The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-08-31
The Watering Places

bravest manner, and gained great ecfdt CLIO.
The Watering Places.
SPRING HoTEr.
RIcHrIRLD SPRINGS, August II, 1915
Society at Riohfe'd- Cooperstown- &C.
The locality of this charming village is already
perfectly well known to you, and you are familiar
with the superior advantages which this quiet wa
tenng place offers to invalids. 1t is almost time
for gentlemen of leisure to begin to return to town
with their households. The fashionable season is
near Its close. do not, however, see as yet any
decrease In the number Of our happy family party
all wish prolong their stay till the latest moment
All seem TO be looking forward, with many regrets,
10 the hour when it will be necessary for the to
return to town. We have many distinguished
guests here ; we have formed some acquaintance,
which we shall break of, unwilngly and regret
fully. We are here among the woods, and the
wids, and the mountains; we dine in company
and we ride, and fish, and hunt, In company it is
impossible that In place rural, SO retired, and
so peaceful, we should not form some attachments
When we are lonely and alone, we are able to
estimate, with some accuracy, the value of the
society of individuals of worth and learning To
be deprived of il would be loss for which
nothing could compensate, except 1t be "books
that are books" Without some relics of the past
and some means to record the history of the pre-
sent, life would be blank and joyless peril. We
are, then, deeply grateful for "books which are
more highly than the successful and accomplished
historians of this age. dA-te'.ii .
Among our excellent guests-and make no ex.
ceptlons when say "excellent'-I have seen Mr.
Bartlett, gentleman of fortune, and resident of
Cuba; Mr.. Noyes from Matanzas; Mr.. Suitor, of
Philadelphia Judge Sanford, of New York, and
his family; the brothers Read. of Troy; Captain
More, formerly commander of the Roscus Mr.
Dyer, of Alabama Mr.. Porter, of New York, and
his estmable lady Mr.. Boyd, of New York, and
his sons. &c. &c. &c. have also seen number
OF elegant LADIES'. whom should greatly regret to
offend by publishing their names. These charm
Ing creatures are always sacred, so far as am
personally concerned. had rather quarrel with
tiger than tgress, whether she has cubs or not
Among guests SO well bred, and so polished in
their manners, the utmost good feeling constantly
prevails. There is no reserve or hauteur, rgi-
dlty or austerty there are no icy receptions, no
envy nor calumny; there are no fools social ali-
tocrats in little band, and the most entire glad
ness seems TO pervade every heart. But do not
| forget that
@If every mans internal care y
| fti Was written on his brow,
How many would our pity share,
Who raise our envy now"
party of our happy visiters was formed day
or two since, TO visit Cooperstown-about fifteen
miles distant from Richfeld. Cooperstown is a
village OF considerable size, In the county of OF
sego 1t is situated directly at the foot OF the OF
sego lake, and 1t Is the residence of Cooper the
noylce-ah, / beg pardon-the novelist Having
received an invitation from young gentleman 10
n.
from Richfield with our guests at an early hour on
delicious morning. The corfege consisted of
three carriages, well filled, with myself ina buggy,
as an orant courier. The air was exhilaratlng and
across the lovely country with hearts bounding
with elee Alter drive OF several miles, we
reached the foot of Otsego lake; the road from
this point runs directly along the bank of the lake
until you reach Phllhpp, G.. e. CooperstOwn,)
where the books say, Augustus and Mark Antony
defeated CassIus and the great Brutus. This
drlve Is more charming, and quite as exciting, as
DIVE through the Corso, In Rome. All, didn't
we make the woods and the glens ring with our
laughter! And didn't we wake all the fairies, and
make them come out of their caves to see what
the devil was the matter among the mortals2 On
left lay the broad, blue lake with not half as
great ruftie upon Its bosom as have seen upon
the bosom OF young BRIDE. Imean the rufle of
her. chemse.) the bright waters looked like
molten silver; the scenery upon the borders of this
beautiful lake could hardly be more exquisite, or
wild, or broken, or abrupt, or sublime. Travellers
have depicted, In eloquent terms, the beauties
OF the scenery IN the vicinity of the Neufchatle,
LuceIne, Zurich, and other lakes, in Switzerland;
can hardly believe that these people are aware
that there is, IN the very heart of our Empire
state, scenery as romantic and interesting as any
which can be found in the four quarters of the
globe. There Is, In fact, nothing in the European
world which cannot be equalled or surpassed on
the North American continent. Let these ira
velIers know something OF their own country be-
fore they visit Europe, unless they prefer more
exclusive and aristocratic government than we
have in America.
In two hours was at Cooperstown; after de-
string the keeper Of one of the hotels to prepare
dinner tor our guests, who were far behind me,
proceeded to the residence of the young gentle:
man who had invited me SO cordially to come and
visit him. / found HIM to be young gentleman
of fortune-a landholder-and the proprietor of
about one thousand acres; his name is Bowers;
he is the son OF one of the pioneers who emf
grated to the interior OF this State at an
early period; and who purchased an immense
estate at comparatively nominal price; he
hewed broad farms out OF the wilderness,
and he put these farms into the highest state
OF cultivation. This is the heritage which he has
LETT his hospltabe son these acres are now worth
an immense sum. The chateau or castle of Mr.. B.,
is situated directly upon the sloping banks of the
Otsego lake, and from the piazzas you have an
unrestricted view OF the tiny ocean. The style of
architecture adopted In building this villa is very
antique and original; 1t is, however, like some of
the English chateaus; and it is completely EN-.
powered amid cluster Of lindens, and efms, and
beech trees. The grounds Commonly styled by
ankees "the yard'') are very extensive, and
they are planted throughout their eutire extent
with majestic shade trees of all the varieties Mr.
b. appears to be something of an antiquarian. The
interior OF his mansion was more magnificent, if
possible, than the exterior | remarked that the
books, the paintings. the chairs, the piano,
and, In fact, all tho furniture, was of that rich
and massive KIND which has passed out of date
and which we call antiquated. An elegant clock,
which was standing IN the hall, was an article OF
furniture which had been in the family for nearly
half century. These venerable relics of past
age are. regarded by the family with sort of de.
votional feeling and rude must be the hand
which would remove them TO make room for
Eore modern and exquisite furniture.
did not quit this noble mansion until the sun
was Just upon the verge of the western horizon,
and then Quilted 1t with many regrets, and many
thanks TO MI b. and his estlmable mother, Tor
their hospitality. cherish the recollection Of all
such visits forgot to say at the proper time that
the residence of Mr.. b. is called Lakelands, and
so ! say II low.
PAVILION, SHARON SPRINGS, Aug. IS, l94s.
1have never seen a lust or faithful description