Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-02-02
MAMMOTH PIERS or LONDON.
Open Air Resorts for All Glasses of
Pleasure Seekers.

Piers are for pleasure seekers. Yet
the ordinary tripper seems to seek the
pier for the sole purpose of working
1T pleasure. For him there is no
charm in a sheltered seat with pros
poet of miles of billowing water and
an atmosphere <salt-tinged and invig
Grating. Rather he walks energetical-
~ 10 and fro, drags his family to see
the boat OFF To Boulogne. bolts I'M
wholesome food drops banana skins
wherever there is II vacant space and
flies of to shoot at bottles. put pen
MES i'll Slot meters, or fight for Il seat
around the band stand. Wherever
there Is most noise and most people
the piergocr pushes his way. He does
not understand the peace and beauty
Of these stationary ships.
Landing stages have for a long time
been called piers-feF instance the add
miralty and Prince Of Wales'S piers at
Dover Open promenade piers are the
best known type. the pioneer of these
being the Old Chain pier at Brighton
constructed in 1S22. 1t was founded
on oak piles, with 4 timber landing
stage at the end of its 1.156 feet \
gale completely destroyed it in De-
eember, 1895, and new pier took its
place four Years later. It had then 1t
rival in a wider. more modern pier. at
the west end of Brighton, built in 1859,
and subsequently extended. The
southport pier is Que of the longest in
England. 1895 feet BEING the shortest
length which escaped the old flood tide
channel.
Almost every pier is utilized as u
LANDING place for pleasure boats. At
some place the rough stone jetty at
which the boats come in is dignified
with the name of pier, and by The adj
dition of q few penny in the slot ma
chimes and q tritlinE charge for the
privilege of promeHading there be-
come Neritabic piers in the eyes of
the general public Genuine jettics
are Tot considered pleasure resorts by
the multitude. But they are often
quieter and far more interesting than
the pier proper For those WHO like
the sea and seagoing men there Is
lasting fascination in jettN. Some
thing interesting is pcrpetuaiy hap
peuing. and whereas pier is often an
inland promenade dumped into the
water a jetty is an actual slice of sea
life deposited ON the foreshore. Old
salts. in comfortable jerseys, lounge in
the sun; cranes sroan and jerk, the
smell Of fish ami tar and brine blends
in a delicious. indescribable perfume.
Below, odd craft and half-rigged fish
ing s1naeks float carelessly. tuggine at
their buoys and waiting for the fisher
folk to guide them beyond the break
water into the open sea.
In olden times the people went ON
the pier to be quiet and enjoy the air.
Nowadays the aim and object of the
great majority seems to be to turn the
pier into a miniature exhibition and
to forget the sea as much as possible.
4 pier minus eating houses and con
feetionerg kiesks would be unbeasable
to the modern holiday maker. Weird
slot machines which return your pen
ny if YOU guess the color of your fu-
ture wife,s eyes and will tell fortunes
for similar sum are prominent
features on the pier. And morning on
the pier would be duh indeed without
the newest valses and musical comedy
airs to drown the song of the sea.
Moonlight provides an ideal setting
for the pier Leaving the illuminated
promenade and busy town it is good
to pay toll-for two if possible--and
saunter slowly seward. The pier is
nearly deserted. A few couples, far
from the holiday crowd, have come to
dream in solitude. tTherc is certain
pier wherein the Sea doth beat In
England there are many with iron
girders dashed by the waves, and
there lovers walk in the darkness
under a summer moon.-London