LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 'ft^mei PERCY'S POCKET DICTIONARY OF Coney Island AN INDEX AND GUIDE TO RAILROAD AND STEAMBOAT ROUTES, HOTELS, AMUSEMENTS, RESTAURANTS, HISTORICAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL FACTS, ' AND ALL OTHER THINGS IN AND AHOUT THIS resort; WITH AN APPENDIX ON BATH- ING, SWIMMING, AND THE SUMMER STARS EDITED AND COMPILED BY |>^ TOWNSEND PERCY With Maps and Illustrations Season of 1880 NEW vOrk F. LEYPOLDT, 13 and 15 Park Row 1880 Copyright, 1880. By F. Leypoldt fi-v'^ Tmb JoHif A. (Jrav Press, ' "^^A 16 and IS Jacob Street, (^ "^S ' ' New York. ^ ' PREFATORY NOTE. Careful consideration lias been given to the choice of subjects treated in this little book, and it has been my aim to make it as complete and trustworthy as " Appletons' Dictionary of New York," which I compiled, and which was the first hand-book of the kind printed in America. To this end nothing that appears in the body of the Dictionary is in any sense an advertisement, and no payment has been or will be received for it, either directly or indi- rectly. Whatever is an advertisement distinctly appears as such. It is too much to hope that entire accuracy could be secured in a first edition. Any correc- tions of errors which may be observed, and any suggestions which may tend to the improve- men t of the Dictionary will be thankfully re- ceived with the view of profiting by them in subsequent editions. I avail myself of this opportunity to thank those who have kindly assisted me by their prompt response to applications for informa- tion. TowNSEND Percy. HOW TO USE THE DICTIONARY. For special information turn to the name of person or place, or to the very word expressing the object on which you want to be informed. If not given under that word, reference is made to the word where it is. For general information and starting-points, turn to the articles, "Amusements," "Geography," "History," " How to See Coney Island in One Day," "Picnics," "Trip to Coney Island," "Hotels," "Restaurants," " Dinners," etc., which give the cues for further infor- mation. THE APPENDIX Contains Hints on Bathing and Swimming ; Surf styles ; Directions how to find the Summer Stars; a Summer Calendar, for sun, moon and high water; and Time- Tables for Railroads and Steamboats. SECTIONAL MAP OF CONEY ISLAND. IN QUA RTER-M IL E SQUARES I.— (Left-Hand Page.) West End. II.— (Right-Hand Page.) East End. PERCY'S POCKET DICTIONARY OF CONEY ISLAND. Amphitheatre. — [Map, N4] — A portion of the Manhattan Beach Bathing Pavilion on the west is inclosed on three sides but open toward the ocean, and is fitted with tiers of seats rising one above another nearly to the roof. A band of music plays here during the afternoon and even- ing, and it affords a sheltered and luxurious rest- ing-place from which to watch the amusing antics or petty mishaps of the bathers, and to make stud- ies of human nature as nearly " in a state of na- ture " as may be. The admission is ten cents, but it is free to those who purchase bath tickets. Amusements. — In a general way the amuse- ments at Coney Island would appear to be those peculiar to and naturally afforded by seaside re- sorts ; but the daily congregation of thousands of people of varying tastes has led to the establish- ment by speculators of any number of diversions not ordinarily attainaljle at the seashore. The average man, bent only upon obtaining relaxa- tion and rati(Mial amusement, will find it naturally enough in the alternate contemplation of the ocean, and the people by whom he is surrounded, 12 AMUSEMENTS. or in listeninp^ to the orchestral music, iind will perhaps supplement these quiet pleasures with a dip in the surf and a well chosen repast. Mothers and children will find an inexhaustible fund f)f amusement in patrolling or camping down upon the sand at the water's edge, where the little ones can make futile efforts tu reach China by virtue of a toy shovel and I'ia perpendicular excavations in the white-sanded shore. At a place like Coney Island, however, easily and cheaply accessible from several great cities, the throng of visitors is sure to include a propor- tion of restless spirits who are not satisfied with enjoyments or pleasures of so prosaic a nature, and among these are many who visit the Island, over-exert themselves, expose themselves reck- lessly to the sun, bathe too frequently, or remain too long in the water, fill their stomachs with un- wholesome food, indulge too freely in alcoholic beverages, and who find on returning home that they have aching heads and limbs or disordered stomachs, from which results they draw the very natural inference that the salt air iloes not agree with their constitutions. The list of amusements naturally begins with bathing. .Music is to be heard at or near almost every building along the beach ; billiard-tablts and bowling-alleys are to be found at several of the principal hotels ; shooting-galleries are every- where , archery practice and Aunt Sally at vari- ous places along the beach ; croquet-grounds at Brighton and West Brighton, and dancing at FeltuKin's Pavilion at West Brighton. Fishing, sailing, and rowing may be had at Point Breeze, at the extreme east of ihe island. Exhibitions of fireworks are given at some one of the hotels al- most every night. There are several "shows," BA NBEK- SHOPS. 1 3 the principal ones, the Aquarium, Feltman's Theatre, the Mi(li>;ets' Palace, the Camera Ob- scura, and the Observatory. There are two race- courses at the beach, belonging to the Coney Island lockey Club and to Engeman, where good racing takes place at stated intervals. If you can find any pleasure in having your picture taken, that is obtainable ; and the greatest pleasure may be derived at table if you know what to eat, and the greatest discomfort if you do not. ^^ Each of the amusements mentioned above •will be found desciibed at length under its appropri- ate heading. Aquarium (The)— [Map, I4]— is contained in a two-story frame building, directly east of Vande- veer's Hotel and the Plaza at West Brighton. It contains a good collection of tish and marine curi- osities in tanks, and Tom Thumb and his troupe, which comprises an assortment of trained birds, a man-fish, a woman-fish, " Punch and Judy," that child's wonder, and other similar attractions. There are two large halls in the building, whicti is about 1 58 feet long and 100 feet deep. In the cupola, which surmounts the structure, is placed a steam orchestrion of " 100 instrument power." The place is open daily from ii A.M. to lo P.M., and the admission is ten cents to all parts of Hie building. At the east end is a space set apart for a Rhode Island clambake {see Clamhakks). The Police Headquarters are also in this build- ing. Arbuckle, Cornet Soloist, plays at (Cable's) Ocfan View Hotel (which .vi-e-). Bader's Hotel.— 6Vc- Grand Ckntral Hotel. Barber-Shops will be found at Manhattan, Brighton, Cable's and other large hotels. 14 BA TH. Bath is a suburban village on the Long Island shore of the Narrows, about two miles below Fort llaniilton. It is one of the old Dutch set- tlements on Long Island, and contains a number of substantial and roomy houses of the old style. Good board can be obtained here at reasonable rates, and Coney Island reached in a few mo- ments, Bath can be reached by trains of the firooklyn, Bath & Coney Island Railway from Greenwood — connection to be made by taking Greenwood horse-cars from Fulton, Wall, and South ferries, and by boat from the Battery. Bathing. — A very large proportion of the visi- tors to Coney Island find the source of their greatest pleasure in the surf-bathing, and if care is exercised the profit ecjuals the pleasure. There can be no question but that the bathing-houses and arrangements at the Manhattan Bathing Pa- vilion are the most luxurious on the island, but others approach them very nearly, and many per- sons find in the retirement and privacy of less frequented portions of the beach ample compen- sation for the somewhat primitive character of the facilities offered. Except that at the west end but little care is given to clearing the beach of the drift-wood and seaweed cast up by the tide, there is little to choose in the matter of location, as from one extremity of the island to the other, the beach is equally smooth and safe, and the magnifi- cent surf of the same character. The old-fash- ioned bathing-houses are strung along the beach from West Brighton to the west end, under the direction of innumerable small hotel-keepers and speculators, and between these there is very little to choose. The uniform price for the use of a bathing-house and dress is 25 cents, but at a few of the rude places toward the west end, 15 or 20 BA THINC-SUI TS. 1 5 cents only is charged, but 25 cents is ilie maximum price at the best places. At the Manhattan Beach Bathing Pavilion, Brighton Beach Bathing Pa- vilion, and at the Iron Pier, will be found the most luxurious bathing facilities, and fair bathing accommodations are to be had at Feltman's and at Tilyou's Surf House, the latter afiected by mothers and children. Details in regard to all these places will be found under their respective headings. {Se'c also. Hints on Bathing, in Ap- pendix) Bathing-suits. — According to Dr. Packard, the material should always be woollen, and flannel is decidedly the best. Those who do not swim will find it more comfortable to protect the skin of the arms and legs from sunburn by having the sleeves come down to the wrists and the trousers to the ankle. Swimmers will find it much more convenient, as well as safer, to wear short sleeves, wide at the shoulder, and trousers or drawers reaching only to the knees. There is nothing more hampering to one who is becoming a little tired than a heav)' dress ; and it might make the difierence between danger and safety in the case of a man who had overestimated his powers, or wlio had been carried out farther than he in- tended. For women. — According to Dr. Durant, the bathing-dress should be made of a woollen fabric, the warp of which is worsted, the woof serge. We particularly insist upon woollen as the mate- rial to be worn, as it retains the heat of the body, and therefore prevents a too rapid evaporation. Maroon and blue are the proper c<3lors, as they resist the corrosive and bleaching effects of the salt-water. The dress should consist essentially of two parts — a pair of pantaloons and a blouse. 1 6 /iA thinc-iia ts. The latter should not fit too tightly ; the sleeves fastened loosely at thd wrist, and slits cut in the garment just below the arm-pits. A belt of the same woollen stuff is attaclied to the blouse to re- tain it at the waist. The pantaloons should be short, upheld by suspenders, and should not be buttoned too tightly to the legs, as circulation would be thereby impeded. {See a/so, hi the Ap- . f^endix, SuRK Styles /<'/- i8So.) Bathing-hats. — A broad-brimmed straw hat may be worn, but, says Dr. Durant, all cover- ings (such as oil-skin caps, so commonl)- woin by ladies to prevent the hair being wet), prevent- ing a free perspiration on the scalp, are injuri- ous, since the secretions from the skin arc- stopped, and the head has to perform more than its share of the work ; and also, on account of the increased cerebral circulation, all possible care should be taken to keep that part of the body at its habitual temperature. HaUung Shoes afford for women and children an excellent safeguard against the bruising of the feet by shells or pebbles, as well as against the heat of the sand, which is often intense. {See also, in Appendix, Surf Styles /«;;- 1880.) Bauer's Hotel. — See West Brighton Beach Hotel. Billiards. — Devotees of this game will find ta- bles at hotels of almost every grade on the island. A word of warning : do not bet with gentlemanly strangers, as their game is apt to improve marvel- lously at critical moments. There are no billiard- tables at Manhattan Beach, but at the Brighton Hotel Maurice Daly has sixteen good tables, and there are also tables at Cable's, Vanderveer's, the Sea Beach, Feltman's and many other hotels. nKicriTOX nEAcii. 17 The prices are about the same as those charged at first-class rooms in New York. Boarding-Houses. — There are really no board- ing houses proper along the beach, although boarders are taken at some of the small and unat- tractive places at the West End. There is, of course, a variation in the rates at the principal hotels for persons who remain any considerable part of the season, and board at some of the hotels near West Brighton may be had at from $15 to $20 per week. At almost all the hotels, however, you hire your rooms and take your meals a Ja carti\ an expensive mode of living. There is really no such thing, at present, as good board at reasonable rates to be had^at Coney Island. At Bath (which see) good board may be had at fair rates, and it is within a few minutes' ride of the island. Boating.— .SV^ Sailing and Rowing. Bowling. — At the Brighton Beach Hotel, at the Sea Beach Palace, and at Feltman's Hotel, will be found excellent bowling-alleys, where those who care for this amusement ma)' disport them- selves at about the ordinary pirices charged in New York. Brighton Beach is the name given to that por- tion of the Island between the Concourse and Manhattan Beadi. It is the ver}' heart of the Island and is the resort par excellence of Brook- lyn people. It is easily reached from that city by the superb Ocean Parkway and the Concourse in carriages. The buildings here are the Brigh- ton Hotel, the Brighton Bathing Pavilion, and Engeman's Hotel and Pier, which are virtually a part of the Brighton Beach. Shooting galleries, peddlers, fortune-tellers, shows, etc., are allowed 2 1 8 BRIGHTON BEACH BATHING PAVILION. on the beach, and if they are objectionable to some people yet they serve to give animation and color to the scenes. Brighton Beach Bathing Pavilion — [Map, L4] — is east of the Brighton Beach Hotel, and is a large two-story building. An addition 50 x 80 feet has been made during the past year, and the general character of the bathing facilities greatly improved. There are now about 1200 bath-rooms, all on the second floor, the ladies' rooms on the east and the gentlemen's on the west. From each side an arched bridge is thrown out over the sand to the water's edge, thus enabling bathers to reach the water without crossing the beach. A life-raft or catamaran in charge of an able seaman is kept constantly in the water, and life-lines are in abundance. The bathing-grounds are illumined at night by an electric light. The price charged for use of bathing-suit and room is 25 cents, and for the care of valuables there is an extra charge of 10 cents, the system being the same as that in vogue at the Manhattan Beach Bathing Pavilion (which st'c). There are also hot and cold salt-water baths in private rooms at 50 cents each. On the lower floor of this pavilion are a restaurant and bar and the Midgets' Palace (which see). Brighton Beach Fair Grounds. — See Enge- man's Race-Course. Brighton Beach Railroad.-— 6'i' West Brighton Beach Hotel. Cow (Mechanical). — See Plaza. Cramp. — See article on Swimming, in Appendix. Croquet. — Good grounds and the implements of this game will be found at Brighton Beach and at Paul I:}auer's West Brighton Beach Hotel, ad- joining the Pla/a. The use of the grounds and implements is charged for at moderate rates. Culver's. — West Brighton Beach was formerly 30' DANCING. known as Culver's Beach, and even now, the Prospect Park and Coney Island Railroad is called " Culver's Road," after its President, Mr. Andrew R. Culver, who was tlie first to discover the possibilities of Coney Island as a summer resort, and to open it up to the public. Dancing. — At Feltmann's Hotel at West Brigh- ton there is a large dancing hall where dancing is kept up from 2 to ii I'.m. The admission is twenty-five cents for men, but women are admit- ted free. The place is a resort .mainly for Ger- mans of the middle class, and although there is a total lack of ceremony, there is no rudeness or disorder met with in the " ball-room." Dangers. — See articles on Bathing and Swim- ming (^Cautionary), in Appendix. Dieter's [Map I-J4] is an ornamental frame building near Ocean Parkway, and in the rear of the Concourse. It is a restaurant, kept by one Dieter, a well-known Brooklyn caterer, and is patronized principally by persons driving down from Brooklyn. Dinners. — " To dine well at a moderate cost." says " Appletons' Dictonary of New York," " is an art not to be taught in books, albeit much has been written on the subject. To select from a long and varied bill of fare those dishes which har- monize, and each of which accents and enchances the enjoyment to be derived from the others, re- quires a taste both instinctive and acquired. Two men may enter a restaurant where the cooking is unexceptionable and the service perfect, and order their dinners. It is not unlikely that the one will dine badly off a villainous collection of viands, each perfect in its way, while the other will DINNERS. 3' dine well at half the cost, from his superior taste and knowledge of the gastronomic art." All that can be done here is to indicate the special features of Coney Island dinners and to leave the hungry man to his own resources and to his digestion. Remember, first, that at all restau- rants of the better class one portion of any dish is ample for two persons, and in order to avoid any mistake write " one portion " on your order. A reference to " Restaurants " elsewhere will indi- cate the fact that the variation in restaurant prices at Coney Island is so small that you may select any restaurant in which to dine irrespective of that consideration, and, where the appearance of the dining-room and service attract you, enter in. If, however, chance or other circumstances lead you into one of the lower-class restaurants, you will fare best by confining 3'ourself to clams and fish which they cook fairly well everywhere on the beach, and by carefully avoiding their entrees, etc. Many persons will find that they can dine more cheaply and better by patronizing the table-cV hdte dinners at a fixed price. {See Table-d'hote Din- ners.) ^ A mistaken idea prevails among many people that two persons cannot dine at one of the first- class hotels without the expenditure of anywhere from five to ten dollars. The best way perhaps to indicate the folly of this will be to print one or two mgnus for a modest dinner, with the prices. Dinner for t7co persons at Manhattan Beach Hotel. Little Neck clams raw, 2 portions $0 50 Soup Bisque of Crabs, i " 40 Baked Bluefish, i " 45 Mashed Potatoes, I " lo 32 DINNERS. Roasi Lamb, i portion 60 Green Peas, 1 " 20 Leituce Salad, 1 " 25 Meringue Glacce, i " 30 Coftce, 2 cups 20 Total !f;3 oe middle classes, and espe- cially by Germans. There are large dining- rooms, bar-rooms, and lunch tables on the lower floor, and on the upper two large halls. One of these, 60 X 200 feet, is set apart for dancing, and music is provided for that purpose daily, from 3 to II P.M. Admission to this hall is fixed at 25 cents for men, but women are admitted free. The dancing is marked as much by vigor as by FELTMAN'S THEATRE. 35 grace, and the prevailing etiquette elastic rather than rigid. The second hall, erected this year, is 300 x 60, and is used as a theatre. There are billiard- tables and bowling to be had at this house. The prices are a tritle lower than at other hotels in the vicinity, and the cooking rather of the mod- ern German school. Something over 200 bath- rooms are attached to this hotel.. _ Feltman's Theatre [Map, H4], built 1880, is in the second story of a frame building, adjoin- ing his Hotel on the east (see Feltman's Hotel). It is under the direction of Prof. Seemann, of Berlin, who is what may be called a scientific won- der-worker. His performances not only include all the tricks of the ordinary magician, but he uses electrical instruments to assist him, and thereby is able to accomplish many very cunning changes. He uses an electro-motor for musical effects, engaging instruments that are affixed in difTerent parts of the theatre. His daughter, Miss Seemann, floats in the air without the aid of any rod or pole and without any support what- ever, certainly without any that is visible to the 'spectator upon closest inspection. He has dis- solving views upon an entirely new principle, in which he produces water fountains, the jets of which spout water in many difTerent colors. He will also produce on the screen the photograph in large size of any persons who choose to hand him their cartes de visile for that purpose. Two born blind musicians also appear. One is a violinist named Schafer, of Bremen, who com- poses his own music. The other is a pianist, Werpach, a Swiss, claimed to be equal to josefly. He is also a performer on the cello. They appear 36 J'7Ki:il'OKKS. in solos and duets. The performances are in English, and the price of admission is 25 cents. Fireworks. — Exhibitions of fireworks are giv- en at Manhattan, Brighton, and West Brighton Beaches, usually once a week at each place dur- ing the season. Advertisements in all the daily papers announce the exact dates of these events. A good way to see the fireworks to advantage is by taking the Rockaway boat down and back during the evening, and, passing along the Coney Island shore, view them from the steamer's deck. Fish Dinners. — The one glory of the restau- rants on Coney Island is that the best edibles they furnish, the cheaper as well as the most expensive, are fish and clams. At almost any place you may select, however rough the service, these articles of food are very sure to be well cooked, but as the prices are pretty much the sume every- where, it is as well to patronize a first-class house. At Manhattan Pavilion and at Point Breeze (which see) they make a specialty of fish dinners. Blue-fish, striped bass, sea bass, eels, flounders, weak-fish, sheepshead, Spanish mackerel, solo, black-fish, king-fish, and whitebait may all be had at the island, and preceded by a few Little Neck clams, you may eat whichever you like and as much as you like, and have them cooked to suit your taste. See Clambakes, Dinners and Restaurants. Fishing — The opportunities for good fishing in and about New York are not many, but among the best are those afforded at or near Coney island. If you wish to troll for blue fish or Span- ish mackerel there are capital grounds off Rocka- way Beach, and your best plan is to go down to Point Breeze {70/iii/t sie), pass the night at the GEOCK.irfrv. 37 Pavilion, and having made your arrangements for a sailboat {sc-e Rowing, Saitjng). crew, bait, lunch, etc., over night, make an early start in the morning. If you arc after bass, you can find good fishing in Coney Island Creek and Sheepshead Bay, starting out from the Pavilion at Point Breeze ; or you may take the Prospect Park and Coney Island Railway to Van Sicklen's Station and stop at " The" Alston's Hotel," where the rates for full board are from $2 to $3 per day, and fish in the Coney Island Creek. Rod and reel and crab bait are used If you meet with the pro- verbial " fisherman's luck," the fresh air and the capital "good cheer" obtainable at either of these places will well repay you for the trip. Floating. — Sc-f article on Swimming, in Appen- dix. Geography. — Cone)' Island is the extreme western end of a great outlying sand-bar, broken by inlets, which extend along the southern coast of Long Island for nearly ninety miles. Its dif ferent sections are known as Coney Island, Peli- can, Rockaway, Hog, Long, Crow, Jones, Oak Island, Fire Island, and Great South beaches. Coney Island is bounded on the north by Graves- end Bay, Coney Island Creek, and Sheepshead Bay, and on the south by the Atlantic Ocean. It is divided on the east from Pelican Beach (or Barren Island) by Plumb Inlet, which connects Sheepshead Bay with the ocean. The western extremity of the island is known as Norton's Point, and the eastern extremity as Point Breeze, The island is subdivided into West End, West Brighton, Brighton and Manhattan Beaches, each of which will be found described elsewhere. The entire island is a sandy beach, devoid of any nat- 33 GILM ORE'S BAND. iiral growth otlicr tluui beach grass, and the main- land to the north of Coney Island Creek is com- posed of extensive salt marshes. The island is about eleven miles directly south of the city of New York, altliough the distance from the Battery to Norton's Point is only about eight and a half miles as the bird flies. The average width of the island is not above half a mile. (See also History.^ Gilmore's Band.— 6>he letter R does not occur ; so that from the beginning of May to the end of August, or the beginning of September, they are not in any great demand, and fortunately at this time clams, crabs and lobsters are at their best. Although, at the seaside, oysters are palatable during the summer season, and are often eaten without apparent harm, there can be no doubt that they sometimes prove treacherous. One is apt occasionally to come across a bSd oyster— it may be merely a milky one, or it mav be one which is actually spoiled, and the effect of this is to induce a most unpleasant disturbance of the digestive organs. At the best hotels at Coney Island great care is taken in the selection of oysters, but all things considered, they are best left alone at this time of year. 62 PEDLERS. Pedlers. — Comparatively few itinerant vend- ors are now met with on the beach, east of West Brighton. There are a few permitted at Brighton, but they are rigorously excluded from Manhattan Beach. The only class of these vendors who are useful are the men who sell " goggles " or smoked and colored eyeglasses and spectacles. Persons with weak eyes will do well either to provide them- selves beforehand or to purchase from one of these men a pair of colored glasses, as the glare of the sun on the ocean and on the sand at midday is trying to the strongest visual organs. Peanut and popcorn vendors are frequently met with, and en- gage the attention and reap the penniesof children. Scales, where you may try your weight for five cents, will also be met with at points along the shore. Photographs. — If you should for any reason, personal or otherwise, desire to have your pic- ture taken at Coney Island there is a small pavil- ion devoted to the art near Leach's West End Hotel, and at the Brighton Beach Bathing Pavil- ion. There are generally itinerant photographers also to be met with on the beach. The quality of the pictures taken, of course, rarely surpasses the original, but you don't pay for flattery, but " for the fun of the thing." Picnics. — Coney Island is essentially a demo- cratic place, where you may do pretty much as you like, and be reasonably sure of not attract- ing any unpleasant amount of notice. You may, if you please, go to Coney Island and spend the day, and enjoy yourself hugely, without expend- ing one cent more than is required to pay your fares to and from the beach. Not only is this possible, but thousands of people, notably moth- PLAZA. 63 ers with small means and large families, actually do it every day during the season. At almost every hotel of any size on the beach there are tables set apart for the use of parties who bring their own provisions or lunch baskets, and you may spread your feast and enjoy it at your pleas- ure. If you desire you can order beer, clams, chowder, or the like to supplement your feast, but there is no obligation to do so implied by your use of the tables or pavilions, and you will experience neither rudeness nor neglect. There are tables for picnic parties at the Manhattan Pavilion, at the Brighton Beach Bathing Pavilion, at Bauer's at West Brighton, and at a host of smaller places there and along the beach to the West End, where ample accommodations of the kind will be found in the western part of Norton & Murray's Pavilion. The places so set apart are always designated by large signs, so that you need never fear a rebuff. Piers.— There are four piers at Coney Island, only one of which— the New Iron Pier— however, possesses any interest for the visitor. They are called Norton's Dock, the West End Pier, Enge- man's Pier, and the New Iron Pier {see under re- spective headings). Planets. — See article on Summer Stars, in Ap- pendix. Plaza. — The Spanish designation of an open square (frequently used but not yet incorporated in the English language by lexicographers), is the name given to the space at West Brighton Beach surrounded by hotels and other build- ings. It is laid out in grass plots and flower beds, and intersected by many broad plank walks. Fountains of drinking water, a great mechanical 64 POINT BREEZE. Cow, the Observatory, Camera Obscura, and other small structures are scattered about the place. The mechanical Cow is an enormous bovine which, manipulated by busy dairy maids, dispenses unlimited quantities of ice-cold milk to thirsty vis- itors at five cents per glass. Point Breeze — [Map T4] — is at the eastern ex extremity of Coney Island, is the property of the Manhattan Beach Improvement Company, and has Sheepshead Bay on the north and the ocean on the south. It is the eastern terminus of the Marine Railway, and is resorted to by lovers of clam bakes, fish dinners, and rowing and sailing. The view of the ocean, Rockaway Beach, and other points is particularly fine from this place. Point Breeze Pavilion — [Map. T4] — is at the eastern terminus of the Marine Railway, and is devoted to fish dinners and clam bakes. There are about fifty rooms in the house rented at $1.50 and $2 per day, chiefly to gentlemen sportsmen. At five o'clock every day a Rhode Island clam bake {see Clam bakks) is served at seventy-five cents per head. Capital fish-dinners may also be ordered here, and row boats and sail boats hired, the former at twenty-five cents and the latter at $1 per hour, or if wanted for a longer time prices by special arrangement. The fishing grounds are near here. (6'tv Fishing.) Point Comfort House — [Map, C4] — between Norton & Murray's and Rosedale, at the west end. It is a small two-story frame building, and has a few bath houses, attached which are labelled " West End Baths." It is one of the many hotels of the cheaper grade at this end of the Island. Police. — The police force employed on the Island is large enough to preserve perfect order at RAVENIIALL. 65 all times, and their headquarters are in the A(jUA- RiUM building at West Brighton. The policemen are mainly paid by the hotel-keepers, but they are all sworn in as officers by the authorities of Gravesend. Well-known and capable hotel de- tectives are also employed by the larger hotels. Post Office. — There are letter and drop letter boxes at Brighton and Manhattan Beach Hotels. Collections are made several times daily. Prospect Park and Coney Island Railroad runs from the depot at Ninth Avenue and Twentieth Street, Brooklyn, to Cable's Hotel, at West Brighton Beach. The depot is accessible from Fulton Ferry, Brooklyn, via Vanderbilt Avenue horse-cars. This is frequently called Culver's road. ^^^ See Time-Tahle in Appendix. Punch and Judy. — Sec A()UARIUM. Race-Courses. — See Coney Island Jockey Cluh and Engeman's Race-Course. Railroads. — Coney Island is approached by six railroads from New York and Brooklyn or connecting with boats for those places at interme- diate points. The names of these are as follows; Brooklyn, Bath and Coney Island Railroad. Brooklyn and Coney Island Horse Railroad. Brooklyn, Flatbush and Coney Island Rail- road. New York and Manhattan Beach Railroad.- New York and Sea Beach Railroad. Prospect Park and Coney Island Railroad. A description of each of these roads will be found under separate heads. Ravenhall — [Map, F4] — is a small neat hostelry about half of a mile east of the West End Pier. It contains about a dozen rooms, and bar and res- 5 66 /;:es ta ura nts. taurant. It is resorted to by many men who con- sider its clam roasts superior to those served at any other place on the Island, albeit the service is a trifle rough. Restaurants. — Every building on the island, with few exceptions, contains a restaurant, and there- fore the choice of a place at which to lunch or dine is one of the greatest perplexities encoun- tered by the stranger or the habitue. The remarks under Hotels apply equally to restaurants. There is by no means as great a difference in the prices between the higher and lower classes of restau- rants as there is in the character of the service and cooking. At the Manhattan, Brighton, and Oriental Hotels, the service and the cooking is on a par with that of the best restaurants in New York, while at the cheaper houses the service is apt to be rough and the cooking indiflerent, while the prices are really only a trifle lower than at the better class of restaurants. A nearly uniform tariff has been adopted by common consent for clams cooked in various ways, at the best hotels as well as at the open sheds along the beach, but other viands difi'er greatly in price, and apparently without any reason or consistency in the grada- tion. A careful comparison of the prices on the bills of fare, at eight of the representative hotels of their classes on the island, viz. : the Manhat- tan, Brighton, Bauer's, Engeman's, Vanderveer's, Cable's, Sea Beach, and Iron Pier, gives the fol- lowing results : Soups are from 20 cents to 25 cents a portion at the cheapest, and from 25 cents to 40 cents at the dearest, an ordinary soup costing about the same at either place. Fish ranges from 35 cents to 50 cents a portion at the cheapest, and from 40 cents to 60 cents at the most expen- sive, the average price being about the same. SAILING. 67 Among roast meats, taking beef as a staple, a por- tion costs 40 cents at the cheapest, and 50 cents at the dearest, so that as the prices of all the other viands range at about the same comparative rates, it will be seen that in point of price there is but little to choose, and especially is this the case if you exercise care in ordering your dinner. Remember that at all first-class restaurants, where you order more than one course, one portion is ample for two persons. Clams are sold at 20 or 25 cents for raw clams, 40 cents for roast clams, and 25 cents for chowder at all the restaurants on the beach. See also Dinners ; Fees ; Fish Din- ners. Rhode Island Clambake. — See Clambakes. Rooms. — Sec Hotels. Rosedale — [Map, C-D4] — is a small two-story frame house, which is a resort of the plainer class, and stands about 300 yards west of the West End Pier. It has a small pavilion for picnic parties attached. Rowing. — Row-boats may be hired at the Pavil- ion at Point Breeze (which see), accessible vid Marine Railway, fare five cents. The usual price is from twenty-five cents to fifty cents an hour, depending upon the size of the boat, and whether an attendant is required or not. Special rates may be made if you desire to keep the boat many hours. This is the only place on the Island where boating is possible. {Sec also Sailing.) Sealing. — Good sail-boats may be hired with a competent crew for $1 per hour, or at a less rate if you keep the boat many hours, at Point Breeze (which see), accessible vid Marine Railway fare five cents. This is the only place on the Island where boating is possible. {See also Rowing.) 68 ST. NICHOLAS HOTEL. St. Nicholas Hotel — [Map, H4] — is a small house near the landing of the iron pier at West Brighton. It has a bar, restaurant, and shooting gallery, is nicely furnished, and is noticeably neat. Sanitarium. — The Seaside Home for poor children stands in the rear of the Aquarium. It is a worthy charity, instituted for the purpose of giving the weak and sickly children of the tene- ment-house districts a week on the seashore. Sea Beach Hotel [Map H3] is at the ter- minus of the New York and Sea Beach Rail- road at West Brighton. It is not properly a hotel, but a depot and restaurant, and is one of the most attractive looking places on the beach. The building was the United States Government building at the Exposition at Philadelphia in 1S76, and is high and roomy as well as graceful in its outlines. The interior is partially sur- rounded by a balcony, from which Carlberg's orchestra give concerts every afternoon and evening. The east end of the hall is used as a restaurant a la carte, and at the west end there is a table-iV hdte dinner served daily, at $1 per head, without wine. The trains on the railroad land their passengers in the rear of the hotel, and the beach in front is laid out attractively in flower- beds and grass-plots. In a frame building on the east of the hotel will be found billiard-tables, bowling-alleys, and a shooting-gallery. A broad plank walk leads to the shore end of the Iron Pier, almost directly in front of the building. Sea Beach Railroad. — See New York and Sea Beach Railroad. Seaside Costumes. — See Bathing Suits ; Clothing ; also Surf Styles, in Appendix. Seaside Home (for Children). — See Sanitarium. SrKF HO USE. 69 Shooting Galleries, for practice with air- guns, are located at various points along the beach west of the Brighton. The range is ordinarily- only about twenty five or thirty feet long, and the tariff for three shots five or ten cents. Sleight's [Map H4J is a pavilion and restau- rant, at popular prices, just east of the landing of the Iron Pier at West Brighton. Smith's (Mrs.)— [Map, E4]— is a cottage adjoin- ing the Windsor on the east. It contains 10 or 15 rooms, rented at from $5 to $7 each per week, without board. Soda-Water — at the drug-stores (which see). Spectacles. — See Peddlers. Star Gazing. — See article on Summer Stars, hi Appendix. Steam-Orchestrion. — See AnUARiUM. Steamboats. — A number of different steamers from piers on the East and North Rivers run to the Coney Island Pier direct, to Norton's Point direct, and to Locust Grove and Bay Ridge, connecting wiih railroads at those points for the Beach. To the stranger, the trip via the Bay Ridge branch of the New York and Manhattan Beach Road offers great attractions, as it enables him both to see the Bay of New York, and to ride over the most attractive part of the railroad. ^^^ For Time- Tables of all the Steaf?iers, see Ap- pendix. Sunday Services are held on Sunday mornings at II o'clock in the parlors of the Manhattan Beach Hotel, with music under the direction of Gilmore. Surf Fashions. — See Surf Styles, in Appendix. Surf House — [Map, G4]— Tilyou's, is a short 70 SWIMMING. distance west of the Iron Pier. The house is neat and clean, and is, as in former years, the best family bathing place on the Island. It is still a quiet, comfortable place, thouj^h lacking somewhat in the conveniences now obtainable elsewhere. A more than ordinarily good chowder is served here at 25 cents, and is given gratis to all who bathe here and pay 25 cents. The price of baths without the chowder is 20 cents. Swimming. — See article on Swimming, in Ap- tendix. Table-d'hote Dinners. — At the Brighton Beach Hotel a dinner in five courses, and including a pint of table claret, is served daily at $1.50 per head, and is extremely well cooked and served. At the Sea Beach Hotel a tablc-iVhote dinner is served without wine at $1 per head, and on the Iron Pier an excellent dinner in five courses, including a pint of table claret, is served at $1 per head. By purchasing dinner tickets at the shore end of the pier, the price of admission to the pier (ten cents), is included in this sum. For persons unaccustomed to ordering their meals from a bill of fare, this is not only the best, but the cheapest way to dine. Telegraph Offices. — These will be found in the Manhattan, Brighton, Oriental, Cable's, and Nor- ton tS: Murray's hotels. Rate for ten words to New York, twenty-five cents. Temperature. — The temperature of Coney Island, as compared with that of New York City, is of course affected at times by local conditions, direction of winds, etc., but it is safe to say that it will average throughout the season ten degrees lower than the temperature prevailing in New York. TRIP TO CONEY ISLAND. ?! Tide. — See High Water. Theatre. — See Feltman's. Tilyou's. — Sec Surf House. Tom Thumb. — See Aquarium. Trip (The) to Coney Island by Steamer allords tHe tourist a better idea of the Harbor of New York than he can obtain in any other way. Starting from the pier at the foot of 24th Street, on the North or Hudson River, on the right is Hobokcnand the Stevens Castle surmounting the bluflf. Then Jersey City on the right, and New York on the left are passed, and the steamer swings round the Battery and Castle Garden. Gov- ernor's Island, the headquarters of the Military Department of the East, with its defences. Fort Columbus and Castle William, comes in view on the right as the steamer passes through Butter- milk Channel, which separates it from the Brooklyn shore, which is then on the left, and affords a good view of the Atlantic Docks, which have a pier line 3000 feet long, and a basin cover- ing forty acres, surrounded by splendid brick and granite warehouses. Staten Island then comes up on the right and the Quarantine Station, and on the left, the Bay Ridge Dock, where there is a depot of the N. Y. and Manhattan Beach Rail- way. Thence down through the Narrows with the gray walls of Fort Hamilton on the left side, and Fort Wadsworth (formerly Fort Richmond) on the right, and above the latter the green walls of the earthworks called Fort Tompkins. In under the empty port-holes of the ruins of Fort Lafayette, and you pass out into the lower bay. Over to tlie right lies the low line of Sandy Hook, and nearer the Illinois, a dismantled hulk, and the yellow fever and small-pox lloating hospitals, 72 UNDERTOW. and Ellis and Bedloe's Islands. Then Coney Island conies in view on the left, gay with bunt- ing, a city of airy castles and a capital of pleasure, with a new population every day. Undertow. — See article on Swimming, in Appen- dix. Valuables, Care of. — See Bathing localities re- ferred to under B.vtiiixg. Vanderveer's Hotel. — See Ocean Concourse HoTKI.. Van Sicklen's [Map, Ii] is a station on the Prospect Park and Coney Island Railroad at Coney Island Creek. It is mainly a resort for the disciples of Izaak Walton. {See Fishing.) Waiters' Fees. — See Fees. Ward's — [Map, H4] — is a small hostelry just west of Feltman's at West Brighton. It is clean, neat, and cheap. West Brighton is the name of that portion of Coney Island east of the West End and west of Brighton Beach. It was formerly known as Cul- ver's Beach. It is a popular place, and has a broad plaza in the centre, thickly surrounded by hotels of various grades, and is the landing-place of the Iron Pier. West Brighton Beach Hotel— [Map, H4] is just east of the landing of the Iron Pier and fronts on the plaza. It is kept by Paul Bauer, and is frequently called Bauer's Hotel. The building contains some seventy sleeping rooms, nicely fitted up, which are rented at $2 to $4 per day and !|i2 to $24 per week. Extending back from the hotel is a very large pavilion with a wide veranda, in which are seating and table accommodations for near- ly two thousand people. This contains also a WINDSOR. 73 restaurant, refreshment, and ci.ufar stands, and bar ; and music is furnished by Conterno's Twenty- third Regiment Rand, comprising forty pieces. A platform 350 feet long extends out over the ocean, and here yc^i may dine al fresco with the surf rolling up under your very feet. In the rear a large croquet ground is nicely graded and sodded for the amusement of guests. The hotel is a popular resort, especially for Germans ; and the restaurant is very good. {See also Plaza ; and Restaurants.) West End Pier — [Map, D4-5] — is an unpainted ramshackle wooden structure, about 450 feet long, projecting into the ocean from a point about three quarters of a mile east of Norton's Point. The Grand Republic, of White's line of steamers, from New York, lands its passengers here. Rosedale Cottage, Half- Way House, and other minor hotels, little better than shanties, are in the vicinity of the pier, and there is a lunch pavilion attached to it. Windsor — [Map, D4] — is a neat frame cotlage at the west end just east of the West End Pier. There is a station on the Prospect Park and Coney Island branch road directly in the rear of this house. The house contains about 25 rooms, which are rented at from $5 to $7 a week each, without board. APPENDIX. CONTENTS. PAGE Hints on Bathing, ..... 77 SuKK Styles, ...... 83 Swimming, ....... 85 The Summer Stars, ..... 95 TiME-TaI5I.es, 5. . . . . .Ill Calendar, ...... 115 HINTS ON BATHING. 77 MINTS ON BATHING.* See also Bathing, Bathing Suits, etc., in the rc-i:^u/ar Alphabet. WIu-ii not A' Bat fie. — Just after a meal ; or when overfatigued, cliilly, or overheated ; or (unless with the sanction of your physician) when suffering from any acute disease or laboring under any organic affection ; or at night, or early in the morn- ing ; or at unseasonable days. When to Bathe. — When in healthful condition ; when comfortably warm ; two to four hours after * Compiled chiefly from the following excellent little hand- books : Dr. John H. Packard's " Sea Air and Sea Bathing," one of Dr. keen's admirable Health Primers (Phila., Presley Blakiston) ; Dr. Ghislani Durant's "Sea Bathing: its Use and Abuse" (N. Y., A. Cogswell) ; and Dr. C. Parson's " Sea Air and Sea Bathing," an English publication (Phila., Presley Blakiston). With a view of diminishing the loss of life which annually occurs from drowning, the Ro^al Humane Society of England issues the following important advice to bathers : " Avoid bathing within two hours after a meal, or when exhausted by fatigue or from any other cause, or when the body is cooling after perspiration, and avoid bathing altogether in the open air if, after being a short time in the water, there is a sense of chilliness, with numbness of the hands and feet, but bathe when the body is warm, provided no time is lost in getting into the water. Avoid chilling the body by sitting or standing undressed on the banks or in boats, after having been in the water, or remaining too long in the water, but leave the water immediately there is the slightest feeling of chilliness. The vigorous and strong may bathe early in the morning on an empty stomach, but the young and those who are weak had better bathe two or three hours after a meal ; the best time for such is from two to three hours after breakfast. Those who are subject to attacks of giddiness or faintness, and who suffer from palpitation and other sense of discomfort at the heart, should not bathe without first consulting their medical ad- viser.'' 78 HINTS ON BA THING. a meal, at any time between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. (from beginning of June to end of September). Hest time immediately before and during High Water {luhich see in the regular Alphabet). Before the Bath. — When overheated take, before undressing, a moderate walk until perspiration has subsided ; don't try to cool ofT in bathing dress ; don't wait until entirely cooled olF; slightly warm from moderate exercise rather heightens the bracing effects of the bath. Entering the Bath. — Enter resolutely and brisk- ly, until the water reaches the waist ; then plunge headlong or allow a wave to break over your head — all sensations of fear, dislike, chilliness or danger of congestion are thus at once dispelled. At any rate, wet immediately both chest and ab- domen before you " clutch the rope." How to Bathe. — Whatever you do, keep mov- ing and duck under. A common practice with people who cannot swim, says Dr. Durant, is to wade out until the water reaches the waist, stand still, and trom time to time immerse the remain- der of the body as far as the shoulders, allowing the head to remain dry. A more injurious method of bathing can scarcely be imagined. If the bather desires a foot-bath, he had better by far obtain it in his own room. For those who have not learned how to swim, the best plan is to walk out quickly into the water (at least breast deep) then by moving about quickly, using both legs and arms, they may obtain satisfactory results. If, however, the bather prefers the surf to smooth water, the best way to proceed is to let the waves strike the lateral or the posterior portions of the body, allowing himself frequently to be entirely submerged. We would, however, advise all who HINTS ON BA TIT TNG. 79 propose to bathe in the sea for any length of time to learn to s'unm. A knowledge of the art not only gives the bather more confidence in himself, but allows him to enjoy the water to an extent that otherwise would be impossible. In this exercise we find combined all the conditions necessary to attain, and that in a pleasing manner, the most beneficial eflects of sea-water upon the system. {See article on Swimming, /;/ Appendix.) Ho7vbngandho7voften to bathe. — Five to fifteen minutes by the watch (if you have any to consult) should be the average duration of a bath. A safer guide is to leave the water as soon as the second chill is felt. The first sense of cold is felt on entering the water, which is soon followed by the feeling of returning warmth. The second cooling, then, shown specially by blueness of the lips or finger-nails, should invariably he. the signal for leaving the water at once. There are men " to the water born," who can live in, if not on, water ; but every one should consult his own skin. The same remark applies to the " how often." One bath a day is enough for most people, although robust people may occasionally enter twice a day unharmed, and extraordinary people as often as they please. Some people don't mind headache, nausea, biliousness, syncope, etc., some do. After the bath. — If the day be very warm, says Dr. Durant, the bather, after quitting the water, may, sheltering himself from the wind, remain in his bathing-dress and allow it to dry upon his person. This we think the best plan, as it permits the deposits of the saline particles on the skin, and by their stimulating action in- sures reaction. Generally, however, walk briskly to the bathing-house and rub the body dry with a coarse towel until a healthy glow is produced. 80 HINTS ON BA THING. When opportunity offers wash the head, previous to drying the body, with fresh water, so as to free the hair from salt, which would make it stiff and harsh (Packard), or to avoid those troublesome headaches (Durant). Moderate exercise, a short walk (not in the sun) on the beach, or a piazza, are advisable before giving yourself up to the demands of a vigorous appetite or the tempta- tions of the table. Children ought never to be forced into the surf. — All the good effects which are expected from the bathing, says Dr. Packard, are nullified by the fright and nervous shock. The proper way is to get them gradually accustomed to the sea ; to let them have their bathing-clothes on, and play on the beach, when they will go to the edge of the water, and by-and-by find their own way in. Or they may be very gently tempted in by constant efforts, always seeing that they do not get frightened, or, if they do, letting them have plenty of time to become reassured. If they find that, after all, they are not hurt, and that no attempt is made to force them in, they will soon gain confidence. Irritation of the Skin. — Not unfrequently a sea- bath is attended by a more or less troublesome irritation of the skin, for which the chemical composition of sea-water is a sufficient explana- tion. Most bathers will suffer no annoyance from this irritation, but with some persons it amounts to positive discomfort. In referring to this matter, Dr. Parsons observes: "The skin becomes rose-colored, sometimes scarlet, with elevated points scattered over the surface, giving rise occasionally to groundless alarm ; and there is much burning, tingling, and itching, particularly at night or when the body is warmed by exercise. HINTS ON BA THING. 8 1 But these unpleasant symptoms irradually subside as soon as the skin has become accustomed to the bath, and no further inconvenience is expe- rienced." Heiuim/u-.—Y'cxsons subject to headache are more or less liable to trouble in this directiori, either during or after the bath, especially if their entrance into the water gives them too great a shock or if they remain in or under the water too long. " Occasionally," says Dr. Parsons, "con- gestive headache results from bathing too soon after a full meal or in the heat and glare of the midday sun." If due care is exercised in regard to the time selected for the bath, the unpleasant effect may be avoided, while in the case of persons of nervous temperament, with whom, not unfre- quently. " the very anticipation of the bath is suf- ficient to cause throbbing pain in the head, which immersion in the sea only intensifies, an effectual preventive will be found in the precaution of thoroughly wetting the head and making it per- fectly cool before entering the water." Nniisea and Faininess.—A weak stomach some- times rebels against indulgence in a sea-bath, often accompanying its protests with nausea and vomit- ing after the bath, or, in the case of delicate women, with faintness also. Persons so inclined should not bathe before breakfast, or after too long abstinence from food, as the system is not sufficiently fortified to withstand the shock of immersion. Says Dr. Parsons on this point : " A glass of wine and rest in the recumbent pos- ture will obviate the distressing symptoms ; but common-sense dictates that the bath should never be attempted when the body is exhausted^,^ and the circulation lowered by the want of food." 6 82 HINTS ON BA THING. l\ ater in ^/z*' /^V^r.— Considerable annoyance is frequently caused by the water getting into the ears of bathers, particularly if they dive below the surface, or if there is a strong surf; and it is affirmed that deafness, requiring medical treat- ment for its relief, has sometimes followed as a result. By way of precaution against the entrance of the water, says Dr. Packard, it is well to put a small piece of cotton lightly in to each ear before going mto the sea. . . . The best way of get- ting nd of the water is that usually resorted to by boys after swimming, viz., to turn the head well over toward the affected side, putting a finger in the opposite ear, and then to hop about on one foot. A few moments of this exercise will gen- ' erally cause the water to escape in a stream. SURF STYLES. S3 SURF STYLES FOR THE SEASON 1880. From the N. Y. Herald, May 31, 1880. Bathing-dresses are as fanciful and striking as the taste of the wearer may elect and arc no longer considered indelicate if they follow the outline of the form to some little extent. Favor is about equally divided between the blouse costume and the swimming costume, which latter is not so cumbrous in the water as the former. A novelty in bathing-shoes consists of a canvas sandal laced across the instep and quite high at the back ; the sole is of perforated brass, with small straps of leather under toe and heel. A fine brass network covers the perforations and prevents the sand from penetrating inside. There is a thin cork sole next the brass and over this a thin leather one, all perforated to let out the water. Almost all ladies object to bathing on the score of clumsy suits. With a pair of these bathing-shoes over the stockings the drawers need only reach the knees, the blouse need not be so long and the sleeves had either better be omitted, made very short or cut to fit the arm closely as the fashionable dress sleeve. The waist should be cut very high on the shoulders, so that the arm- hole clears the joint of the shoulder, and there will be no excuse for sore arms in the effort of swimming. If the arms and neck burn easily have the bathing costume made low in the neck, with only a strip across the shoulder, like the fashionable ball dress, and wear a scarlet or blue gauze vest, with high neck and long sleeves. A mixed nautical cotton and wool is best adapted 84 SURF STY'LES. to bathing, as it does not shrink like all wool, and does not heft with the water like all cotton. Among the new fabrics shown for seaside costumes is zephyr cloth, a fine cotton material witli a woollen finish ; tally-ho suitings, all wool, in old gold ; Havana and French gray, all made up, eitl)er all of one shade or with admixtures of other colors and fabrics. Black silk is highly favored by the frequenters of the camp-meetings, the "L" and "T" brand of family silk being highly commended for elegance of finish, lustre and wearing qualities. American silks bid fair to rival the finest importations, some of those now in the market being considered unsurpassed in all the qualities that commend a good silk to favorable notice. For cool days out-of-town the American black silk and satin de Lyon are con- sidered almost indispensable to every well- dressed lady's wardrobe. SWIMMING. §5 SWIMM ING. '^ Leander" in the Illustrated Christian Weekly. As swimming is a healthy exercise and pleas- ant amusement, and as proficiency gives the ex- pert the power to save his own life as well as the lives of others, the acquirement of the art should be encouraged by parents, teachers, and also by the authorities. In France it is considered a necessary part of the boy's education, and the regular soldier is trained to swim, not only that he may save himself and comrades, but be more use- ful in building bridges, and all other work in the water incidental to military life. Females can and do learn to swim as easily as males, and their physical education should not be called complete until they have been taught to swim, because the expert male swimmer is often drowned in the attempt to save the female when she does not know how to support herself in the water, and cripples him by her frantic ef- forts to cling to him. Happily this has been con- sidered of late years in New York, and the free swimming-baths for both sexes have not only edu- cated a generation of experts among that class who are most exposed to the perils of the water, but have been the means of conserving the pub- lic health in a marked degree. Every day in the papers we see accounts of persons being saved from drowning. To-day the newsboy or boot- black of a dozen summers, waiting his turn to get into the free bath, saves a comrade who has fallen off the dock ; to-morrow the uniformed police- man risks his own life to save the would-be sui- 86 SWIMMING. cide or the helpless inebriate. Upon inquiry you will nearly always find he is a graduate of the New Yurk docks or the free-swimming-baths. There are several methods of swimming : the most common is forward, face downward, being illustrated by the accompanying cut. The theory of swimming depends upon the simple principle that if a force is applied to any body, it will move in the direction where there is the least resistance. This is seen in the motion of vessels and takes place in swimming, whether the animal be man, quadruped, bird, or tish. Directions to acquire the art have been elaborated until the person who cannot swim is appalled by their number, and concludes it must be a very difficult thing to do, and therefore dreads the water and never tries to learn. Caution ! Do not undress and dash into the water after a long walk or run, or when much heated. Do not enter the water when the stomach is entirely empty, nor when you are fatigued by either hard mental or physical labor. The most common cause of cramp in the legs or arms is due to ignorance of or neglect of these simple precautions. Do not go into the water sooner than two or three hours after a hearty meal, as it interferes with digestion and nullifies any good to be obtained by the exercise. For beginners especially : Do not stay in the water too long ; ten minutes, or at most twenty, will be enough for one not accustomed to the water. Walk gently into the water breast-deep, wet the head and neck with the hands, lie down lightly, face downward, holding head and neck well up, keeping the eyes fixed upward. Strike out with both feet from the bottom, at the same time shov- ing the hands forward, palm-to-palm to the full SWIMMING. 87 length of the arms, sweep the anus around not quite a quarter circle (as seen in illustration), turning the palm of the hand gradually outward to get the largest pulling power against the water. The arms are drawn back quickly, elbows close to the ribs, hands together as before, feet drawn up as close to the body as possible, and the motions repeated as before. The stroke of the feet should be in time with the pulling sweep 88 SWIMMING. of the hands, to get the most speed with the least waste of strengtli. The stroke of the feet should be also a little downward thereby lifting the breast upward and making the breathing easier. Don't try to do too much at one lesson ! If 3'ou can swim three strokes without going under, it is a fair start. A great many become discouraged and say, " Oh, I can't learn to strike out right, I can't keep time with my legs and arms." The best example of a natural swimmer is the frog. Catch one and put him in a tub of water or an aquarium-tank, and he will teach you more about the way to do it easily than all the professors of swimming. There are many appliances, such as life-belts, cork-jackets, inflated bladders, etc., recommend- ed as aids in learning to swim. They should not be used, as the person learning even the mo- tions perfectly by their use is nearly always timid without them. Diving, floating, swimming on the back, on the side, etc., are all easily learned after the pupil has acquired the method described above. A recent English writer well says : "Man is the only animal that drowns unnecessarily. He does so because the knowledge he ought to possess Sir/MM/.VC. Sg does not come to his rescue, as does the instinct of the brute. A dop, or a horse, or any other quadruped, when it finds itself out of its depth, swims away with its head above water, and usuliy gets safe to land. Man not finding him- self in his natural position, is filled with terror, stretches his hands out of the water, which helps him to sink, or opens his mouth to scream, which fills hisluntrs with water instead of air. The re- sult is obvious. If we could only have faith in the natural buoyancy of the body, and when cast unexpectedly upon the water, remain passively upon it, 2vit'/i the mouth tightly closed, many lives might be saved that are now annually lost." Sanford B. Hunt in St. Nicholas. In a practical and most instructive article in St. Nicholas {yo\\x\\\& for 1877) entitled "A Talk about Swimming," Mr. Sanford B. Hunt makes the following hints and suggestions: " Get accus- tomed to the shock of water. Wade slowly out, then turn and face the shore ; duck under in water deep enough to cover the body (say two feet), get your head wet, hold your breath when under, snort as you come to the air again, resist- ing the inclination to breathe in first; and then in a depth of a foot or two lie down, face down- ward, and touch the tips of your fingers on the sand or the bed of the stream. You will find that a very slight lift, hardly two ounces, will keep your head atloat, but not your heels. Use them as oars. Drop out backward into deeper water, walking on your finger tips, and you will find that the more of your body there is under the water the less weight you have to carry. The only parts to keep in the air are your lips and 9© SWIMMING. nostrils. Make these the only exposed surface ; hollow your loins and carry your head well back, so as to have it perpendicular to the lungs. All this is mere paddling ; but you will soon find that keeping afloat is no trouble, unless you keep too high and tr}' to swim as much in the air as in the water. In swimming you must lie low. The legs should be well under and so should the hands ; the chin in the water, the legs at an angle of thirty-three degrees. The theory is that you should use the feet as a counterpoise to the head — the chest, the buoyant part of the body, being the fulcrum of the lever. If your heels go up, your head will go down. Now stop paddling, abandon the grip of your hands on the bottom, keep your head toward the shore and strike out. Two feet depth of water is enough for the lesson. "Keep both hands well under water. You can't swim in the air. Hold your fingers together, the palms of the hands slightly hollowed, the head well back, the chest inflated, and strike with all four limbs in unison of movement. The hands and the feet will act as propellers, the hands moving backward and downward as low as the hips and well outside of the body, the feet draw- ing together and pushing down at the same mo- ment. Give full spread to your hands and feet. Their resistance to the water is your propelling force. Then gather, frog fashion, and repeat the motion. You rid yourself of the sense of danger by keeping in shallow water and striking toward shore. Work in that way a while and the tempta- tions will be irresistible to s\\\m. from shore ; but this temptation should be very carefully indulged until you feel sure of yourself." Floating. — With regard to floating, Mr. Hunt remarks : "It needs only self-possession and still water. One attitude which seems the most scientitic, but which 1 never worked with any considerable success, is to lie upon your back with only the mouth and nostrils out of water, and the arms, extended backward, balancin<; the legs, the lungs being at the fulcrum of the lever, I liave seen such floating done without the mo- tion of a muscle, except that the lungs were kept inliated. But as a personal habit I float better with my legs deeper in the water, and my hands wrapped under the small of my back, the body in a semi-perpendicular position. You have plenty of time to breathe if you are only self- contident." {Str also Floating, beloiv.) Cautionary. — The following cautions are from Dr. Packard's " Sea Airand Sea Bathing : " // is not safe to sioini in the sea when the tide is running out, as then it is difficult to make headway towards the shore. {See High Water /// n-^ular Alphabet.) It is Jiot safe to szaini when there is a heavy surf, as even a good swimmer may be so confused and baffled by waves breaking over him as to lose his presence of mind and perhaps swim seaward in- stead of to the shore ; or he may be so exhausted by the force of the water as to sink. // is not safe to szuiin when there are strong currents in the general line of the shore, as these sometimes set outward enough to keep the bather in deep water longer than his powers can hold out. Should he find himself in such a current, he should never try to make head directly against it, but should swim diagonally towards the shore, and above all, should try to keep his presence of mind, and save his strength. Cramp, although much less apt to occur in sea 92 SWIMMING. than in river bathing, is sometimes brought on if the water is very cold. The person affected sliould be at once helped ashore, when warmth and frictions will probable give speedy relief. No person subject to this ver)' painful affection should swim unless a boat is constantly close at hand. When a swimmer becomes cxhatisted, if he will turn on his back and Hoat, he can often regain his strength, and with it his self-possession. This latter is of the utmost possible importance; the moment it is lost, and the bather begins to struggle and to call for help, the danger is im- minent. A sioitfimer should never lose his courage. Floating is a very pleasant form of bathing, and easily learned if one has only confidence. It consists in turning on the back, and keeping the nose and mouth out of the water. Of course this cannot be done when the surf is very rough, and it is best always to have some one near, lest, without his knowledge, a current or the tide should carry the floater out into deep water. Lives have been lost for want of this precaution. {See also Floating above.) Danger of the Piers. — The piers, stretching out several hundred feet into the ocean, not only SWIMMING. 93 enable one to obtain a different and much finer view of the surf than is possible from the beach, but they also alVord the luxury of a breeze even when little or no air is stirring on the beach. Swimmers, however, cannot be too cautious in regard to bathing at these piers. Their eflect upon the beach itself, is not good, as they act upon the principle of the jetty, in deepening the water in their vicinity. They are most danger- ous as refuges for exhausted swimmers, as I have more than once seen. A man makes out to reach one of them and clings to the support- ing piles, with the waves breaking over him con- tinually, since either to climb up on the pier or to sustain himself above the level of the wave- crests is no easy matter after a long swim for life ; hence, unless assistance comes in some other way, he must soon be washed oil". Undcrto'c. — To a greater or less extent the undertow — " that merciless drag backward of the sea, the topmost wave washing the swimmer illu- sively toward the shore, the undermost sucking him down and out" — exists at all our Northern beaches. Asa matter of course all the water that rolls shoreward in a heavy surf must go back again. On this point, Mr. Hunt, in his .S7. iVic/iolas' article, remarks : " The top-sea rolls in and the under-sea rolls out. Trust to the former. Keep clear afloat, and as high as you can. Secure the friendship of the shoreward wave. Other- wise, if, when you are within ten feet of shore and safety, you drop your legs to the angle of thirty-three degrees, which is the deepest swim- ming position, 30U will find that the undertow will grab you by the ankles and pull you out and down again. Keep clear afloat ; your head well down, your heels feeling ,the topmost of the im- 94 SWIMMING. pelling wave. Keep your lungs well filled and wash ashore. You are not safe until you can easily fasten your hands in the sand or gravel, and pull yourself to land. But in shallow water, with a long surf rolling in behind you, the drag of the undertow can only be avoided by swim- ming high and letting the waves ' buck ' you in. S7i.'i/n shalloxv and trust the topmost wavc.'^ Safcty-Jiint. — A person in danger close to the shore, may often be reached and drawn in by a line of men joining hands. This only needs coolness and courage on the part of the outer- most men of the line (Who should be the tallest) and above all, firmness of grip." THE SUMMER STARS. I 95 " One Hiver can be alone if he is /amiliariy acquainted •with the stars. He rises early in the summer morning that he may see his -winter friends ; in 7vinter, that he may gladden himself -with a sight of su/nmer stars, lie hails their successive rising as he does the coming of his />erso?tal friends from beyond the sea.^' — Henkv White Wakken. THE SUMMER STARS.* The following brief directions have no other object than to introduce a new element of pleasure into the long summer evenings spent at the seaside. No attempt is made at scientific explanation, the most direct mode being chosen for pointing out in the grand picture gallery of the heavens the most beautiful and favorite pictures, such as can be easil}- found and detached, named and remembered, and such, indeed, as, once recognized, will never be for- gotten. Should a few hours thus spent in quiet contemplation kindle in some the desire to know more about the nature of the heavenly bodies, let him take up one of the books (men- tioned below) from which we have gathered these crumbs, and he will find himself richly rewarded by the study. One such result in a thousand or ten thousand would indeed make * Compiled from the following popular hand-books, all of which can be safely recomniendod for more serious study : Proctor's " Half-Hours with the Stars ;" Proctor's '' Half-Hours with the Telescope" (New York : Putnams) ; and James Free- man Clarke's " How to Find the Stars" (Boston : Lockwood, Brooks & Co.). A few popular descriptions have been taken from Ncwcomb's " Popular Astronomy," the most extensive of the works mentioned, and H. W. Warren's " Recreations in Astronomy" (both, N. Y. : Harpers) ; also from Proctor's entertaining series of articles in the St. Nicholas., for 1877, which is to appear in book-form shortly. 96 THE SUMMER STARS. amends for the existence of this butterfly guide, which, skimming the surface without a why and wherefore, has no eye but for tangible beauly, or beauty that can be />// without telescope. Any one not already familiar with some of the constellations is cautioned not to attempt too much on the same evening. Let him read up and commit to memory all that is said on one constellation. The finding and study of one or two constellations is quite an encouraging be- ginning, and their recognition, on subsequent evenings, is only a small foretaste of the pleasure that will increase with increasing acquaintance. Don't be discouraged by the bewildering confu- sion of the first attempts to detect a certain star picture. Your eyes have to travel man)' times over the skies before they will learn to recognize at a glance your friends among the millions. Finding the Pole Star. {Popularly known as the " North Star") First look for Ursa Major, the Great Bear. Standing on the beach facing the ocean, turn right about face, look up, toward the left (north- west), and you cannot miss the familiar set of seven bright stars of the Great Bear, better known as the Dipper, owing to its shape, four of the stars forming its cup, three its handle.* The two end stars (of the cup, or the most dis- tant from the handle, and at this season the low- estf) are called the Pointers, because they always * Suspended from the two lower stars are two tassels, each consisting of three stars, two near each other at the end of the tassel, and the third nearer the Dipper. Another pair of small stars make a third tassel. — Ci.akke. t Supposing you'look for the Dipper at various seasons, say at nine o'clock in the evening, you will see it in the various TFIE SUMMER STARS. 97 Summer Star Map. \See Explanation on next page ^ q8 THE SUMMER STARS. EXPLANATION .OF MAP. This map is a reproduction of one of Proctor's Star Maps, giving, as follows, the approximate position of the more promi- nent stars during summer: End of yune — toward midnight. Middle o/July — toward eleven o'clock. End o/ July — toward ten o'clock. Middle of August — toward nine o'clock. End of August — toward eight o'clock. The shifting of the stars during the intervening hours can be followed by bearing in mind that stars seen at a certain hour and place will appear on the same spot three to four minutes sooner on the following evening, or about two hours earlier a month later. {See also^ p. loo, " The Apparent Mo- tion of the Stars.") In this map the central point represents the point over the observer's head, and the circumference his horizon. Thus, if at one of the hours named the observer wish- es to find " Aquila," its po;-ition on the map shows where to look for it toward the S. E. (southeast), about midway be- tween zenith and horizon. Next, if at one of the hours named the observer wishes to learn what stars are visible toward the west and southwest, let him turn the map until the portion of the circumference between W. and S. W. is lo^.vertnost, and he will see that in the direction named lies " Bootes" in promi- nent position. Some allowance should be made, in the star map, for a small difference of the horizon, chiefly noticeable north and south. Thus, while in the south Scorpio and Sagittarius are seen higher above the horizon at the hours indicated, "Au- riga," at the extreme north, will rise into full view later in the season. THE SUMAfER STARS. 99 point to the /'<'/<■ Star. Tliis star is easily found by drawing a line through the Pointers (from the star in the bottom of the cup to the end star) and following this direction a short distance* — the first bright star you meet is the Pole Star. T/ie Poll- Star. — This found, you have a known central point, and your never-failing compass, for wherever you may stand, facing the Pole Star, the north lies before you, the south behind you, the east on your right, the west on your left. The Pole Star lies always in the same position, or so nearly so that if, for example, you have once been shown or found out that from a certain spot in your garden, or from a certain window in your house, it can be seen just above a certain chimney or tree, you will find it in ^his direc- tion on any starry night, at any time of the year. The Pole Star belongs to the constellation of Ursa Minor ox the Smaller Bear, and figures in its tail ; or, if you prefer the more popular picture, in the liandle of the Little Dipper. Both Dippers are of similar shape, except that the handles bend in, and always point to, opposite directions, and that, some of the stars of the Little Dipper are much fainter. The two end stars, which with the Pole Star are the brightest of the constellation, and which correspond with the Pointers in the Dipper, viz., being the end stars of the cup, are called the Guardians of the Pole, positions as follows : Above the Pole Star (north of the zenith) in April and May ; west of the Pole Star (west of north), the Pointers downward (lowest) ; close to the north horizon, in October and November; east of the Pole Star, the Pointers highest, in Jaruary and February. * It will be of much help to get some idea of distance in degrees. The two stars of the Pointers are 5 degrees apart; thus following the Pointers nearly five times this distance (29 degrees) we come to the Pole Star. lOO THE SUMMER STARS. "because they circle around it," according to Proctor, " as though keeping watch and ward over the axle-end of the great star-dome." The Apparent Motion of tJic Stars.* — Stand fac- ing the Pole Star. Then all the stars are travel- ling round that star in a direction contrary to that in 7vhich the hands of a watch ?nove. Thus the stars below the pole are moving toivard the right, those above the pole ioivard the left, those to the right of the pole tipioard (from the east), those to the left of tlie pole downward (to the west). Next face the south. Then all the stars on our left, that is toward the east, are rising slantingly toward the south ; those due south are moving horizontally to the right, that is, toward the west, and those on our right are passing slantingly downward'toward the west.f The annual motion of the stars takes place in exactly the same manner as the daily motion. ^: *Thc seeming motions of the sun and the stars, as they travel from east to west, or seem to rise in the east a.nd set in the west, are not real movements of their own, but made to appear as such by the actual movement or spinning of the earth from west to east. There are real or proper motions of the stars, but not perceptible to the naked eye. The chief and most wonderful peculiarity of the fixed stars, says Clarke, is that they virtually never change their positions in relation to each other. Thus the forms of constellations appear unaltered for thousands of years. t In a clear night the heavens seem like a vast dome studded with stars. 'I'hey appear to rise in the east and sweep, like a mighty army, perfectly disciplined, west. If each left its line of march marked by a tracery of golden fire, we should have a dome of parallel lines in perfect circles. And if we should go south of the equator new stars would appear circling in another dome, and all concentric at the south pole. All these stars seem to be at the same distance. — Hknrv W. Warren. X " By the revolution of the earth, which turns on its axis eyery twenty-four hours, every observer is brought round once a day to every pomt of the heavens, except that portion which THE SUMMER STARS. lOI If we view the sky at ten o'clock on any night, and again at the same hour one month later, we shall find that at the latter observation the heav- ens appear to have rotated by the twelfth part of a complete circumference, and the appearance presented is precisely the same we should have observed had we waited for two hours (the tioelftJi part of a day) on the day of the first observation. — (Proctor.) South, Southeast, and £ast. , Face the Ocean : it is toward the south that the heavens present the most glorious display during summer. Scorpio, the chief summer constellation (resem- bling a scorpion with extended claws), is in full view above the horizon in June and July ; descending southwest in August. The^ bright, ruddy star is Antares (the Heart of the Scorpion), a star of first magnitude, and perhaps the most beautiful of all the red stars. The word "An- tares" means, in fact, " the rival of Mars." It has a smaller star on each side and a long curved row of stars to the west. Antares sets during August between 12 and 10 ; September, 10 and 8 p.m. Sagittarius, the Archer, is fully above the hori- zon in July, closely following Scorpio. It com- prises a large collection of second magnitude stars east of Scorpio and in and east of the is hidden by the rotundity of the earth itself. To an observer in the Northern Hemisphere all parts of the heavens become visible every year, except the region around the Southern Pole. Were it not for the daylight, which eclipses a portion, we should see all the other stars once in every twenty-four hours. But during the year we have an opportunity, by the revolution of the earth in its orbit, to see them all except those at the extreme south." — James Frkbman Clarke. 102 THE SUMMER STARS. Milky Way. Its chief stars resemble a bow and arrow, the arrow directed toward the scorpion. Saggitarius is followed from the east by Capri- corniis, the She-Goat, and this, in same direction, by ^(/«a/-///j, the Water-bearer, neither of which have any remarkable stars. These {all along the horizon) are followed by Pegastis (which see further on.) The Milky Way, or Galaxy* in a clear, star- light night, at this season, makes a fine display, spanning the skies from north to south. Its su- perior brilliancy toward the south indicates its greater proximity in that direction. As some of the most prominent constellations lie along or near the Milky Way, we will, starting from Sagittarius, point out these first, by follow- ing the cloudy stream from south to north ; but the Milky Way being only in good sight on clear dark nights, we will also indicate their position independent of this path. Aquila, the Eagle. — Following upward the lar- ger branch of the Milky Way, or looking above Sagittarius, eastward, about midway between ze- nith and horizon, we strike three bright stars in cross-way line (six degrees long), which form the * To the naked eye so much of the Galaxy as can be seen at one time presents the appearance of a white, cloud-like arch resting on two opposite points of the horizon, and rising to a greater or less altitude, according to the position of the celestial sphere relative to the observer. Only one half of the entire arch can be seen above the horizon at once, the other half being below it and directly opposite the visible half. In- deed, there is a portion of it which can never be seen at our latitude, being so near the south pole that it is always below the horizon. If the earth were removed, or made transparent, so that we could see the whole celestial sphere at once, the Galaxy would appear as a complete belt extending around it. The telescope shows that the Gala,\y arises from the light of countless stars (estimated over i8,ooo,ooo), too minute to be separately visible with the naked eye.— Simon Newcomb. THE SUMMER STARS. IO3 head of the Eagle. The finely scintillating star in the middle, called Altair, is of first magnitude, the other two are of third magnitude. Five or six other stars extending and spreading below Altair give the shape of the constellation. Parts of the Milky Way, near and in the Eagle, are very bright, and even with a small telescope seem to be crowded with stars. Altair reaches south, in August, between 11 and 9 ; middle of September, 8 p.m. Cvi^uus, the Swan. — Beyond the Eagle, further up, and directly in the Milky Way, you will no- tice six stars forming a conspicuous cross (or as Proctor remembered it in his boyhood, "a capi- tal kite "), twenty degrees long by seventeen de- grees wide, its chief star, Deneb, heading it. The cross is east, in a horizontal position, nearer zenith than midway in July ; in Aug. and Sept. approach- ing the zenith, the upright and cross- rod of the cross equally inclined to the horizon. Near Deneb there is seen a straight dark rift, and near this space is another larger cavity, which has been termed the northern Coal-sack. The western branch of the Milky Way is covered by a large oval mass exceedingly ric}i and brilliant. Lyra, the Harp. — Near the zenith, west and southwest of the Swan, and above, north and northwest of the Eagle, shines the bright Vega, the principal star of Lyra,* of first magnitude and of a brilliant white color with a tinge of blue. * The Harp, the Swan and the Eagle can be struck at once by looking up, east (later more south-southwest), between midway and zenith — the three brightest stars standing out against all the others, form an immense and very striking (isoscles) triangle. They are : the lowest, Altair of the Eagle ; the highest, Vega of the Harp ; and north or east of these Deneb of the Swan, all stars of the first magnitude. I04 THE SUMMER STARS. This and two faint stars (two deo^rees only from each other) form a beautiful little triangle, nearly equilateral. Pegasus, the Winged-Horse. — Below, east of Deneb in the Swan (top of cross), Pegasus is rising into view, easily recognized by four stars of second magnitude, which form the large Square of Pegasus, three stars belonging to Pegasus, and the fourth (northeast corner) to Andromeda, which follow later in the season, Pegasus from the northeastern horizon. The Square is above the horizon toward end of June at ii, end of July at 9 p.m. The Dolphin and Sagitta. — Although but very small constellations, formed by rather faint stars, their symmetrical forms make them easily dis- cernible. The Dolphin, sometimes called "Job's Cotfin," four or five stars in diamond shape, is between the Square of Pegasus and Altair of the Eagle. Sagitta, or the Arrow, is the smallest constellation, formed by four stars, of fourth magnitude, to be found, near the Dolphin, above the Eagle and below the Swan. South, South-west, West. Bootes, the Bearkeepcr. — Look for the Dip- per (see directions above). Continuing the curve of the handle (about the same distance as is be- tween the Pointers and the Pole Star, viz., about thirty degrees), you strike the most brilliant star in the southwestern skies. This is Arcturus, the "ruddy star" of Bootes, a fine constellation which, in the western skies, retains a prominent position during the whole summer. Arcturus, on account of its brilliancy, is seen early in the evening. Above Arcturus the constellation is reaching high up, presenting " a fine figure as with THE SUMMER STARS. I05 uplifted arm (formed by the stars of the Crown, which sec belo7i') he chases the Great Bear round the zenith." The smaller brilliant star (orange and green, above Arcturus and nearly central of the constellation) is known as Mirac, also on ac- count of its extreme beauty (through the tele- scope) called " Pulcherrima" (the most beautiful). The curve of the handle of the Dipper continued through Arcturus further down, west (about forty degrees), strikes Spica of Virgo (the Virgin), another star of first magnitude and visible until of August. Arcturus sets in September between 10.30 and 8.30 P.M. Vrrgo, the Virgin, is not far above the western liori/.on ; somewhat in the shape of a big rounded Y in horizontal position, formed by Spica as base and the curve of the stars above it. Virgo is closely following, from the southwest to west, downward, Lt'o, the Lion, which is approaching (he horizon, in the shape of a sickle inclined for- ward, the bright star, J\e_i^iilus, in the handle. Spica sets in August, Regulus in July, between ID and 8 p.m. Fomalhaut. — Later in the season, the bright star of Fomalhaut, belonging to the small con- stellation Pisces Austrea/is, tlie Southern Fish, will make its solitary appearance low in the southern region. Op/iinc/ius, the Serpent-bearer and the Serpent. — Below, or south of Bootes, above, or north of Scorpio and west of the Milky Way we find this pair of constellations. Ophiuchus stands with one foot on Scorpio, while his head is marked high up by a star of the second magnitude, tlie figure occupying one third to one fourth of the I06 THE SUMMER STARS. way from the zenith to the horizon. The Serpent, which he holds in his liands, lies with its tail in an opening of the Milky Way, southwest of the Eagle, while its neck and head are formed by a collection of small stars some distance north of Scorpio, and extending up to the borders of Bootes. It is very ditFicult for the beginner to get clear boundaries of these combined constella- tions. Me may notice a tine line of six bright little stars, inclined toward west ; the lower three, south, belong to Ophiuchus, the upper three to the Serpent. These stars, with the brightest star at the eastern end of the line, and a curve of two smaller stars at the western end, resemble somewhat the form of a monstrous sword or curved sabre, the cross handle being formed by two stars, one above and one below the line.* Hercules. — High up, east of Bootes, west of Lyra, and north of Ophiuchus, Hercules ex- tends up toward the zenith. It contains no striking star, but is easily recognized by its con- taining a rather irregular quadrangle. A straight line drawn from the fifth and third star of the Dipper (counting from the handle) will strike it. Draco, the Dragon, lies with his head just north of Hercules, the head represented by three stars in an equilateral triangle ; the body, seven faint stars, forms a long curved line bending round be- tween the Great and the Little Dipper. * The large constellation (Ophiuchus is not specially in- teresting. The figure is an absurd one, the legs being singu- larly feeble. But it must be admitted he is awkwardly placed. The serpent is quite enough to occupy his attention, yet a scorpion is ready to sting one )eg and tg pinch the other. The club of Hercules may be meant for tha serpent, and the arrow of the Archer for the scorpion, but they seem to threaten the Serpent-Bearer as much. — Pkoctur in St. Nicholas^ 1877. THK SUMMER STARS. IO7 Corona BoreaUs, the Northern Crown, a smaller constellation east of and close to Bootes, west of Hercules, and just above the Serpent's head, is composed of a pretty semi-circle of six stars, supposed to form a chaplet or crown. The third nearest Bootes, the most brilliant, is Alpherat, a star of second magnitude. North, Northeast. The northern re.uion, in strange contrast to the brilliant southern sk}-, shows no large stars and no prominent constellation is in good posi- tion for observation with the exception of Cassiopeia y or the Lady in the Chair, readily recognized by five stars (northeast, in the Milky Way), in the form of an open "straggling" W. It is on the opposite side of the Pole Star from the Dipper ; a line drawn from the centre of the latter (where the handle joins the cup) through the Pole Star, about the same distance beyond it, will strike the last star of the W, which now is yearly upright (not reversed, as erroneously shown in map). Aurij^a, the Charioteer, will rise later in the season in the north-eastern sky, where it will attract attention by its brightly scintillating star of first magnitude, called Capclla, the Goat. Capella rises in the latter part of July toward II ; middle of August to middle of September, between 10 and S p.m. The Planets. The planets, the restless wanderers, are easily distinguished from the fixed stars by their steady light, as they never, like the latter, twinkle or scintillate, except when very near the horizon. I08 THE SUMMER STARS. Jupiter, " the giant planet," * will be evening star after July (jth. He is easily recognized by his brilliant white light, with which he outshines every other planet except Venus. He will be at his brightest on the night of October 7th, when he will be in opposition.! A month or two be- fore opposition (this year, July to September), he can be seen rising (east) late in the evening, while during the three months following opposi- tion he will always be seen in the early evening somewhere between southeast and southwest. Jupiter rises after middle of July, toward 11 ; be- ginning of August, toward 10 ; after middle of July, toward 9 P.M. He will be near the moon July 27th, August 23d and September 20th. The following interesting account- we borrow from the learned and enthusiastic astronomer of the Provideuce Journal : " It cannot be too strongly impressed upon the minds of students of the stars, that the four great planets are all approaching their perihelia (points nearest the sun), and bringing about a condition of planetary affairs that has not occurred for two thousand years. Jupiter reaches the goal first, arriving at perihelion on the 25th of September. Such is the eccentricity of his orbit that he will then be forty-six millions of miles, or about half of the whole distance of the earth from the sun. * No one can mistake this orb when it shines on a dark sky, and only Venus can be mistaken for it when seen as a morning or evening star. Sometimes both are seen together on the twilight sky, and then Venus is generally the brighter. Seen, however, at her brightest, her splendor scarcely exceeds that which Jupiter shines when high above the eastern horizon at midnight. — Proctok. + The planets are said to be " in opposition " when the sun, earth and the planet arc in a line, the earth being in the middle ; "' at or in perihelion'' when the planet is nearest the sun. THP. SimMPlR STARS'. lOg nearer to the great central fire than when farthest away. He is also at that time almost at his nearest point to the earth, coming into opposition with the sun eleven days after perihelion. The earth is then directly between him and the sun; but the earth is farthest from the sun in July, and will be at considerably more than her mean dis- tance in September, when Jupiter is forty-six million miles nearer. It may easily be seen that when at opposition the earth is at or near her greatest distance, and Jupiter at his least distance, from the sun, the two planets will be almost as near together as they can be. Such will be the case next October, and the giant of the system will soon give evidence of the fact in his increasing size and brilliancy, being brighter than he has been for nearly twelve years. Jupiter, therefore, will be a source of intense interest during the coming months as he approaches and recedes from his perihelion and opposition. The great problem of the effect of his approach upon the mysterious spot-period of the sun will be first in importance. Many astronomers scout the idea of such an in- fluence. Many more find nothing improbable in the theory that the approach of a huge mass to the sun should produce disturbance in his blaz- ing elements, evidently in commotion from some cause, while the near correspondence in time between the maximum of the spot-period and the revolution of Jupiter favors the argument. No one doubts that the disturbed condition of the sun will be reflected on the earth in waves of intense heat, severe storms and auroral displays, or that the same influence will be felt in the same way to the system's remotest bounds." Sa/uni closely follows Jupiter, and, according to our Providence authority, " holds his place not no THE SUMMER STARS. far away from his more brilliant rival. He, too, the second in size of the giant members of the brotherhood, is travelling toward his opposition with the sun, and more slowly toward perihelion, so that he is increasing in size and donning a clearer tint than the murky one tliat has marked his presence." He rises about half an hour later than Jupiter, toward end of July to end of August, between ii and 9. To recognize Saturn in his glory with his moons and bright rings he must be seen through the telescope. Junius will be the evening star after July 13th. Next to the sun and the moon, she is the most brilliant object in the heavens. She never recedes more than about 45 degrees from the sun, and is, therefore, seen by night only in the western sky in the evening, or the eastern sky in the morning, according as she is east or west of the sun. There is, therefore, seldom any difficulty in recognizing her. When at her greatest brilliancy, she can be clearly seen by the naked eye in the daytime, provided that one knows exactly where to look for her. Venus will be nearest the moon August 1st and September 5th. Mars is travelling far off and not seen at his best, his ruddy light growing dimmer in turning down west. Alars sets during July and toward middle of August between g.30 and 8 p.m. TIME TABLES. Ill TIME-TABLES For Railroads and Steamboats runnini:; to Coney Island. [The following tables are all that can be supplied up to date of publication. Revised tables will be given in later editions.] RAILKOADS. Bri^'litoii Boacli. — Bkooklyn, Klatbush, and Co- NKV Island Ram way.- Trains leave Flnfbitsh Ai-enue^Long Island Depots Brooklyn, liourly from 6.30 to 9.15 a.m., and from 9.15 A.M. to 9.45 I'.M. h;ilf hourly. Separate trains run from Bedford half hourly from 11.34 a.m. to 9.34 r.M. Trains yVtJW Brighton Beach for Flatbush Avenue leave at 6.40, 7.40, S.40, 9.10, 9.40, 10.10, 10.40, n.io A.M. ; 12.10, 12.40, 1. 10, 1.40, 2.10, 2.40, 3.10, 3.40, 4.10, 4.40, 5.10, 5.40, 6.10, 6.40, 7.10, 7.40, 8.10, 8.40, 9.10, 9.40 r.M. Trains from Brighton Beach for Bedford and Prospect Park leave at 6.40, 7.40, 8.40, 9.10, 9.40. 10.10, 10.40, and 11.25 A.M. ; 12.55, 1.25, 1.55, 2.25, 2.5s, 3.25, 3.55, 4.25, 4.55, 5.25, 5-5^. 6.25, 6.55, 7.25, 7.55, 8.25, 8.55, 9.25, 9.40 I'.M. 1 he 6.30, 7.15, and the 6.40 and 7.40 a.m. trains do not run on Sundays. This table may be varied from on bad days. Flatbush Avenue, Long Island Depot, is reached via Flat- bush Avenue cars, from Fulton Ferry, and Atlantic Avenue cars from South, Wall, and Fulton Ferries. Bedford Station is reached zna (Irand and Roosevelt st. Fer- ries, by the Franklin av. cars and rapid transit trains. ITIaiiliattan Beacli.— New York and Manhattan Beach Railroad, via Bay Kidge. — 'i"he steamer D. R. Martin will Irave Pier No. i, foot of Whitehall st. (terminus of the Elevated Railroads) connecting at Bay Ridge with trains for Manhattan Beach, as follows : 9.25, 10.25, 11.25 a.m. ; 12.25, 1.25, 2.25, 3.25, 4.25, 525, 6.25, and 7.25 P.M. Returning, leave Manhattan Beach at 8.20, 10.20, 11.20 a.m. ; 12.20, i.so, 2.20, 3.20, 4.20, 5.20, 6.20, 7.20, and 8.20 P.M. Via Greenpoint. — By steamer Sylvan Grove, from foot of 23d St., E. R., 9.45. 10.45. II-+5 A.M.; 12.45. 1.45, 2.45, 3.45, 4.45, 5.45, 6.45 P.M. Returning, leave Manhattan Beach at 7.35, 11.05 A.M.; 12.05, 105. 2.05, 305, 4.05, 5.05, 6.05,7.05, 8.05 P.M. Via Brooklyn (Greenpoint Division). — Trains for Manhat- tan Beach leave Greenpoint at 10 .v.m., and every hour there- after until 7 P.M. Trains from the Beach, for Greenpoint and way stations, leave at 11.05 and five minutes past each hour until 8.05 p.m. 112 TIME- TA BL ES. Trains leave Humboldt st. 6 minutes, Grand st. lo minutes, DeKalb av. 15 minutes, Myrtle av. 18 minutes, and East New York 25 minutes after leaving Grcenpoint, connecting with rapid transit from Flatbush Avenue. The Long Island Railroad Company sell tickets at Flatbush and Bedford avs., Hrooklyn, and on rapid transit trains via Atlantic av., for Manhattan Beach. Excursion tickets, via rapid transit from Flatbush av., 45 cts. ; single tickets, 25 cts, *#* Steamboats will probably commence running everyday, on Saturday, June 12th, from West 22d st. to Hay Ridge, con- necting with regular trains for the Heach as above, leaving West 22d St. about one hour before train leaves Hay Ridge, and Stop at Leroy st. and Pier 6, N. K., each way. "West IBrigliton Beacli. — Pkosi-ect Park and Co- ney ISLANii Railroad. — Excursion tickets, 25 cents. Special excursion tickets for women and children on all tra'ns to Coney Island before 3 i-.m., and on all returning trains before 6 P.M., 15 cents ; (children under twelve, 10 cents). On and after Tuesday, June ist, 1880, and until further notice, trains will leave the Brooklyn Depot (Ninth av. and Twentieth St., Greenwood), 6.30, 7.40, 9, 10 a.m., and half hourly to 1.30 P.M., and thereafter every 15 minutes until 9 o'clock p.m. Returning, will leave West Brighton, 7.05, 8.10, 9.30, 10.30 A.M., and half hourly to 2 p.m., and thereafter every 15 min- utes until 9.30 P.M. On rainy days trains will only be run half hourly from 10 A.M. to 9.30 P.M. On Sundays the first train will leave the Hrooklyn Depot at 9 a.m. and West Brighton 9.30 .\.m. The following lines of horse-cars run direct to the depot : Park and Vanderbilt Avenue line, from Fulton and Catha- rine Ferries via Prospect Park. Adams st. and Boerum Place cars via City Hall and Atlan- tic Avenue. The Hamilton av. Ferry and Jay, Smith, and Ninth st. cars connect at Fifteenth st. with the horse-cars of this company, and passengers are carried free from Fifteenth st. to the ciepot. West-End* — Brooklyn, B.\th, and Coney Island Railroad. — Court st. and Third av. cars from Fulton Ferry. 35 minutes to depot. Frotn Havtiiton Ferry, Fort Hamilton cars direct to depot in twenty minutes. Fifth av. Wne. /rom South, IVail st. and Fulton Ferries. On and after May 9th, 1880, trains leave Greenwood depot, cor. Twenty-seventh st. and Fifth av. (near main entrance Greenwood Cemetery) daily at *6.2o, *7.2o, 8.10, 9, 9.50, 10.40, 11.30, 12.30, 1.30, 2.15, 3, 3.45, 4.30, 5.15, 6, 6.50, 7.40, t8. 30 P.M. TIME- TA BL ES. .113 » Trains yrc?//* Coney Island^ 71o, 8.20, 9.10, 10, 10.50, 11.40, 12^5, 1.35. 220, 3.05, 3.50, 4.35, 5.20, 6.05, 6.55, 7.45 P.M. Fare, round trip, only 25 cents. Trains marked * do not run on Sundays. Trains marked thus t to Guntherville and way stations. Sea Beacli. — Nkw York and Sea Bkach Roi'te, z//a Brooklyn^ from Sixty-fifth st. and Third av. Take cars of tlie Court St. and Thinl a\ . line^ from Fulton Ferry, and the Hamilton av. line from Hamilton Ferry, connecting at Sixty- fifth St. and Third av.. Bay Ridge. Trains leave Third av. depot hourly from 9 a.m. till 2 p.m., and half hourly from 2 p.m. till 6.30 ws\. Last train leaves Sea Beach for Third av. at 7 p.m. Excursion tickets, between Brooklyn and Sea Beach, 20 cents. Single tickets, 15 cents. Children under 12 years of age, excursion tickets, 15 cents ; single tickets, 10 cents. Via Bay ^/ 5- Returning^ leave Iron Pier, 10.30, 11.30, 2, 3, 5.30, 6.30. Single tickets, 35 cents. Excursion tickets, 50 cents. With admission to Pier. 114 MEMORANDA. CONEY ISLAND CALENDAR. 115 July, 1880 , Days. Sun. Moon. Rises. HighWatbr.* Mo. Week. Rises. Sets. M'flTtl- After- ing. noon. H. M. H. M. H. M. H. M. H. M. 1 Thursday 4 ;i2 7 35 11 — 3 15 2 Friday 4 33 7 35 42 — 4 10 3 Saturday 4 33 7 35 1 18 — 5 4 Sunday Monday 4 34 7 34 1 59 5 30 6 5 4 35 7 34 2 46 6 20 6 45 6 Tuesday 4 85 7 34 3 39 *** i 7 30 1^ Wednesday 4 3ti 7 34 sets. 7 45 8 H Thursday 4 3«i 7 33 8 12 8 30 8 45 9 Friday 4 37 7 33 8 41 9 9 30 10 Saturday 4 m 7 as 9 7 9 45 — n Sunday Mf)nday 4 38 7 32 9 32 10 30 12 4 39 7 32 9 57 11 10 13 Tuesday 4 40 7 31 10 23 noon. — 14 Wednesday 4 41 7 31 10 52 — 12 30 15 Thursday 4 41 7 :iO 11 25 — 1 20 16 Friday 4 42 7 29 morn. — 2 15 17 Saturday 4 43 7 29 6 — 3 20 18 Sunday Monday 4 44 7 28 56 — 4 30 19 4 45 7 27 1 56 5 5 30 20 Tuesday 4 4t; 7 27 3 6 6 6 40 21 Wednesday 4 46 7 26 rises. 7 7 30 22 Thursday 4 47 7 25 7 52 8 8 30 23 Friday 4 48 7 24 8 23 9 9 20 24 Saturday 4 49 7 24 8 51 9 50 — 25 Sunday Monday 4 50 7 23 9 17 10 40 — 26 4 51 7 22 9 44 11 30 — 27 Tuesday 4 52 7 21 10 12 noon. — 28 Wednesday 4 53 7 20 10 43 — 1 29 Thursday 4 54 7 19 11 17 — 1 45 30 Friday 4 55 7 18 11 56 — 2 30 31 Saturday 4 56 7 17 morn. — 3 30 Phases 0/ the Moon: New, 7th; first quarter. 15th ; full, 21st -third quarter, 28th. * The calculations are based on Negus' " Nautical Alman- ac ;" the minutes are averaged approximately. (Only the con- venient hours are given. I For directions how to calculate from day to day see High Water, in the regular alphabet. Il6 MEMORANDA. CONEY ISLAND CALENDAR. II August, 1880. Days. Sun. Moon. Rises. HighWater.* Mo. Week. Rises. Sets. Morn- After- ing. noon. H. M. H. M. H. M. H. M. H. M. 1 Sunday Monday' 4 56 7 16 41 — 4 30 2 1 57 7 15 1 32 5 5 30 3 luesday 1 58 7 14 2 28 6 20 4 Wednesday 4 .5!> 7 12 3 27 6 45 i 5 Thursday 5 7 11 sets. 7 20 7 45 6 Friday h 1 7 10 7 11 8 8 20 7 Saturday 5 o 7 9 7 37 8 40 9 R Sunday Monday 6 ii 7 8 8 2 9 20 9 45 <) 6 4 7 6 8 28 10 — 10 i'uesday .'J 5 7 5 8 .56 10 40 — 11 Wednesday 5 6 7 4 9 27 11 30 — 12 Thursday 5 7 7 2 10 5 noon. — 13 Friday .') 8 7 1 10 50 — 1 15 14 Saturday 5 9 7 11 44 — 2 10 1.5 Sunday Monday 5 10 6 58 morn. — 3 15 16 n 11 6 57 48 — 4 20 17 Tuesday T) n 6 50 1 59 — 5 30 18 Wednesday 5 u 6 54 3 14 (> 6 30 19 Thursday .'5 14 6 53 4 29 7 7 20 20 Friday 5 15 6 52 rises. 7 45 8 15 21 Saturday 5 10 6 50 7 17 8 40 9 22 Sunday Monday 5 17 6 48 7 44 9 30 9 45 23 5 18 6 47 8 12 10 20 — 24 Tuesday 5 19 6 45 8 42 11 — 25 Wednesday 5 20 6 44 9 16 nooD. — 26 Thursday 5 21 6 42 9 54 — 12 35 27 P'riday 5 22 6 41 10 37 — 1 10 28 Saturday ^ 23 6 39 11 25 — 2 29 Sunday Monday .'■) 24 6 38 morn. — 3 30 f) 25 6 36 19 — 4 31 Tuesday 5 20 6 34 1 13 — 5 Phases o/ the Moon : New, 5th ; first quarter, 13th ; fall, 20th ; third quarter, 27th. * The calculations are based on Negus' " Nautical Alman- ac ;" the minutes are averaged approximately. (Only the con- venient hours are given.) For directions how to calculate from (jay to day see Hich Waiek, in the regular alphabet. Ii8 MEMORANDA. CONEY ISLAND CALENDAR. 119 September, 1880. Days. Su N. Moon. Rises. High Water.* Mo. Week. Rises. Sets. Morn- After- ing. noon. H. M. H. M. H. M. H. M. H. M. 1 Wednesday 5 27 6 33 2 18 5 20 5 45 2 Thursday 5 28 6 31 3 20 6 10 6 30 3 Friday 5 t><) 6 30 4 2:1 7 7 15 4 Saturday 5 ao 6 28 sets. 7 35 8 5 Sunday Monday 5 :^i 6 26 6 33 8 10 8 30 6 T) 32 6 25 7 8 45 9 15 7 Tuesday 5 33 6 23 7 31 9 30 — 8 Wednesday 5 ;« 6 21 8 6 10 10 — 9 Thursday 5 85 6 20 8 54 11 — 10 Friday 5 30 6 18 9 40 noon. — 11 Saturday 5 37 6 16 10 39 — 1 12 Sunday Monday 5 ;:H 6 15 11.47 — 2 10 13 5 3'J 6 13 morn. — 3 20 14 Tuesday 5 40 6 11 58 — 4 20 15 Wednesday 5 41 6 10 2 11 — 5 20 16 Thursday 5 42 6 8 3 2:3 5 50 6 15 IT Friday 5 43 6 6 4 ;S4 6 45 7 10 18 Saturday 5 44 6 4 rises. 7 30 8 19 Sunday Monday 5 4.-) t) 3 6 12 8 20 8 40 20 5 4(5 6 1 6 41 9 9 30 21 Tuesday 5 47 5 59 7 14 9 45 — 22 Wednesday 5 48 5 58 7 50 10 30 — 23 Thursday 5 49 5 56 8 32 11 15 — 24 Friday 5 50 5 54 9 2 ■ noon. — 25 Saturday 5 51 5 53 10 10 — 12 45 26 Sunday Monday 5 52 5 51 11 — 1 30 27 5 53 5 49 morn. — 2 20 28 Tuesday 5 54 5 48 5 — 3 20 29 Wednesday 5 55 5 46 1 6 — 4 20 30 Thursday 5 56 5 44 2 8 5 5 15 Phases 0/ the Moon : New, 4th; first quarter, 11th; full, i8th ; third quarter, 26th. * The calculations are based on Negus' " Nautical Alman- ac ;" the minutes are averaged approximately. 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