The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-09-01

fashionable coup Ia maicontenf ha, lett to me. Be
satisfied that they were all pretty and well dressed,
more or less-generally more.
We are going TO have matinee by Miss Fay on
Friday and various other interesting things OF which
you shall be informed IN due course.
NAHANT.
NAHANr, August %, 1853.
The Weather at the Sea S;de--Nahant Society
Blue Stockings and Blue Noses-Pedantry and
Ignorance of the Germcnians-Miss
Fay's Concert, &C., &c.
Nahant has, like Newport, suffered a good deal
this season from the unusual coldness and wetness
Of the weather. Constant rain, cold cutting winds
and dismal fogs have, until within the last few
DAYS, been the clements that prevailed here.
No wonder then, that the arrivals should have been
comparatively few, and that the departures should
have kept pace with them. Perohed out as we are
here upon bleak promontory, catching the sea
drift as it is swept along by the piercing easterly
blasts by which this coast is at all times favored,
need scarcely tell you that requires strong sun to
make the place endurable. To Boston people, who
are ared to this inhospitable climate Nahant even
in bad weather, may offer some attractions, but to
those accustomed to warmer attitudes soiourn
here in the atmosphere we have lately had must
nave proved anything Out dgIecdUt'
Nor are the social features Of the place Of cha
racter to compensate strangers for the physical
discomfort TO which they may be subjected.
Everything is very grand and very stately. but,
at the same time, insufarably dull. There
is an external air Of aristocracy about Nahant So
cety, but it is the shadow without the substance.
Even the presence Of stray English lord or foreign
diplomat tails to mpart to it the true SAVIOR OF the
creme de la creme. This one would have no right TO
quarrel with but for the absurd pretenson to intel
lectual pre- eminence which forms its predominant
characteristic. One can stand innate yulgarity and
ignorance, provided they are accompanied oy
reasonable degree of modesty But it is hard to be
compelled to listen to sneers against "the mongrel
character Of New York society the absence OF lite
rary tastes which distinguishes it, and its frivolity
generally from persons who themselves display gross
educational defects in their conversation. and who
seek to overwhelm you with their intellectual inn
portance by talking Familiarity Of the literary cote
ries and celebrities Of the modern Athens just ike
Sterne's friend who used books as he did lords
learned their titles and then boosted OF their &C
quaintance.
To one Of the younger pretenders Of this sort,
who had fastened upon me as a listener remarked,
careiessly, that the Boston ladieshad rather blue
tendency.
"A blue what, sir?n she replied, with an indignant
toss of her head evidently disguised with what she
conceived 70 be physical and not very faterng al
fusion. You will hardly credit 1t, but had TO ex.
plain to her that had not the remotes idea Of class
ing her fair compatriots amongst the Blue Noses.
Il is no wander that ignorance like this, accom-.
panying the assertion OF intellectual superiority to
which it has no real claims, should render Nahant
society disageeable in the eyes of New Workers and
Southerners. The former recognise in the ostenta-
ton Of wealth which is displayed here only fami-
liar feature Of their own circles, and they are not
disposed to concede TO 1t, when unaccompaned oy
other gifts, more reverence than they do at home.
The Southerners, who are generally people OF cul-
tivated minds and who have really social position to
boss. Of, cannot stomach pretensions which are
based neither on intellectual requirements nor Ia
my antecedents. OF course you viii no. under
stand me as asserting that the whole OF the society
OF this place is thus composed. There are certain
small coteries of very different character, which
keep apart from the crowd; but excepting IN exer-
csirg sort of restraint the rampant elements
Of pedantc snobbishness, which would break out
into carcature but for their presence they impart
TO the society Of the place bat little OF the tore and
color Of their minds.
Nahsnt is. therefore, as you will see a resort
adapted TO BOSTON people, and TO Boston PEG.
pie only. With the exception of an occasional
stranger like myself, who has taste for social expo
ratons but few persons from the other states are
tempted to visit It. Boston society whenit is select
H. know really enjoyable, but as seen here il is the
drearicst thing imaginable. Al other watering
places North well as South, one Is amused by the
mixture of different local varieties and peculiarities
which are there congregated. They present at least
the attraction Of contrast, and when bored by one
il is easy TO pass on TO another. Here, however,
stranger must live on Boston goldfish ALTOGETHER and
"A
The ball on Tuesday night was rather an animated
aairat least for this deadalive place. IL brought
us an infusion OF lively elements In the shape OF
some fast young men, In dog collars and cable ties
managed TO nfuse little spirit into the company, and
70 SC, the girls tongues and feet going These rau.
rens as the French call them are occasionally good
Cor something. They help 10 gavanize the inane el-
ements Of which would be aristoeratc society," COM
posed imparting after the fashion Of Tony Iumpkn,
vitality to the Otherwise dreary episodes OF its art
fetal existence.
The fashionable world here have this week been
terribly excited by the announcement OF the concer.
given on Saturday evening, 2lst, in the dining nall
Of the hotel by Miss Abby Fay, "the young Ameri-
car prma DONNA II Is only necessary % be &C.
auaintei with tho sponsorial cognomen of Miss Fay
TO know that she is q ankee OF the Yankees. Her
father il man Of wealth, and therefore Of conse-
auence in these parts. He made great deal OF
money ny selling groceries and bars OF soap. and Is
now spending some Of t in bars OF music. Miss
Abby Is young woman OF twenty there or there
abouts She Is very thin, with rather an Interesting
face, and has evidently been educated up 70 the
finest point. She has already sung at Saratoga, and
has had success than any native artist except
Madame de Wilhorst. The programme OF the con-
cert included duet from Verdis "MasnHdieri," by
Miss Fay and Signor Brigno; the BONANZA from I'll
Duo Foscari" by Sgnor Amodio; the "Spirito Gen
ill., by Signor Brignoli selection Qargo) from
Maria de Rohan and an allegro finale from one Of
Miss Fay Signori Brignoi and Amodio, the duet
from ia Trayiatar by Miss Fay and Brignoi, the
Romanzs "Di Provenza," from the same opera, by
Amojio; the serenade from Don Pasquale, by
Brignoli, and an echo waltz written
for Miss Fay by her teacher Sig.
nor Bendelari, who conducted the concert.
The dining hall Of the hotel, an oblong room with
low ceiling. was quite full, and among the an
dience noticed Lord and Lady Napier, ex-Speaker
Winthrop and other distinguished persons. There
was also regular cldqHe like that which we hear at
the Paris theatres, and sngnlarly enough the mcui.
hers OF il mustered In the usual place directly under
the chandelier. AZ for the concert IL was well
enough. Mise Fay has good voice, admirably full
and equal In the upper register. Her intonation s
firm and always true; her execution ~ excellent
for 40 Young an artist This latter accomplishment
wss Displayed 20 the greatest advantage 10 the music
OF Pacini. which was, 80 far as the programme Sc
iected for the concert concerned, her piece de
r1sisfnncc The Echo waltz. comnOsed by Sirnor