The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-07-18
THE WATERING PLACES.
Our Fashienable Correspondencs


Oeea" Honse-Drives about Ne,cport-The Ger
mania Musical -Recreations-Name of
Visiters at the Hotels and Cottages.
AT all the watering places week works wonders;
but this holds good especially in reference to New
port. The stage remains the same, but the scenes
and actors shift and vary like those at the theatre
or opera. Last week, the business at the hotels
was quiet, steady sort of thing good in its way,
but presenting mono of the phenomena of the real
fashionable Quiet, peace loving rest seek
ing gentlemen enjoyed their segar after breakfast,
their walk o. ride, bath and game of billiards with
out seeming to desire notice. Their families de-
voted themselves to their appropriate recreatons in
the same unobtrusive manner and nothing bespoke
the existence of a single fashionable extravaganza.
Now, the play has arrived at another period. Bus
tie, hustle, motion, motion, accelerated action are
the most visible signs in the business departments
of the hotels Servants in lveries, and obsequious
walters in white jackets, are at every turn, and gay
equipages, of all descriptions, dash along the
streets Hackmen, in patoons, are waiting at the
doors of the Ocean House, at an early hour after
breakfast to take parties to the bathing grounds,
OF wherever else they choose to ride. The pleasure
boats at the wharves, lie with sails hoisted, all
ready for start, are making their way, with
cargoes of early birds, off in the bays and outside
the small islands of the harbor. Parties of fisher
men are off for the bass grounds, and everything
indicates life. Some of the early vsiters at Sara.
toga already here, and in short, " the season."
though not at its height, is Ne wport is in.
creasing in beauty every year, mean the island,
outside of the town. The old settlement along the
waters edge, is very much the same as it has been
for the last quarter of a century, and how much
longer it becometh not me to say. True, there has
been considerable expenditure for white paint,
and the appearance Of the houses from the bay is
somewhat enlvened thereby; but the only attrac-
tons for strangers lie above and beyond the town.
Hence, they sooner land than they whired
away as fast as possible to the outer boundary, or
beyond the line of the town proper.
A great many gentlemen who used to live at the
hotels in the summer time, bough. land and built
cottages, where they reside with their families, but
come to the Ocean House every day or evening, to
enjoy the society congregated here. This would
not be profitable arrangement for the proprietor
Of the hotel, were it not for the fact that their
places are supplied fast they are vacated by
the "c0ttagers." General SCOTS family are re-
siding in cottage ar by, but the society of the
ladies is not lost to US. At drawngro hop,
which we had here last night, Que of the Misses ;.
was an object of general admiration In fact, the
system of cottageizing is an improvement to the
whole season.
1t WILL Of COURSE be interesting to the readers Of
he Herald, who are looking out for co nfortable
quarters, to know what they may expect here, if,
in their journeyings, they should "put up at the
Ocean House" | will tell you how | find things,
without troubling you about my Uald, the real or
sham, and without at all endeavoring to impress
upon your mind the fact that am gentleman of
the old English school; and also, without making
any invidous comparisons between English noble
men and American gentlemen, at the expense Of
the latter. ! suppose a brainless fop is the same
assnine animal, whether he be bred in England or
America One thing is certain, most of the speci-
mems We have in this country either imported,
or they assume the air of the European bped,
knowing that their own countrymen wo ii despise
them the more if they knew Yankee blood was
spelling in their veins.
l came from New York to Newport on the
steamer Empire City, board Of whica | found all
the comforts Of a floating hotel AT about half
past seven a magnificent meal, more like a dinner
than "tea," as it called, served up, under
the direction Of Mr. +. McGown, the caterer and
head officer of the Empire City's table arrange
ments. We had pleasant night, and at abo II 2
o'clock next morning were landed at Newport;
the captain of the steamer, and Mr.. Chase, his
clerk, taking all pains to that the landing was
comfortable, and that the passengers not
jostled and annoyed by crowds Of baggage men and
hack drivers. On landing at the end of long wharf
We found comfortable coaches in waiting to convey
us to the Ocean House, elsewhere, If We chose
10 20 to any other hotel. Arrived at the Ocean
House, We were met at the door by intelligent SER
wants. who paid every attention to the proper dispo-
sition of our baggage. In the Office were well
coined by Mr. Thomas, late Of the Astor House,
now head clerk here, and Mr.. B. Weaver, the son
of the proprietor of the house. The main building
Of the hotel was nearly full, but every endeavor
made to acc~m nodate guests. An elderly gentle
man, and rather stout withal, requested the clerk
to lodge him at rs small distance as possible from
the office. His request was complied with ut once,
though with some little trouble TO the attendants
and the stout gentleman was shortly made eomfort-
able in an apa tment up only one flight OF stairs.
Afer refreshing sleep Of few hours. the company
met nj breakfast, and all agreed that their accom-
moiations excellent. The perfection of clean
illness exists in the rooms aud the beds are as
comfortable good sized bedstcads, well filed hair
matresses, feather holsters aud pillows, clean sheets
blankets, and spreads, can make them. Mr.. Weaver
has made thorough reorganization Of his dining
room help The VI alters all white, and are
der the direc lion Of two efficient men, who act az
head waiter and assistant. The head waiter, as
commander Of the forces, secs TO IL that his men
are at their poets, and active in the performance of
the various duties Assigned to them while his
sistant, a remarkably polite aud good looking |
young man, attends TO seating tae newly arrived !
guests. and making arrangements for their
fort. Both the head waiter aud his aid clever
in their departments, and add greatly 20 the con.
fort OF the patrons Of the house. Landlords all over
the country agree in deela ring that this department
ttbe dining Ioom) is a most difficult to nan gc
MIR. Weaver thinks he has succeeded, this yei-, IN
making such orr tnizaton as will avoid many of /
the difficulties heretofore experienced As TO the
distcG, and the manner in which they are prepared
for the table, il ia oHy necessary to say that the
kdebcn Is in charge of com yetsnt cook, with
ample assistance, and the appetite must he poor,
AID The taste over fss.idiogs that cannot be salts
fed vita either dinner or breakfast, as served at
the Ocean House
The dawes about Newport are pleasant, that
csrrisge riiing is a very popular mode of recrea
ton. In order 20 Afford boarders every facility I
possible IL this line Mr.. Weaver has AL fed quite
q number of exceest ho-ses TO his stables. AID
careful arvcrs are always ready to accompany
strangers elcr the mosn psGsant roads OF the yiJ-
nifty. have been tass u,in,s'e in reference to tue
odat:nns Ct the OCEAN llo..sc in order that
the readers ~ the lie af might b. informed truth-
.ullv gtat Newfggf< A ,s,if Wuat M has