The Ocala banner., 1903-07-10
A BRIGHT, CRISPY LETTER.
MRS. Mamie Howse.StevsII's peserip.
tion Of . Fascinating Spot
How the 4th Was Spent
at Asbury Park.

York City July >, made every one
that could possibly leave the city,
HE with great haste to the noun.
tains and sea shore for several weeks
vacation.
Asbury Park with a population of
10000, is one of the most delightful
summer resorts on the Atlantic coast.
1t is admirably situated, easy Of
access by boat and rail; and here one
can enjoy the combined delights OF
city life and country life. The wide
avenues, beautiful shade trees, ele-
CANT cottages, green lawns dotted
with fountains and brilliant hued
flowers, delightful drivewsys, and
hospitsble people, make it sn ideal
spot TO spend the heated term. The
temperature has been IS degrees ever
since our arrival. A dip in the surf,
q walk or automobile drive on the
beach before breakfast, gives one an
exhilersted feeling and q glorious
appetite. The beach is thrOnged from
early morn until late at night with
bathers in bewitching costumes, and
the hundreds of little tots with their
buckets and shovels, and the dainty
white costumes of the ladies and gen.
tlemen sitting on beach chairs or
prOmenading and holding gay colored
psrasOls over their bare heads, make
very animated scene. Hats are
never worn and ones complexion
soon become that brilliant hue which
is so fashionable at this season. Here,
too, the small boy revels in the cool
and refreshing drinks al the fountains
where you "can drink all the soda,
ginger ale, or mineral water you want
for 5 cents" 1t is great sport for
them to run race and see which one
can drink the most numb Der of glasses.
One little fellow after drinking eight
glasses, remarked, "Gee, / can't hold
any morew and withdrew from the
contest.
Long Branch is within easy reach
by trolley, while Ocean Grove, the
mecca of the MethOdists, is connected
with this resort by a bridge which
spans Wesley Lake. Bands discourse
inspiring music, morn, noon, and
night at the different pavillions on
the beach, hops at the numerous
hotels every evening, and strOlling
minstrels keeps one in most happy
frame of mind.
The greatest celebration in the his
tory of the place occurred on the
Fourth, when the glory of the ma
tion's natal day was acclaimed, anC
the new, broad board walk which
extends across the front of AsburN
and Ocean Grove, was dedicated
Flags of all nations were pendan
from every veranda and house to,
but the stars and stripes predomina
ted. Thirty thousand visitors wit
messed the grand military and civil
parade and listened to the brillian
I orations of Governor Murphy an,
other distinguished statesmen. A
$3.50 a grand patriotic concert wa
, given in the Ocean Grove auditorium
which has seating capacity of 1906
and was taxed to its utmost. Som
!. of the finest voices in America wer
heard in solos with a soft accompa
nlment on sixty stringed instrument
f played by young women in perfec
: rymth. and the chorus of 400 voice
, and those of the large audience sing
ing America, made one thrill witt
delight and glad that they were
citizen of this land--the home of tn
brave and the free. This chorus wi
be increased to 1000 voices and tn
, orchestra to 100 pieces during the bi
camp meeting which begins mex
month.
The days program was most fitting
ly closed with brilliant pyrotechni
cal display. The set pieces represen,
. ing bouquets and the American fas
together with the thousand red, whit
, and blue lights will ever remain
delightful memory in the minds o
the thousands upon thousands of pee