Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1916-09-08
FORMER OURNAL MAN
Contributes Article
Reporter who Served our Readers in Past Years
Pleased to Remind Us that his prediction was Realised.
Philadelphia, August goth, IoIt

Philadelphia, August goth, 1916.
Along about June of this interesting year of continued
war, near war on the border, strikes, close base ball races-a
year presumably laid out for picture posing on the part of
presidential candidates and an opportunity for the ladies to
suggest the "this is SO sudden" answer, the writer pre-
dicted that famous Wildwood b~ythe-Sea, queen and princess
of all summer Ravens, would enjoy her very best season.
Despite the fact that l stated in the columns of the
Journal that Wildwood was due to reap a just reward, some
of the wise ones, chad to be shown They have been shown
a-plenty. Great crowds willing to spend have stepped off the
railroad trains at Oak ave. Parties galore profited by the
good auto roads through South Jersey to Wildwood, and they
one and all, had the time of their lives. The merchants of
the island gave value to all, and everyone returned from the
shore with the feeling, that Wildwood is improving with
years, and that they can come back next season with a GER
tainty of another dandy vacation, or several week-ends.
My duties on the Public Ledger have kept me SO con-
fined to my desk, that I have had time only for a few visits
since June. I can safely state that more than 40 young ladies
and young men, employed on the Public and Evening L1edgers,
spent their vacations at Wildwood, and on their return the
only regret made, was that there wasn't longer time to stay.
Across the street from the Ledger office, and Indepen-
dence Square, the Curtis Publishing Company, where Cyrus
+. K. Curtis, the present owner of the Ledgers, made his
millions, there was nothing but praise from those who dali
lied in Wildwood on their vacations in preference to other re-
sorts. Of course there still remain some folks who have been
going to Atlantic City, the Mountains and other more or less
inviting recreation places; but even a few of these managed to
take a week end, y at Wildwood, just to find out if their
friends told the truth; and on the return, there was no COM
plant.
Wildwood, this season improved along with her sister
resorts, not SO much for the reason that conditions financially
are very encouraging, but because Of the fact that many of
her regular patrons, in return for the pleasures derived, spoke
a word of praise for his or her favorite resort and I have al
ways contended that a pleased or satisfied patron, leaving
Wildwood with a happy smile and a word of praise on the lips
is equal to any advertising method yet tried in Wildwood.
The officials could scatter literature broadcast over the land;
folks would come, is a certainty, but if not treated right after
tha 1ure of the infer nh no povuer on aot1 could brine
them back the next season; yet on the other hand if the pat.
rons are dined, entertained and petted in return for their good
do1lars-well you couldn't keep them away next year if all our
National Guard was blocking the cross ways, and on duty
day and night.
Now that the 18th of September is approaching there
will be the usual boost for Wildwood as a winter resort.
Living in Wildwood several years ago, the writer grew so
enthusiastic that we were about ready to trumpet to the
world that Wildwood is the ideal all-year-round resort. My
thoughts on the "of-season" run something like as follows:
If as many persons came to Wildwood from October to
March, as they did in the other months the title would be
deserved. myself, have to admit that Wildwood in the
winter is not Wildwood in the summer The old ocean is
there, the boardwalk stands, the trains run on, the grass
grows in spite of the season-but the ocean is lonesome for
company, the bright lights of the finest walk in South Ter
sey" are dimmed, the trains lack the vacation patronage and
the whole story lies in the fact that the people 'don't come"
With the close of a season the boardwalk kings with few
exceptions, snap the lock on their doors, the natives sit quiet,
count their seasons earnings and figure on next year. If the
people did come expecting true Wild wood life, they would find
the place on an equal with the cemetery at Cape May Court
House-quite dead. True, several of the hotels remain open
all the year, but a majority close the shutters and hunt new
places of business for the ofseason, but not without a wish
that every month was August in Wildwood. Atlantic City
manages to keep moving most every month, but this is due
to the fact that it possesses a standing population that gives
the visitor the idea that he or she has company-even if they
haven't.
In closing, I wish to state with all truth and sincerity,
that any family having the time and the money to enjoy a
II the shore II the nuinter months VI no to Wi1duond