Year: 1877

" H. c." who is taking rest from
political work, sends the New York
Times, from Long Branch the following
entertaining description of a female snob
at Long Branch:


1t has frequently been noticed that
Long Branch, of all American water
ing places, was free from that ostenta-
ton and loud display which have de-
prived Newport OF much Of the popular
ity which it formerly enjoyed. Hereto
fore all classes of respectable people
who came here were well treated with
out regard to the size of their pocket
books or the length of their rent ROLL
Happily, this good American feeling of
judging men and women for themselves
has taken such deep root in Long
Branch that all attempts which have
been made to form class 'destinction
have signally failed. At the same time
all efforts at atvulga and ostentatious dis
play have been speedily frowned down.
But, OF course, there is no rule without
an exception, and just now the .excep-
ton is to be found in the person of a
young lady from the neighborhood of
Washington, who, with no regard for
public opinion or good taste, makes a
ridiculous exhibition of herself on all
occasions. During the bathing hour
she is particularly conspicuous, and the
manner in which she makes her appear
ance is worthy of short descri ption.-
Ten minutes before the tide is at the
flood man servant appears upon the
beach bearing a high basket-work struct-
ure, having small glass windows on each
side, and looking, everything considered,
for all the world like sentry box
This he places tenderly on the shore and
then he rctires. Following comes a
pretty little maid, dressed smartly in a
costume of red and blue flannel and
carrying small bundle. With this she
enters large bathing house, which is
marked private in large black letters.
In a moment she reappears, and. hasten
ing to the basket-wOrk sentry-box, seats
herself in it. By this time the idlers
on the beach have become interested,
even excited, by these mysterious per-
formance, and quite crowd collect at
the sentry-box. The little maiden holds
her ground manfully, says nothing and
looks abstractedly out upon the ocean.
When the interest is at its height and
the crowd the largest, act second of the
little drama begins. A lady, perhaps
twenty-five years of age, comes down
the bluff and enters the large bathing
house She is dressed elabortely in
some soft white stuff, which clings to,
and displays her shapely form to full ad-
vantage She is beautiful woman and
not timid one. The stare Of the crowd
does not appear to annoy her. She is
accompanied by second maid, wearing,
in addition to the flannel suit of red and
blue in which the first one appeared, a
dainty French cap of white cambric,
and having in her hand beautiful work
ed toilet case She follows the lady in
to the bathing house, the door is closed,
and the crowd waits impatiently for the
other scene. They have not long to
wait. Soon the lady appears again.
This time she is clad in tightly-ftting
bathing suit of navy blue silk gauze;
around her neck is string of what
seems to be real pearls; slippers pro-
tect her delicate feet from the hard
sand of the beach, and she walks calm
ly down to the sentry box. As she does
so, it is again noticeable that the crowd
have no terrors for her As she appears
the little maid gives up the sentry box
and respectfully stands aside, allowing
her mistress to enter. When she is
seated number Of fashionable attired
young men with weak whiskcrs and eye
glasses, hurry up to pay their respects.
For few moments they are graciously
received by the lady; then waving them
aside, she dashes into the serf with as
much calm abandon as she faced the
crowd. While she is in the water, the
little maid occupies the sentry box, but
the moment she leaves it, both of the
well-trained serving women hurry for
ward to receive her With them she
returns to the bathing house. Reap
pearing shortly afterward, she again
takes her place in the sentry-box. Here
she remains for ten or fifteen minutes
surrounded by a number of admirers
and then, leaving the beach, the sentry
box is removed and the little drama is
ended. 1t may be said that the CHIEF
performer in it is not an actress. She
moves in what some people call the
best Of society," 1t may also be neces-
sary to state that the above is true ii
every particular.