The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-08-10
Our Saratoga Correspondence.
SARATOGA, August

SARATOGA, August z, 1907.
Saratoga as II B-Hs Blstlc and Discomforts
Fashionable Etiqueie- Conspiracy of the Negro
Vaites- Characters on The Promenade, &c.
Saratoga, the Mecca to which the devotees of
fashion in this region of the world make their grand
pilgrimage every season, is little place, where
more noise, hustle, discomfort, and ridiculous vanity
is manifested, than at perhaps any other locality Of
q similar kind in the civilized world. If these are
the prime requisites to constitute a popular water
ing place then every person. who has been here this
season will unhesitatingly admit that Saratoga can
put forward the highest claims to be regarded the
ne plus ultra Of desirable summer sojourns this side
Of the Atlantic and it is question whether it can
be surpassed in England or on the continent. But
should any Anticipated parsonage, so far behind
the age as to manifest predictions for quiet, deco
rum comfort and responsibility happen to set foot
In Saratoga, all his old fashioned preudices would
be shocked by the exhibition Of things there; and
he were not consttutionally ayerse to anything in
the shape of furry, he would, no doubt, exit as
speedily as possible. If, however, he remained
throughout the forenoon, he would witness the
troops rushing haste from
the cars to the hotels-crowds Of pussy old gentle
menrunning along bag in hand, essaying inn after
nm for ccommodati9ns-groups OF wemen anu enno-
rem wandering about on the same almost hopeless
errand; while the stoops and piazzas OF the puonc
houses are thronged with gentlemen, smoking Sc
cars. and ladies promenading, with an air of the
utmost self satisfaction and furnishing evidence OF
the exemplary Christian patience with which We can
bear the misfortunes Of our neighbors. The village
presents this comical aspect OF elegant careless
ness-nervous busting, and perpetual! hurry-to-
tally at varisnce with what tyro would expect or
desire to ina place to which people are supposed
TO 60 for relaxation from busness, and for the i'm
provement Of their bodily and mental powers. In
fact Saratoga in proportion TO lite size, surpasees at
this in bustle end confusion the busiest mart
of commerce in the States, and appears anything
but the resort Of elegance and fashion II may be,
however that this Characteristic of IT is regarded as
enc Of it's most important recommendations, by
those aristocratic people who fritter away the
pleasant summer time in its empty vanities and
fooleries.
Ordinary people, however, who do not affect any
pretensons to hdM ton, would be totally at loss TO
discover any great advantage that Saratoga pre-
sents to induce such crowd to resort to it. 10 be
sure, its mineral waters may possess wonderful me-
dicative properties but then, who ever goes there
for the purpose Of swallowing such stun rreba-
bly, not one in twenty ever thinks OF such tning
and even those few who, oft rst drink OF the heal
ing waters with something like regularity, gradually
relax the srngency Of their rules and finally give
up altogether, under the influence of example. Inc
country around may offer pleasant walks, and drives,
ana romantic scenery; but few think Of enjoying the
pleasures Of ramble outside Of the limits pre-
seribed BY the iaehionaole olgarchy who control
Society ut tne Springs ne gentlemen are not, GO
morally, such sentmentahstsas to derive much plea
sure from sight Of the wild beauties nature pre-
sents by mountain, lake and food and very few of
them would be willing to undergo the slightest ia
tgue OF incur the remotest danger Of being late for
dinner, for the sake Of exploring the romantic
scenery in the neighborhosd. They prefer spend-
ing that tagging time between breakfast and din
ner in the club room, at the billiard table in the
bowling alley, or loungng about the precincts Of
the hotels The ladies, toe, exhibit mach Of the
same indifference to healthful exercise and pursuits
and for the most part loter away the same portion
of time in the saloons, the piazzas or in dressing
for dinner, which is by far the most important d.
urnal epoch in the history Of passing events here
Il has been quantity said that one-half OF the
world spend their time in thinking what they will
have for dinner, and the other half IN thinking
how they viii manage TO procure any at all Strange
90 il may appear, yet this sage remark might al.
tasatega, though, of cppre, the causes present