The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-07-10
NOTES FROM The WATERING PLACES.
CONGRESS- HALL,


the loungers, habitufs, and hangers-on, are fast
falling into the regular line ; and last, though not
least as the official reporter for the Herald has
tually arrived, and assumed the duties which he is
so well qualified to PERFORM have concluded to
give you short sermon upon the subunary affairs
of this far famed watering-pace in my character
of''looker on here in Vienna" And, before begin,
beg leave TO say that, so far the ordinary-and
for that matter extraordinary and vocation
of reporter, letter writer, and correspondent are
concerned, the entire work would be already 'done
10 my hand" by your gentlemanly, learned and ac-
complished "Alehephainos," in whom hardly
know which most to admire-his breeding as a gen.
tleman his refinement and good taste as a reporter,
or his clevemess as correspondent His letters
from West Point are the subject 81 unlveral eulogy,
and doubt not he will prove equally fecitous in
his epistes from Saratoga.
But you know-its no secret any longer-that |
may now fairly pass for an old campaigner ; can
say, without aiiectaton conceit, that | have
learned TO take the world easily.
8" Quo cunque rapit tempestas, dcferor hospes"
II the apothegm of Old Parr is true, that " at forty
every man is a fool or physician" Gt does not
follow that he may not be both), it is equally true
that at forty every man is fool or philosopher.
However this may be with regard to myself, l
have, at any rate, wandered about from one coun-
Try to another, TIL the sunshine of life reflects upon
me from the occdent-' mere spectator Of other
mems fortunes, and how they play their parts"
But, 10 my work. ! shall not, according TO the
approved method, divide my subject into lst The
different classes who severaly congregate here f;
I'd. Their habits, manners, and associations ; ID.
Nc, Nc, Nc The fact is, the rich and the medic
ere, the fashionable vulgar and the ordinary vulg gar
the hgh-bon and the boivgeoisie, the swndler, the
sharper, the man about town, the pigeon and the
pucker, the sentimental miss and the lover, the old
and the young, the langulshng and the full OF lile
the happy and the wretched, stand always CLASH
fed, always separate and always to be found in
our large towns and cities. There is, therefore,
this celebrated Spa. The only advantage one has
in drawing picture here Of these classes is, that
all can be seen at once and from one point OF obser-
walton for they all congregated IN small
village and the largest portion of them in the
three principal hotels. OF these hotels will say
few words. The 50 United States" in point of
size and extended arrangements, in point of outlay
and preparation work, IN point OF splendor, show,
and appearance, stands unrlyalled, FIRST and lore
most. The propretois have been interchangeable IN
their efforts to enlarge, ana adorn, and beauty,
until they have succeeded III making the hotel the
magnificent aiiair II is at present The grounds
are laid out with great taste, and, as your cores
pondent well observes, remind one of the London
Vauxhall, In It's best days. The remark Is peril
nent: the grounds OF this hotel precisely like a
fine city garden, and in this way must dlsappont
the faded denlzen of the town who longs for every
Wv
the artificial in either fails refresh his spirit As 10
the guests who frequentthe United States, volume
of gossip and gasconade might be written: Claim
ing, and enjoying as il does, the pre-emlnence as
fashionable house, 1t Is, as a matter OF course,
oyerrun with the Iackals who so surely follow the
wake of so-caled fashionable society. Waving a
notice of these, we come to the respectable papas,
men of fair sense and discretion with plenty OF mo-
ney, whom their daughters, (aided by mama, )have
persuaded TO come, somewhat against their will, 10 n
place OF gay resort; these young women are IN
haxI av of h.tr han thAN an
admiration 10 satisfy their, as yet, undevelopcd
vanity, and have not yet experienced the bitter
crosses Of mortified pride. Next come the "regu-
lar combaants," familiar faces OF the last -
sons, who have grown old in the pursuit of petty
nohngs, chasing bubbles and phanoms and such
"gaudy, gauzy, gossamary' trlfles year alter year.
from the town TO the sea-shore, from the sea-
hore TO Saratoga, and so back again. Strange
hat they tire not
-"o OF dropping buckets into empty wells,
And growing old in drawing nothing up"
But so It is Again, we have the fashionable snob,
the salt and fresh pork, the soap fat and taow, the
sperm oil and candle aristocracy such A" lndlyl-
duals, OF both sexes, as one sees at - our exclu-
sive "genteel' and fashionable Opera House !;
ahem Parents, shrewd enough IN their old ho-
nest trades OF "cuttng up" smelling" and
straining off," yet VINO scarcely know how to
read or write, who talk about articles of "bigotry
and virtue" (bYoutuie and retu) aud "such like, "
and who are oudest IN their expressions of disgust
of the "horrid, vulgar, common people, Alas,
satire is wasted upon them they are impervlous
TO 1t. With all these come the rractlsed and
adrolt swinder and black-eg, the shrewd, sa-
gacious, eager fortune hunter, the dllapIdate
old beau, the INSCRIPTIONS libertlne aud de-
bauchee. Add to these sprnkllng of taiors and
dress-makers, man-mllllners and bonnet bleach
ers-who come 10 Saratoga for "a few days
only" and expect TO spend their money where
other genteel people spend theIrs-and you have a
truthful picture Of 9 large and leading fashionable
hotel, At large and lending fashionable watering
place. j will speak OF Congress Hall next in
order. AT Tins house the atmosphere is marked,
the appearance as peculiar. in It's way, as is The
atmosphere and appearance Of the Z" States" Sur
rounded by wild natural scenery, with the tall
pines towering up around i-wih grounds which
twIth those OF the spring. extend over some thirty
acres, where one can wander, iorgetlul of gravel
walks and cosc-,rlmmed artificial trees, the situl-
ton of Congress Hail. is unnvalled in point of
natural beauty both Of landscape and forest see
merry. Within the house everything is SUI generis
II is the place of resort for your wel-bred highly
educated gentleman OF the old school, who loves
the saubrous air of Saratoga, and the braclng
effects of IFS fountains, but who would avoid the
noise and hustle and show Of gay osientation and
paryenu splendor. For the same reason you will
see here old and respectable families, VINO come
year after year, as regularly as the. returning
season, TO their tavoTlte Congress" There is
another class who invariably take up their abode
here. IL is OF We can properly use the word) the
quiet aristocracy OF the country, class answering
IN measure 10 the oh regime" adherents OF
Charles the Nth. IN France, who look with perfect
astonishment upon the noisy lnroads Of the " Red"
arsiocracy who have overrunihe ground and forced
tne = GA Uguf 10 Tttfe lntO tlie shade. lneN
gather together al Congress Hail. in DAYS Of yore
talk over the palmy seasons IT their youth and the
degenefacy Of modern times. Al their favoriie
house they promenade along the beautiful colon
made, stroll among the old pines which surround the
spring, take their morning drives and their morn
ing ndes and quieiy quai their Port, their Burgundy
and their Stenwen, :. with none to modest or make
them afraid" Add 10 the above sprnk ling o. poets
and professors, literary men. judicial men, profess
slonal men, NC, and you have a good idea of the
guests of Congress Hall. There l. music and dane
ing aeach house on alternate nights and entire har-
meny and good feeling prevail between the Con-
gress" and tie " States" The Union" Is an
old, and, with numerous portion of the public. a
fayofite house. IL came, several years ago 10 he
under The special patronage Of the clergy. who
finding that certain Of their flock would 10 TO "a.
Tatoga, undertook to provide for the security Of
theft souls, While they were looking after the
henlth Of the bodv. Muztc produccd 40 Il str;n,-