Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1903-09-19
JERSEY WASH DAY.
A Saltwater Festival ON ths
Coast ut Sea Girt.
% Il Held the Second Saturday In Augass
and smscks Pleasantly Of Old-Time
Rustic Revelry-Some Dron
Sights and Incidents.

Mrs. Burton Harrison, in an article
on american Rural Festivals" in tn.
Century, writes as follows:
OF those which I have seen, and
those of which l have been able Il
gather accounts, the one smackinG
most pleasantly of old-time rustic rev
elry, and therefore to be offered honor
able precedence in this recital, is the
"Salt Water Day, or "Wash Day, of the
New Jersey farmers, that since time
out Of mind has been celebrated on the
second Saturday In August, upon the
coast at Sea Girt.
To make this Jersey holiday 90.
somble q thousand back-country We.
hicles, Of all sorts, from the hooded
farm wagon. which has not greatly
altered its pattern for centuries, to the
rude buckbo and the pert salky. The
horses are withdrawn from shafts or
pole to be tethered behind the wagons
or picketed ct little distance In the
rear. Around the impromptu camp
gather people enough to blncken mile
Of the sandy shore-people who for
months have been looking forward to
tho occasion us 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 oostuming
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 infrequcnt-the
good wives unpack their luncheon bus
kets, take tally Of their pies, and, IL
need be, while awny the time by me.
thodically administering punishment
Of the good old-flshioned variety to
their impatient youngsters
Around the outskirts OF the concourse
are seen the booths and rostrums of the
fakirs attracted from New York by the
promise OF rich harvest from the farm.
ers' wallets. There are also riile-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 inkles, 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
Ia 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 tho
zsn and boys, disdaining change OF
dress, go 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
,ut of at the knee. The bathing outfit
Of the women reveals droll miscellanies
81 bygone fashion In cut and texture,
ZONE Of the more coy among the ma
IRONS including pantalets, sunbonnets
Ind gloves. With sober mirth, demure
miles, suppressed cries Of excitement,
he phalanx moves into the surf, taking
hands to jump discreetly up and down
n long lines, safe within the danger
Inc. To tho great number this ven
;ure into the sea is actually no more
han an annual experience.
After the bath, noontime turns all
thoughts dinnerward, and the camp
'ettles down into one vast picnic. Pies
II all kinds suggest the litany-chant-
ID without taking breath-of the fem
nine hotel waiter in the ear of the
summer bosrder: "Apple-pie, mince-
10. custard pie, lemon pie, squash pie
md pieplant pie" Doughnuts called
nuts" In the vernacularh cheese In
LIBERAL wedges, ham sandwiches, hard
'ofled eggs, and pickles, supply the
svorite menu; snd'lemonade and root
'eer-perchance q stronger beverage
are produced in.bottles each confess
ng by label to . different intention in
b earlier career.
Then, while the summer sun slnnts In
he cloudless heaven, the merriment
'ccs ON to its climax. more dips in the
cean are taken, moro money changes
ands, more solid food % consumed, TIL
last the shades Of evening close upon
DO scene. and . general ''hitching up"
{ teams beto,sens the end Of Salt We
= day ct Sen Grit
TEACHERS WANTED.