge, and the men an,
ef women are told Off in squads to per
IL form certain tasks.
a A fire is built out of bits of driftwool
re and soon the coffee pot begins to sim
,l mer. Meanwhile a sand-table is bein
pd built To those who are initiated thi
sort Of a table is preferable to one O
polished mahogany. a place is selecte
where the sand is smooth and clean, an
then a bank of sand is dug from eithe
~ side and thrown into the middle. TIL
Oe top of this As fiattened and then It
Oh ready for the cloths. which are held &
Ie place by ballast of stones.