The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-09-15
For the National Era
FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF SARATOGA.

"iho 2iAihs horEL, SATURDAY Morning.
DEAR G*f*: Among the notabilities now
here is j. G. SAKE, who was pointed out to me
this morning on my way to the Spring, smoking
German pipe in front of Congress Hall.
belleve there is some name given to these things
which lifts them out of the vulgarity of pipes
but for poet and wit to be seen smoking one
OF these crooked contrivances had very com.
mon look. But l forgive him, for he has
just stricken off at dash the following sketch
OF Saratoga, which can testify is true to the
letter:
The poem quoted from SAKE by our fair
correspondent appeared in the Era last week.
l have been contriving surprise for grand
father, whose generous draft on New York
came very ppportune Not that wanted any.
thing, but so soon as had cashed the draft,
saw the loYeliest point lace collar for seventy
five dollars; and could not refuse to purchase
Now you will think q the girl and her money
soon parted" Yes, but then l have such a
love of a collar But was about to tell YOU
of the surprise l have been getting up for dear
grandpa. it is nothing less than my own self
done IN crayon by Vincent Colyer, ESQ.,, artist,
los Blocker street. / CHANGED to pass his
studio, and was attracted by some beautiful
heads. One Of these, most perfect face of a
young girl !, was taken by Mr.. Colyer last sum.
mer. She atthe Springs with her family
and her lover, to whom she was soon to be
married. On Saturday he was at work on this
head and she was all life and gladness. That
night she bad fatal bleeding at the lungs, and
the next day, calling d see her after church,
he was shown her corpse. This sketch remains
as it was left Of Mr.. Colyer's skill as an artist
you will judge by his drawing of me. only
wish was half as handsome as he has made
me, and yet everybody says it is a great sue.
cess. l hope you all will be of that opinion.
am beginning to weary of the United States
Hotel. Yes, weary of dressing and undressing;
weary of talking by the hour, and not being
able to recall anything l have heard, or of be.
ing conscious of having had any new trains of
thought awakened in my own mind. do not
know how others get along, but it is wearisome
to be forever doing the same things. Even the
Lancers, with the inspiration of Muncks music.
have ceased to be attractive and was sorry
hear Doctor W. say to Aunt that she must not
leave before the lst September. What will be.
come Of me
You ask me why do not speak of any mem
Der of the We.Six but Mr.. II. and Amelia Be.
cause they are like all the rest of Boston people
Very bright, clever lin the English sense of
the word, and somewhat wearisome, because
they are SO (; for / have to be ever on the alert
lest some chance word may slip in, and give 90.
casion to an ingenious misapprehensiop or a
bright repartee. You are made to feel as when
you are Witnessing a spectacle Of fire works
where one rocket chases another into the sky
there TO break into spangles to be followed by
another rush of rockets more bright, reaching
higher, and bursting into more glorious stars
until at IN you are glad when they are all ex-
ploded, ard you can go home to rest. Clara
and Eliza.D. are thus content to shine. Anne
liza does ppt-she seeks to win, and her skill is
wonderfukto behold. As for the young gentle
men, thes are extremely proper, and regard
themselves the pinks of courtesy-and so do ].
Mr.. H. is travelled gentleman, and he is ex.
ceedingly piqued by Amelia's interest in Dick,
and, by way of compensation, has devoted him
self to me; and l have sought to secure all the
advantages his varied knowledge enables him
gracefully to impart to an inquirer, as / always
am when we two are thrown together, and he,
with a smile Of kindness, consents to be nv in
structor.
Amelia is an heiress, and Mr.. II. is man of
mind, and has his fortune to make. Now, what
could be more grateful to generous girl, who
holds her fortune Ia her own right as Amelia
does, than to endow such man with the acct
dent Of wealth? This, think, she designs to
do one of these days but in the mean time she
~, 6, ~
and to tlirt, more or less seriously, with lust
such novices as my cousin Dick. You would
think it was an arranged affair, if you were to
see how naturally Mr.. ii. offers me his arm,
and how Dick takes Amelia into the ballroom
and in dancing, Mr., Ii. is my partner, and
Amelia and Dick are our ris-d- ris and though
shis may be nothing new to Mr.. H., it is very
new to Dick. If Dick likes being cheated, do
not like to see him cheated but it is not proper
for me to help him see things as they are, for
then he might misconceive me.
Thursday, august 25.-You have seen, dear
G*** that | had much to tell you, / did not
know how to write; and as matters have ripened
rapidly to a conclusion, / cannot deny myself
the pleasure of telling you briefly what has
happened To begin at the beginning-some
time since, Miss Amelia led me to talk about
her cousins, and asked me if thought it
Il
her the truth when ] said / had no cousin in
the world whom l would marry, which is all
true. She looked me in the face, and asked me
if was seriaus. 1t never occurred to me what
use she could make of what said, nor that she
was necessarily ignorant that Dick was not the
son OF. Aunt Jane, and no cousin of mine; and
she very naturally believed he must be an only
son, because of his devotion to the only mother
be hasever known.
After this conversation, which had forgot.
ten, with a multitude of just such sayings, Dick
showed himself slienated from me. " e walked
together to the springs every morning, sat to-
gether with Aunt Jane, listening to the same
author, and talking over what we were reading,
but all the while l felt great veil had fallen
down between u.s. and this / attributed to the
presence of Amelia and her Vaccinations and
though l was more deeply panied at what
saw than / was willing to confess even to my.
self, yet thought she would soon go away, and
sll would be well again. But why Dick should
show any alienation Of feeling surprised me,
for had tasked myself TO comply with every
wish Of his, to 60 where he would have me go,
and topromote his views so far as could guess
them, at whatever sacrifice of my own prefer
ences. 1t was not always easy, but was sure
the day and hour would come when my mo-
tives would be appreciated by Dick, snd knew
they would bear the test of my own scrutiny.