Then he gave a few days to the seashore, where none enjoyed the bathing, the boating, and frolicking more than he.

All too soon the two weeks drew to an end, and he again boarded the steamer which stopped at the landing opposite Bellemore, on its way to more important towns and cities up the Hudson.
Strolling over the boat to see whether there were any acquaintances among his fellow-travelers, he found none, and, having nothing better to do, sat down on a camp-stool on the forward deck to view the picturesque scenery, which, however, had become so familiar that he fell to studying human nature as it appeared immediately around him.
That which interested him the most was a dudish young man, dressed in the extreme of fashion, carrying a heavy cane, and wearing eyeglasses.

He had high cheek bones, fishy gray eyes, fine teeth, and a simpering smile.

Tom judged he was a couple of years older than himself, and became interested in him because of his amusing efforts to charm the ladies around him.

The vulgar expression would be that he was trying to "mash" them.