The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-07-27
Buffalo.
Correspondence Of the Herald
1REhbos July Scs Acs1'
Pleasure Excursion to the Upper Lakes.

| have anxiously expected TO some account
given In your paper OF the "Pleasure Excursion TO
the Upper Lakes" on board the steamer Vision
san, Captain Randall, advertised previous to the
LIST of July instant. II was rumored on board, and
generally believed, that you had reporter there ;
| and many were the inquiries concerning him. But
! no one knew him, or could point him out. The
passengers pretty generally fixed upon person
| for what reason know not-as the reporter. The
gentleman was quite overwhelmed with the atten-
lion and civties shown him, and appeared to be
ignorant of the cause He bore up manfully, how
| ever, against 80 many besettlng evils, Courtesy
| sometimes is an evil,) until the dinner of the Sc
| cond day, when, finding SO many walters surround
ing his seat at table, each with bottle of wine,
| tumbler, and gentleman's card, all OF which be-
ing enveoped in mystery, and the thought, pro-
baby, of being obliged reciprocate al Of those
cards, his tortitude gave way and he rose up, as
| thought, to make speech and return thanks. AS
| he stood there for a moment, casting his eyes up
the table, then down the table, with so many bot
ties, and tumblers, and waters about him,
he forclbly reminded me of the glass-blower at the
American Museum, surrounded with glass, and
crowd OF spe ctators behind him. Every knife and
fork and tongue was as still as death. He spoke
"Ladies and gentlemen" said he, 81 am neither
| Polk nor Dallas Clay nor Frelinghuysen, Tyler nor
John Jones-now, | would like to know who | am
in your imaginations? A gentleman replied from
the head Of the tabe-"A reporter Tor the New
York Herald" The stranger looked amazed for a
moment and then said-s'No, gentlemen, am no
reporter-would to God that | was, if such is the
attention they receive. Since the stranger turned
out to be no reporter at all, and rom your silence
on the subject concluding you had none on board,
will endeavor to give you some account OF II with
my own feeble pen.
Those who were fortunate enough to escape from
the cares and tolls of business, leaving the lcdg
er" and ''bank notices" to be attended to by Ju-
Nor partners and head clerks, and embark tins
voyage Of pleasure, enjoyed treat that can never
possibly fall to their lot again. company SO pro-
mlscuous, yet so unanlmous-so many strangers 10
each other, yet all SO harmonlously mlngllng to-
gether, has seldom if evermet on board Of one yes
sci. Il was bright example, even tor congrega-
lion OF christians
The steamer Wisconsin is fine sea craft, infe-
rior to nothing that floats on the Atlantic, and tar
superior TO any boat on the northern or western
lakes. She is entirely new, and finished in the
beautiful style of the KnckerbOcker on the North
River. Her state rooms are spacious and airy,
the saloons elegantly furnished, and fine toned
piano forte, manufactured expressly tor this steam
err attracts mnch attention from the lovers OF sweet
| sounds. 1t would take more than Paul Pry to
discover anything wanting on this boat, tor the Cap
tain and owners have looked into all these lttle
matters and anticipated and provided for the wants
| OF their passengers There is an excellent engine
board for extingushing fires, and hose sufficient
to reach any part OF the boat-and the beauty OF II
49, there no ''screw loose" about it, it was al
| ways ready for Immediate use. Besides these pre-
cautions, every state room was supplied with three
life preservers. With such boat, with so much
comfort and safety combined, must ever be assoc
clated the name OF Captain Henry Randall, her gem
temanly commander. Although ne may have Tor
gotten u little OF the dance, with It's constant
| changes and wlndlngs, and between its wliderlng
mazes and the mschievousness OF his fair partner
become somewhat confused, still II was vety
evident that the hardships and exposures OF his
responsible and honorable calling, had not untitled
| him for the lady's drawing room.
There was Que other person on board who de-
serves special notice, aud have done with per-
sonalltes-I allude ). Gard, Esqr., OF this city,
| one Ut the proprletors OF the steamer. He was
sisted OF about two hundred cabin passengers. No
| thing could be got up without his asslstance-no
fun, no dance, no frolic, unless he was the prime
mover. Tall In stature, and well proportioned-
| good looking easy and affdble in manufactures.
ed IN excellent taste and neatness-yOung, or al
least unmarried, he soon became general favorte
among the young ladies', OF course i; and great was
the strife between them for his arm for prone
made deck, to the dinner table, for the dance
| Ii any thug was wanting among the ladies', they
would sooner call upon him than the captain, Ste
ward, or chambermaid, because he was owner OF
| the boat; and neither OF these three dignitaries
could fll their capacities so well, SO satisfactory
| az could Mr.. Card. There were many on board Of
that boat, who will long remember his kindness
| and unceaslng exertions to make the excursion
| pleasant and agreeable to every one on board
Well did he succeed-well are his exeltons appre
| ciated.
There was an excellent band of music on board
giving a zest to the dance, and the pastimes OF the
day. that is never felt unless it be under the influ
ence OF such sweet harmony. We had dancing
| every evening; and, occasionally, would get w
| something little extra, with supper, and wines
TO finish with. One Of these extras was Grand
| Fancy Dress Ball" 1t was here we wanted one
of your able reporters. 1t was SO rich, rare, and
racy that reluctantly attempt description OF II
| II was first spoken Of at dinner: Immediately
after dinner, the ladies held meeting in the lower
saloon, and resolved to give -" Bal Costume" that
very evening. Out came their needles and scissors
and between them and pieces OF tape, grass linen
and whalebone, they. can manufacture almost
any thing, for ladys dress is as susceptible to al
many alterations and changes shape and fashion
as their hearts are to feeling and sentiment and
the one is often assumed tor an occasion as the
other.
Evening came at last, and with it the ball and such
| a ball it never was my good fortune TO attend be-
| fore, and | very much doubt whether one like II
| ever came off, There were characters that would
| have graced the most dazzling courts OF Europe,
worst followers Of the renowned Fallstaf. The
| Grand Sultan Of Turkey came slowly through the
saloon, with his long crimson robe, loose trowsers
ooped up at the knee, and varegated turban, with
| the dignity OF prince heir apparent TO the crown,
and after making the circuit of the saloon. settled
down by the side OF OF the state room doors,
like hen on her nest, with the silence and gravity
| of an owl. There was Naomi, the mother-ln- law
of Ruth, precisely as we see her represented in
sacred prints; the Swiss Mnstrels, with their ac-
cordian, tamborln, and collecting plate, regalins
our ears with the sweet songs OF their native land,
| all in excellent costume the little Quakeress,
whose usual modesty and natural simplicity so well
suited her character, that there was nothing TO as
sumo but her plain cap and shoulder-dress. The
BRIDE dressed in white, with her flowing veil reach
ing to the hoor whose pale, smaclated face bore evil
dence of recent and illness, glided through
| the crowd in search of a husband, as the moon
gIides through the shining consultations. The
nun, with a strange contrast between her ant
mated countenance, and sombre costume, as she
| anguishingly hung upon the ragged sleeves Of
Billy Barlow; whilst Billy would oge her so ten
derby through his bruised aud bIackened optics
The Gipsey. Cinderella, Massanlelo, Brother iona
than, the Pilot, the Stage-driver, Jim Crow, the
Yankee, the exquisite, and many others that time
,..IlI mi M mention. but who hure