Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1854-08-26
Fashion at Waterlng Places.

The Chinese do ko-tou in their faces in
the presence Of their superior, and the be-
nightcd Africans worship fetish made
of old rags; but neither the Negroes nor
the Mongollans are bit more absurd
than Americans, when they PROSTATE
themselves to the thing called fashion.
And of all foliies connected with fashion,
that of fashionable watering places is the
most superlatiycIy ridiculous.
Mrs. Nervous, for example, wants .
change of air. But, unfortunately for the
dear lady, she cannot consent to be cured
except at the most lonnish watering
place; and accordingly her husband, tho
he can i'll afford any eXtravagances, is
compelled to take her to such resort.
What matters il that the rooms are close,
the table scantilv provided, and the pto-
prietor eXtorlionatc in every way. This
fashionable lady, or that boards there, or
has boarded there, leaving behind her an
odor Of genulity to all time. 1t is ANA
zng what Inconvenience, and even IN
suits, Mrs. Nervous and hundreds like
her will put up with, in order 10 eat atthe
same table as the upper ten,' and be
bulIicd by the same landlord.
Nor is this all, for at fashionable water
ing places one would think that health
was the last thing they sought. Mrs.
Manpuvrc has gone there 10 marry oil
her daughters. Mrs. Ephesian has come
to catch a second husband. Miss FIirt Is
there to coquet with the gentlemen. Miss
Dash to raise q sensation by her oddities
In the little world of five hundred boar
ders, temporarily inhablting the hotel
there are as many cIiques, in!rlgucs anc
rivaIries as at The court Of Louis XIV
Mrs. Tallowchandler turns up her nose a
Mrs. Soaplat, because the husband oI tho
latter retaiIs his goods, while her owl
sells out at wholesale. Mr.. Dronc does
not speak to Mr.. Useful, because the lat
ter works for his living, while the lormo
spends in idlcness the fortune acquired by
his father. Even the gentlemen and la
dies of COLOR" who, according TO thei
own account, partly for recreation, anC
partly to Oblige the fashionable world, con
sent TO wait at table, make beds and blacI
boots, partake Of this cXcIusiveness ant
one professional gentleman" boasts Il
another, with pompous scll-saIsfaction, o
his tonnish mistress, and pronOunces the
employer of another Of "no account
because he made his money in salt pOrl
instead Of in sugar.
Thousands of dollars are annually sac
riliccd at these fashionable watering pIa
ccs by families really unable to afford it
While husbands are borrowing money in
the hot town at two per cent. month
wives are sporting lace caps that cost q
hundred dollars, at hotels where the fam
lily bill is another hundred per week.
While fathers are trembling with the fear
Of failure in the Fall, daughters are launt
ing at watering places in the CostIics
jcwelry, or sons are sporting fast horses,
giving champagne suppers, and perhaps
gaming and drinking half the night. De
liver us from fashionable hotels at the SCI
shore or the springs. They would swaL,
low up the purse Of a millionaire, and des,
troy the health of Samson. They would
teach airs to the girls of the best mother
and make the sons Of the lhrilticsi father
improvidcnt.
Osiensibly, people 60 out of town for
health. But how many are better for 4
solourn at fashionable watering place
Instead Of returning with blooming
cheeks, ladies come back faded with late
hours and gentlemen, instead of being
more vigorous, are paying the penalty OF
wine suppers. A fortnight at some quiet
place, where the air is fresh and the hours
early, is better than month at one OF
these scenes Of fashionable dissipation. In
the one case, you get what you contract
for, and at a moderate puce too in the
other you ray six dollars for board and
six for fashion, and are cheated in both
A Poor Mans WGsH.-I asked a stu
dent what three things he most wished.