The New York herald., 1851-10-12

All Americans unite in sssuringus that the grand
characteristic Of English writer's on the United
States is amazing ignorance of their subject, and
most Of them conosr in attrbuting this ignorance
to the difficulty experienced by the mere tourist in
making bis way into really good society. Thus we
are tod that Captains Hal and MNryat s.eaned
the material Of taer Books IN bar rooms aad country
taverns. Mrs. Trollope was the conductress Of q
fancy bazaar at Cincinnati The mob which con-
stantly followed Mr.. Dickens efectually prevented
his admission into exclusive circles Lord Carlisle
might have been more fortunate, but his goodness
OF neart induced him to accept invitation from OBJ
jectionable people-and so even he was tsbooed.
The only English writer who has ally crossed
the inner threshold is Lady Emeline Wortley Mon
isgue and accordingly her lsdyship has seen no
thing In the country which is not intensely admira-
BILE. from New Orleans to the Canadian frontier.
Intimate acquaintance With the habits Of the
upper classes being thus q condition precedent to
accurate knowledge of deeply interesting couu-
try. every source whence such information may be
derived acquires value peculiar to itself Ii was,
therefore, not without q thrill Of pleasure that,
on recently looking through the flies Of Ameri-
fer very different purpose-we perceived that
at least five columns Of each journal were filed
with " fashionable intelligence" Capitals of the
largest size invited attention to the ats
of the creme dc Ia creme of American society," which
had escaped, il seems, from the ntolerable
heats Of New York, Boston aad Philadelphia, to
the grateful GOODNESS Of thousand watering places
inland and marine. The Importance Of our disco
very increased upon closer examination. Let no
one imagine that the fashionable intelligence" of
our American contemporaries has single feature in
cemnon with its meaere counterpart in An English
newspaper. Let no one picture to himself mere
line In the aurora, announcing that Lady C.'s
sorte doHsante is defntvely fixed for the 23d inst.
and then, three weeks afterwards, paragraph
which grudgingy informs one that Lady &. s so,ree
dansonfe took place last night that the magnificent
suite Of apartments was brilliantly illuminated
that the company began TO separate about two
present We observed" Sc, Sc The analogous
species Of composition the other side of the At
lantic is characterized by ampli icaion, instead Of
condensation-by analysis, and not by synthesis.
The opinions of the observer given frankly aud
fully, with the passionless impartiality of Judge,
and the copious gartcularization of special plead
er. Moreover, in reading his remarks, We evidently
enjoy the advantage Of having the American fash
ionables described by one of themselves. Whatever
interest attaches to the reporter Of the aurora is
not Of the kind which, according to the Persian
adage, is derive from proximity to the rose but
dandies whom he describes, has whispered soft no
things into the of the young ladies whose dress
he pulls to pieces, and has even exchanged glances
with the belle of the evening, concerning whom
but this is to come hereafter. At present, will
confne ourselves to avowing that our astonshment
at the depth OF his penetration int these mysteries
is only equalled by wonder at the playful in lis
cretion with which he reveals them.
We regret that we cannot give an adequate
specimen of our contemporary's style, our space
being insufficient for the length of his words and the
involuton of his sentences II We may venture to
cay so much, We would express fear that he ha,
corrupted his dicton by the too asJduous perusal of
Kant and Keats. In fact, the language of the
highest poetry is so closely blended in his writing
with that Of the deepest metaphy sizes, as to make
it resemble nothing earthly-exeept, perhaps, the
cabulary Of the two ladies introduced to Martin
ChuzZlewit, of whom it was announced, as an
especial Recommendation, "tha. the LIS are
transce endantal" The following extract IL not,
therefore, intended to be typical, but it may
to show that the writer whom quoting
pitches bis style toerably high at starting. 1t Is
the commencement Of his remarks on two fashion
able entertairments-the frst fancy dress ball at
Cape May, in Pennsyl7anis-the second, q rout at
Newport, in Rhode Island -
In they came and, as their numbers were increased
the beautiful lamps gracefully disposed amopg the
evergreens seemed 70 shed upon the motley multitude
an exhilarstng and esutfyipg light There was har
monyin fact, consonance-oetween the multi colored
lamps and the costumes upon the door, which produced
effect perfectly charming. Sodding plumes, gay
dresses powd red heads caps and bss eagle feathers
Of the Indian head dress the tinse Of assumed royalty
the Haunting but admirable ribbons of the peasant
ali there; and disposed TO study the picture
might ind good lesson in Il for Il was not unlike the
which tc be met with in real life every day.
Alter some general observations on tn, world, So
ciey, and fancy balls the writer goes on to describe
the costumes and their wesrers. We are bound to
say that bis language on the former head s conside
rably more Ineligible than the contributions in
pori mo.Gid Of the court neHsman to our columns.
We extrac. few Items
Nil Cb,holm took the character Of tie Child Of the
Regiment. Her costume wa white jacket with scar
le: skirt. inc xpres-ibles gaitere, &c.
Dir Psrkin dr.ssei in beautiful costume re-
presenting French bostmsR in hi. holiday rig
Mr.. Tobias appeared a. Spanish private wearing
costume which embroidered figures en5lemati-
cal a hi calling
signor Btz the celebrated oorjuror, was present at
tired as a magician lie carried il font a board upon
which to perform fsats Of magic lie wa accompanied
By young-ter whom he termed hi imp Wherever the
conjuror went he had crowd round him, and many
iuwff fufl i'm
knot Of lscies who too modest 10 crowd around
him while in the centre Of the room.
Mr. Peterson wore n Spanish court dress. Mr..
IL hne looking man and in hi costume he looked
like prince ofa don.
Mr. Levstcn wore Tyrolesn dress, aud sang several
Tyrosan airs In the course Of the evening SIR L. has
One voice and k yocaIIstion would dc credit TO pro
Colonel Wallace appeared az the Count Of Monte.
cristo. The Colonsls tall figure looked more ststely
than ever and bis conyernion made him every where an
entertaining quest.
Mr Jsmes Parkinson wore besutifGl biigand co..
tune. made for the cccs-isn. The material Of the
Jacket and mall ciotbe. blue.
Joshua Price a member Of the socsty o. Friend, aul
belonging 10 Of the hrst fam lies In Philadelphia
sttircd a Jockey lie was all life aud animation
in mourning ala not enter actively nto the Festivities OF
the evening
At the second entertainment, tt. critic was pre.
oluded by it, nature, from exercising his descTip-
tive powers upon fancy costume. lie accordingly
flls bis communication with details Of very diff
ferent order Our readers may possibly fad diff
6culty In believing the genuineness Of the pas
snges which follow but they must take our word
for it
NOW 20 che fair who nightly grace the saloon
II would be fsrd 20 sag who s uoqussiicn by the belle
thcre l. slwsy quite diversity of fnion upon such
subject However feel quite safe IN ssJing that
large proportion u those, who dsintercsted asard
the 30 the beautiful ani amiable Mis- Mary Hydop
Of New York and am free % ssy that almost aequ
al tbinr consdcrd In this opinion Il 4 dicult
"a Ind az .le Vr.ues aad RcsomP hnents of the sax
concentrated in one fair daughter earth pas great
est blessing yet his worst snnoyer Ns ~ 4 y5uag
naturally gay. very beautiful exceedingly fascinating
dauces k. fairy looks NJ az you Ike "a angel taks
Ike Cupids fairest daughter In loves bs bswcniu
language she i vcIy much admired, AMI always has
crowd a. our IL her train During the day, alter
meal, fhc may be cten promenading the hail. with sere.
raj tttend x upon heraui az other times Of the day
you may see her making some poor fellow happy, for the
time bsrr by having cory little chat with biz In the
ncon. she has been In mourning fof some time, and
consequently does not appear oen the Hoor IN the
evening With The dauccrs IN the waltz he Ia very
graceful and accomplished
Ml-r Klen Woodbury. daughter Of Jr5rs Woodbury., of