Year: 1875

usually leased for ;hs private families but
which, like ciy residences have been very considerably
reduced in rent a induoenent 10 visitors. Rock
away however only bearing rs share Of the general
depression, and with returning prosperity to the whole
country Will flourish in all its former glory.
The visitors This year are owing to the referred
20, of a transient character, many leaving New
York in tho early morning and returning the Same day


He who is limited 10 time reach Rocka~ay from
Hunters Point in hour by rail After he has ar
rived and passed the ordeal OF scrutnz!ng and bright
eyes peering at him from under sun bonnets OF all
shapes and Sizes and which generally worn with
jaunty and eoqucttish air the said eyes and
bonnes being drawn up in force the depot platform
looking for friends among the arrivals no starts
for one OF the many hotels recommended his
ton by the voclerous and energetic bus drivers After


drive Of between five aud ten minutes he has chance
Of becoming partially acquainted with the external e-
lures Of Rockaway-wth its hotels and boarding houses
and restaurants It's billiard saloons its bowling alleys
shooting galleries and shuleboards Here and there are
pretty private residences IN the villa style, with
exquisite lawns and gardens usteiully laid in many


blooming parterre of brilliant lowers One Of the re-
Gently elected judges of the supreme Court hes very
handsome dwelling On the main read, and of the
mercantile and commercial magnates from Front Water
other streets 'GOwn town. enjoy their ofi,lm cum
dignitte In mansions fitted up with all the luxurious
accommodations of city residence. From all this it
will be seen that Rockaway is pleasant place to visit
aud If bath in the surf does not afford sufcient in





enough TO baush e1ui ia the many other attractions
Visitors who are much exercised about political matters
will hear eqccnt DISCUSSIONS the merits of the CON
troversy now raging IN the great metropolis between
the 'ins" and the 'outs " For those who have no
taste in that line there balls and hops
and public anuscmcnts in the shape OF rogaas horse
racing and circus performances The last named are
announced IN mammoth posters which are repre-
sentcd in garing coors only the possible but the
impossible acrobatc icats According these vora-
cous exhibits every female meInber OF the company
Venus IN abbreviated skirts and every male athlete
lilo ar fla- in ftffitu


But 1t is the beach that Rockaway shines in all its
glory and refulgence This is the great attraction and
the visitor who has not ayaed himself of the opportu-
nifty TO take bath IN the foaning surf has spent his
money and his time in vain. A trip the inlet
the Shoo Fly, or any one of the little feet
of yachts that convey passengers 10 and fro Is quite
treat in itself Five cents for the round trip is certainly
not extravagan gure, and this Is the fare paid by
each passenger The beach presents a most animated
scene Hundreds reveling in the surf as it breaks
in long lines of seethng foam upon the shifting
sands The tmid are content TO take their bath al s
distances along the safety ropes which extended ut
intervals from strong posts down To tho required dis
tance in the water.


BATnEEs.


Hanging TO these ropes, seemingly strung upon
them like great beads of every conceivable color blue
are the bonneted bathers who disappear for a
moment the surging waters Of each in
coming break over them, and confused mngling
OF hues is seen amid the dazzling white Of the seethng
foam they reappear swaying to and fro in the effort
to recover their perpendcuar-no easy matter
those treacherons ever moving sands Gathered under
the shade of covered platforms crowds Of spectators
enjoying the enivening scene the farer chatting
last nights hop, the atest fashions and kindred
topics, while politics, hard times and late business
failures form the burden OF conversation Of the lords Of
creation Little knots OF bathers, in full Bloomcr
and. with dishevelled hair falling in graceful
waves, sometimes below the waist are strolng along
the beach their way 10 their respective bathing
box In fact, there IS an easy, jaunty indifference
about these bathers that is refreshing. They have
evidently made up their minds 10 rough it. and when
they return to their respective homes TO bring back
with them fresh stock Of life and vigor for the work OF
the year


Every the whole population OF Rockaway Is
reused TO fever of excitement by the annual regatta
of the yachts which the passengers taken to and
from the beach. Each little vessel has its hackers and
the bets considerably below the figures that rule
Saratoga Long Branch there no less interest in
the result The announcement Of the contest is posted
at all the hotels and in the most conspicuous parts of
the town, and the merits OF the various craft are
canvassed 1t is the great event of the day.
and the boatmen for the time being the heroes OF
the hour The prizes arc sometimes provided by the
hotels but this year they furnished by the Rock
away Club. As money is the most acceptable To the
men engaged n the contest the prizes awarded were in
that form the first being $50 in gold, the second
SIS, the third $40, all in the same giterng but, alas
departed currency The race was most spirited one,
and the certainly did their best with their respec
tive yachts Every stitch OF canvas that the weather
would allow crowded and the best helmsman
put at the stern. The distance 70 be sailed was ten


miles from the starting point at the landing place to the
ferrybua Hicks and back thrice over the same route
Amid the encouraging plaudts of the thousands assem-
bed Oh the beach and mainland, not few OF whom
financially interested in the race, the boats
started, and for time each held its own
bravely Before half hour however, it
evident what vessels would prove the winners,
and when the terminated the first prize
awarded to the William Peirsal the second TO the
Norton and the third to the Drew These belong to the
fleet Of erryboats which are built broad OF BEAM capac
ity being the great desideratum in their case There
also yacht race, in which the Nellie, graceful
little vessel took the first prize and the Vernon the
second.


RAIN.


AS at the other summer resorts the rainy weather
has been the great drawback here. Although
we favored with smiling skies and the
pleasure seekers taking every advantage OF
the opportunity for outdoor exercises there Is
a want of confidence in the continuance OF the
present agreeable nermisson the attentions Of that
much berated myth, Jupiter Pluvius. We have bad
more than share OF the deuge OF waters, and at
times the streets impossible from the tropical tor
rents with which they were overnowed.