Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-09-11
Extract OF letter from a gentleman At
BaIston Springs-AugusI 18th, 1913.

Extract Oh a ittlCT from gentleman il
Bal,ston Spriugs-Augusi 18th, 1913.
This delightful watering place has been
more nUmerously attended the present sea.
son, by people OF the first consideration an!
fashion from various parts OF the United
States, than has ever been known before.
You may torn some Judgment OF tie
truth of what say, when tell YOU TIA:
last evening the ball here, usually .i'cn
every other night, was honoreo by The pre-
senCc OF near one hundred ladies the cen
tlcmen were more numerous. Bein- IN "a
talking humOr, and having nothing else Oh
more Importance just now 10 do, am in.
cl,ned 10 give some account of h. interest
ing occas .on, although not much OF an adept
al description.
You must know, then, that there exists
a kind Of competition between Sans souCi,
at this place, and Congress Hall, IT SaratO.
ga; each claiming the superiority in point
OF situation, public houses, mineral waters,
fashions, dress, amusements, articles OF the
table; and good cooks. Under the retey!
OF An interchange OF courtesies, but accor-
ding 70 the conjcctuTes Of some, TO put the
rival pretensions vi the two houses 10 the
test, it Was proposed between the residents
of each, that balls should be gwen at tie
two respective places, al which both should
be invItcd.-ilontay was the day liked
for Saratoga and Tuesday, (last evening
for Sans Suuci il being secretly INTENDED,
as suspect. that the loshionables al the
former, from Charleston, 6. C. Baltimore,
Philadelphia, York and Boston, &c.
should dress, dance, and show oil az, pst
those OF the same places residing at the
latter. Accordingly. on Monday morning
the ladies were early stirring, and the ca
hiirating note ef preparation, having been
given, by / o'oioch, +. NJ. all here was
lite and hustle: carriages of every descnp-
ton were put in motion in Bailston, and
crowded the door in short, our heauN and
bellies went OF in high spirits, and proud
aniicipations. What actually passed al The
Saratoga ball room, am unable To des-
Crbe, not having been present. lhaye IN
derslood from some who were, that they
were greeted with the most cordial wei
come, and entertained with all that could
amuse or satisfy. At little before II,
chilly night, they set out on their return,
(lor beds there were not TO be thought ol,l
md reached Sans Souci, with no other in
jury than violent colds, accompanied with
sore threats and hoarseness, which al acked
tour or five young ladies at Sans .souCI tie
next morning. But as this must have been
foreseen and expected, nothing more has
been thought OF il than as present incOn-
venience but ii was not allowed TO pre-
vent the appearance OF a single beauty
upon the well chalked floor last evening.
Every thing al Congress Hall was well
spoken OF, but The bail room our gentle
men AL allowing that the wine there was
superior both in quality, variety and quaint
~ champagne being drank in tumbIcrs
by some OF the company after the ball was
over custom by the way, mare honOrei
IN The breach than in tie observance, rs |
III nix every one will agree. who had tho
misfortune TO be lodger at Sans Suuci, the
lust seGSon.-But. to return. Ycs;eYz>
day morning, talking over the particulars
OF The evening before, and among other
things, comparing the elegant and spacious
ball room al Sans Souci, with the long,
narrow and i'll proportioned one, with It's
low ceiling, at Congress Hail, il soon
struck the ladies here, TO try ii they could
not add TO the appearance OF the one they
were then assembled in. ana thus increase
still more the disparity between The two.
No sooner conceived than executcd.-A
dozen OF the readiest and most active Of
the beauX were mt IN rsoujsiIOr orders