The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-09-22
For the National Era.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF SARATOGA.

flkSI IMPRESSIONS Ut SARAT 06A.
MOI.
UNITED STATES HoTEL, August II, 1859.
DEAR G*** Last evening was seated in
the ball room at the side of Mrs. H, of TWEEN.
tieth street, and we had a long talk about the
fashionables in motion before us. The excess of
material worn was never so conspicuous as now.
Think of young lady of medium height wear
ing one hundred and twenty-five yards in
dress. She looked like white cloud made up
of fringes, and in motion the illusion was per-
feet that her movements were aided by the
multitudinous wavelets in which she was en-
veloped. But what a waste Of material and of
money! am told that thirtytwo yards of silk
is now the requisite pattern for dress, and be-
fore two years are out, the wives of mechanics
will reach that vast display of drapery, and
upper-tendom will have expanded into great
balloons of swelling vanity. Some years since,
young lady was as well content with having
passed her sixteen springs as her sixteen sum.
mers, bat now the number Of her springs is
extended to thirty and upwards speak of
patent springsin her hoops, which are patent
in more senses than one at Saratoga, for all
on both sides Of Broadway they are set out,
swinging before every shop and, to my eye,
they are no more attractive than other skee-
tons.
had the honor of being invited to bridal
party, given to Mrs. w. S., by her aunts,
Mrs. C and Miss W. The rooms were
filed with the beauty of this beautiful village,
and of a sprinkling of such exotics as Governor
and Mrs. Morgan, Mrs. T and Miss s.
of Boston, and dozen or two of others, visit
ants at the Springs. The width and wealth of
drapery quite covered up the floor, and gentle
men and girls looked as if they might be the
pistils and stamens of new species of japoni-
cas-. 1t was delightful party and 1 found the
Governors wife, with whom was privileged to
converse little while before supper, an ad-
mirable representative of sensible, well-bred,
and well-mannered matrons. And now, as
women go, that is compliment 1t has also
been my good fortune to meet with the Gov
ernor's wife, of the 'unco guide State of Con-
necticut, and her husband, both of whom seem
to me worthy representatives of every domestic
as well as public virtue
/ am told that Governor Buckingham is
native of the old town of Lebanon, of Revolu-
tionary memory. He gave, last year, his salary
as Governor to Yale College, and has Just sub
seribed six thousand dollars towards fund Of
100000, for the re-endowment of Yale Theo-
logical School. He gave, few years since
several thousand dollars towards the building
of the High School in Norwich, which is one
of the finest buildings of the kind in this coun-
try.
l was telling Judge B of my meeting
with these good people, and asked him how it
happened that such State as Connecticut
should have such proverb as wooden nut
megs" affixed to it. He replied, Proverbs are
the wisdom of the world, and never attach
where they are not merited. There are no bet
ter people in the world than are to be found in
Connecticut" That being so, Judge, how
do you account for the proverb?" asked.
| His reply led to discussion, which l can
not give you in my letter, but will repeat to
you some day. 1t was exceedingly piquant and
| amusing.
To change the subject, told him that / had
been haunted with what he had told me Of the
petrifying influence of fashion, and that when
/ saw a young girl entering for the first time
the halls of the U. 8. Hotel, was prompted to
go up to her, and tell her all about the danger
of her being turned into stone. He was amused
at the earnestness l assumed, and said, "We
will see, Meta, whether you have the sense to
| keep out of this maestrom which has swallowed
up so many beautiful barques, frieghted with
hopes as bright and forms as beautiful as
yours. / advise you to marry early. Matrimo-
ny is the surest cure for passion for the CAV
circles of New York, Newport, Saratoga, and
Washington" / told him would take his adj
vice into my most mature consideration, and if
| did not follow it in future years, he must not
charge my failure to any want Of Profoundest
respect for. his opinions. "Oh, you fear you
will be left unsought fori" he exclaimed, as if
such a thought had never before presented it.
self. told him, "The thought of marrying
which l did not think it maidenly for me to
cherish" 81 believe you, Meta" he replied,
taking my hand; "you are good girl, and
have had father and mother to precede you.
To respect yourself, and to be content with your
social position, is native to you but look about
you. See how many of the mothers and
daughters who assemble here resemble climb
ing plants, who throw out their tendrils, and in
their blindness are unable to distinguish a
pillar of state from a decayed, worm eaten,
worthless post-their only aim and end is 10
rise into the sunshine-to be seen and adl
mired."
asked the Judge TO give me, If he could, q
living example or two Of this man or woman
worship. He did SO on the spot, pointing out
one of the most attractive ladies in the saloon,
and who had that instant bowed to us in pass,
ing. was surprised indeed, and asked show
it could be that Miss - could make such a
confession of her want of social standing, which
ought to be intensely painful, when, too, every
one about her must perfectly comprehend her
aim ; and so, instead of acquiring anything real,
she would wound her own selfrespect, and
make herself a mark for the finger of scorn to
point at. The Judge repeated to me one of the
maxims of Rochefoucault in confirmation ofhis
opinions, and / told him the sentiments of
corrupt courtier of the most corrupt monarch of
France was with no propriety of speech applied
to a young lady belonging to good society in New
York in the middle of the nineteenth century
Alas dear G***, that this world is not as
bright as it looks to be, and that behind the most
lovely exterior there is so much to deplore.
And now this reminds me of conversation
held with Mrs. P**s***, ofHartford, a lady of
high culture, and one of the true nobility of
woman. We met some mornings since in front
of our hotel. She was on her way to the morn
ing prayer-meeting, and / was out to buy rib
bon I wanted for nay dress for the evening.
"Come, my dear, said she, go with me to the
morning prayer-meeting" 1 told her was out
to make some purchases. "Can't you make
them just as well an hour hence 2" she asked,
her blue eye reading in my soul little