Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-08-10
SKETCHES OF SUMNER TRAVEL.

BAN VIsIToRs-ARRIvINe AT SARAroeA-I1s
GUESTS, SHADE, Music, WATERS, &c.
Last year / wrote and published deliberately of
this western section OF New York as seen from
the Central Railroad cars windows so the Stars
readers know 10 as know It, and I shall there
fore not tax their time to read another detailed
description Of it. Suffice it to say that no other 81
ton Of the non-slaveholding States embraces IN
combination so many fine illustrations of the ag-
rieultural, manufacturing, and mechanical pro-
gress Of our country. Thrift and consequent
prosperity rule the hour here, and with the help
Of the unjust practice of the Government of the
United States In taxing all others for the ben
eft Of northern manufacturers, these people
are fast becoming rich In the aggregate Nor
shall l essay another detailed description of
the valley Of the Mohawk, through which
have been coursing for half an hour at a rate of
speed that would astonish those engaged in the
management Of railroads in our section of coun-
try. As kissing goes by favor in the legislation
of all the n-slaveholding States in these times,
any set of spectators with money for the purpose
of bribery in hand, can get a charter for rail-
road between any two northern points The
consequence is, competing lines make necessary
the speed with which this remarkably fine, CON-
Portable, and wellmanaged railroad Is run, In
order to defy the competition Of roads less able
to bear the additional expense Of making such
time.
On the train with me are party of twenty-five
Cubans, bound for Sharon Springs; the most hi
lariously happy company along. Their merry
laughter has been ringing In my ears for hours;
until, though they converse In Spanish at a rate
fairly rivaling the trains travelling speed so that
cannot comprehend word they utter, have
fairly caught the infection, and re-echo their
merry ordinations now and then, In spite of a
disposition TO preserve proper degree of deco
rum. Nearly all Of them, especially the juniors
Of the party, speak English as well as though to
the manor born; an indication to me of the in
creasing Identification of Cuba with the United
States. All of them, Of all ages are fine looking
PeoPle-remarkably so; even the old ladies, who
from that quarter of the world, however good
| looking they may have been when under forty.
after arriving at that age, usually carry wrinkles
or fat enough for dozen North American family
dowagers.
One Of them-of the other sex-recounted to
me history of the Publication this morning of
the negroes Of Niagara Falls and Canada border
ing the Falls, the anniversary of the abolish.
ment Of African slavery in the British dominons;
all negrodom there having apparently gone n ad
Tor the nonce. The cannoDs were made to roar
bands played, and drums beat for them, and
each Buck and Phillis mounted ri-colored TO-
settle, Of course
Ii amuses me to hear Canadians and sensible
Americans near the lines discourse of-describe-
the curse Of free negroism inflicted upon them
selves, which Of all moral and social curses ia
about the most unbearable. 1t is rare, indeed. to
find white abolitionist belonging about Mag
ara or the portion Of Canada resorted to by the
runaways from our South, except, 1t may be,
paid agent Of nOn-slaveholding State fanaticism
or political demagogism.
We reached Schenectady at sunset and there
finding that il remaining until this morning /
could not get to Saratoga until 9 a. m. / con-
cluded, as bad but the day to spend there, to
proceed on by the next passing train; so bysp
m. / was duly landed at Union Hall As
wendell my way on foot down from the DEPOT
for, after sitting cramped up In a car for eleven
hours, the opportunity to walk three hundred
yards was boon indeed to me- found the
hotel porticoes and the spacious elm-canopied
avenues sparkling with fashionable people
dancing music resounding on all sides, and the
retail stores and billiard and bowling saloons
blazing with gas lights. The little village Of
five thousand souls, now containing double that
number, however, seemed as usual o. nights
during its season, illuminated from end to end
regretted the fact last night for the effect of the
pale full moon shooting its rays of soft light
through the constantly shifting clouds ever and
anon, upon the picturesque forms and costumes
Of the lady visitors fitting gliding about In all
directions under the avenues Of trees would have
been far more agreeable to all here with artistic
eyes. Saratoga is the only watering place in the
country where the great mass Of the male visitors
are also be seen at night around the public walks
and lounging points At all others, the card
II -
to have greater attractions for them. Here a
man must be without soul, indeed, not to find ali
the enjoyment which mind not utterly destroyed
by dissipation can crave, in such circumstances
and amid such associations as surround him out
side Of temPtations-b hiding places-that exist
here, as everywhere else on this continent where
fashionable and wealthy people OF leisure thus
congregste.
At Union Hall | found at least a thousand
guests, though except in the ballroom, where
the nightly hop was in progress, the house seemed
as quiet as a well ordered country hotel Some
how or other one is never disturbed at Saratoga
with the noises and hustle which distinguish
other American watering places. The influence
OF Its shade, Its cleanliness, and its spacious, |
highly ornamented grounds, doubtless operate
greatly to produce this desirable result of no
confusion; and all seem at once to come naturally
under that influence. Young men who frolic
elsewhere, do not dream Of frolcing here; and
even the children romp at Saratoga, unbidden,
with less noise than elsewhere Nor do they ever
seem to have confusion among the servants here.
find but single Washingtonian at Saratoga,
that can hear of, as strange as 1t may seem Nor
are the visitors from the South generally as numer
Gus as heretofore, though the aggregate number 10
larger than ever before. Thedecrease OF the num-
Der Of Southern families IL the result of the grow
ing southern disinclination Of the South towards
the North. IL can arise from nothing else In the
world; for Saratoga is the most delightful spot on
the continent at this season OF tie year and up to
this time Southern families bringing their own
servants here have been entirely free, IL am not
mistaken, from abolition interference or molesta-
toni the villagers knowing too well on which
side their bread is buttered, to permit fanaticism
10 toss IL down, outtered side to the ground.
IL is now 10 a. m. Of August 3D. am writing
on a Portico Of Union Hall, the tai elms of its
most magnificent hotel lawn In this country
shading me delightfully."-, and perhaps nftv otbe,
hn lii