Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-08-10
Everx+h;no Goes at the Beach.


has lust issued the unfeeling edict that
bathing skirts must reach as far as the
knees. and that transparent material
must not be used. Orders have been
issued by the mayor 20 tn" beach guards
to either let out the hem of the abbrevi-
ated garments or take the offender to
the City hall so that the skirt may be
measured, and in case the dress IS
found to be too short then the police
n,atron will let out the hem. This and
similar regulations in force at the great
New Jersey shore resort is reminder
of Old Orchard-it is so different.
At Old Orchard, where far greater
multitudes go in summer than to any
other Maine resort. the generous rule
that Everything goes ut the beach," Is
the only one which seems to be in
force. An exception must be made.
however. in the case Of the prohibitory
law which is now rigidly enforced at
great hotels as there used to be, not
many years ago. In other respects the
lid is off and everything IS wide open
The only difference on Sunday is that
things are livelier and more people are
on hand to enjoy the vaudeville show,
the pony and dog circus, the scenic
railway and the merrygo-round. and
to patronize the innumerable booths
and attractions that border the railway
walk. the beach and the pier.
AS for Old Orchard bathing costumes,
however abbreviated they may be at
either end, they are among the least of
the things which offend those with deli
cate and modest sensibi!ities. A year
or two ago there was a crusade waged
against Objectionable articles on sale at
many Of the booths at the resort,
articles in many instances extremely
vulgar and indecent in nature, but it
was found that the crusade simply
added to the demand for the articles in
question, being the best kind of an adj
vertisemcnt the dealers could flave
We believe they paid 4 small fine and
then continued in business on a larger
scale than before. Certainly the sale
of those articles is carried on openly.
this season, and nobody appears to OBJ
ject. They are regarded as one of the
features Of the souvenir" business.
And speaking of souvenirs, if every one
of those on sale at Old Orchard were to
be dumped into the sea. it is probable
that a person could walk dry shod from
Wood Island light to Prout's Neck.
All this, however. is not meant rs
an attack upon Old Orchard, which is
one of the greatest and grandest of our
many attractive summer resorts. This
condition is simply incidental to tho
radical change in the nature of things
Sunday excursionists who come for a
| jolly outing. and would not come if the
amusement places, souvenir booths,
| etc. were to be closed up tight-ara
| largely from Cana1n, Massachusetts
| and the West, and are mainly respect
able vacationists of the middle class.
But 1t is an era when Everything goes
at the beach," and except among the
peaceful pines on he campground
where conditions change but little from
year to year. Old Orchard is no longer
the Old Orchard of earlier times. 1t has
become great cosmopolitan, Cony
island kind of place. with health and
happiness. however, for the many thou
Sends who come each summer to enjoy
it's magnificent beach. it's unsurpassed
surf bathing and it's numbcrless attrac-
| tons