The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-08-10
THE WATERING PLACES.


NATIONAL HOTEL, LoNa BRANCH, August s, 1861
Rainy DayA,y Lincolns Non Arr,pal-The Ocean and
Hard Tmes-Hotel Business and Ne,v Arr,rals-The Ma
t'ondt and It's Official Cops-The Belle of Last Season.
AcIors and Actors Cota9es-The Masquerade Ball, dc
This is rainy day here, and rainy day at watering
place has the combined disadvantages Of rainy day in
the city and in the country without any Of the redeemng
features of either There absolutely nothing to do OK
cept to talk, bowl and play billiards. You cannot drive
to Pleasure Bay to tho village down the road Only
the veterans battle and walk the beach The ladies'
wrapped up in thick shawls even look attractive
No one VIII dance, for all must 60 unwearied the
TINS evening In short, only feel miserable catch
the influenza and promenade dreariy up and down the
damp piazzas.
Above all, and adding to the dulness OF all, Mrs
Lincoln has not arrived up to the hour of this
writing, and no imagine that she will
come such day as this. Archbishop Hughes
Michael Phean, General McDougal and other cole
brtcs have dropped down upon are quarered at
the Mansion or the Metropolitan but tho genuine
ton has not yet There is nothing therefore, to
look forward to except the fancy dress ball tonight
Yes there is the ocean, also, to look at and very
dreary looking object it is to-day, and very dreary
thoughts it excites II is singular how something every
where reminds OF the crisis and the commercial dis
tress Of our country. Now here at Long Branch, yon
may get over the half empty hotels the
dressing and the general reduction extravagant ex
pendure, and after seeing these few days they may
cease TO remind you Of hard times But you can never
get that constant remin isceEcc-the ocean There
it stretches before you and you have view the great
pathway OF the oceanic commerce of New York. How
many ships do you travelling that pxth9 year
they came in eets and dozen steamers passed to aud
fro in day This year half dozen vessels of all Sorts
is fair average. Like snbads "old man of the sea
thnpo, tc ~
enjoyment, and you cannot shut them cut.
There fourteen hotels struggled along beach here
at Long Branch, and should imagine they were al
doing moderately good business for the People
are arriving and departing constantly and mary
down here from New York only for days stay, that
it hard to estimate whether gaining losing
ground think, however that within the last two days
the Branch has bcen filling up and with very good class
Of people. Mrs Lncolns anticipated arrival has caused
this, presume, for is almost too September for
people to be coming here great trunks unless excited
by some unusual attraction.
or these corners we OF the National got what seems
to be the lions SHARE and very justly The people
form many and such varied cotuses that one can
help being suited with of society For the dane
ing sot especially amply provided OF ladies We
have several well known Philadelphia New York and
provincial bellies and OF gentlemen furnish excel
lent assortment, with any numbor Of genuine 'syou
know British officers all the way from Canada. The
officers are great at.racon-ades like gilt straps and
butons-and also great curiosity They have to-
gether, are summoned to meals and bed by buse calls
and altogether observe sort Of military discipline and
routine The National therefore, has something Of the
t!c and pquancy of West Point hotel with its cadets
and, besides all this Mrs. Lincoln is said to be coming
here
Amid all the crowds of and Old boardors
worth studying than the belle OF year She may be
found ut all OF the hotels rather each of the hotels has
its own old belle Last season she was the acknowledged
leader and mistress of the house. Landlords and walters
flew to do her bidding people danced, sang played
cards in the paror sho pleased aud subject to her
within. If she wanted dancing, the card tables
moved whether the people had 0nsed their games not
If she Insisted to play cards the tables placed in the
centre the roon and the dancing interrupted When she
promenaicd, all followed; when she drove all rushed
for teams; when she bahca every put bathing
dress and went to the beach when she sang, all listener
and ap;ahdcd. The ladies' admired, envied and
initiated her. the gentlemen rivaled each other in pay
ing her attentions quarree for the rst dance with her
thought honor to drive her To purchase bouquets for
her and were perfectly happy il she walked with them,
miserable If she talked to any else, and delighted to
be Of any service to her In fine, she was summer
queen, surrounded by most attentive though jealous
court, and the centre alike of envy admiration praise
satire blanc and love. Leaving these triunphs when
fall came, she returns here this year to renew Them But
aasl what change. New faces hero, and the old
turned from her towards the new belle of the
house She sings and no listens but all talk. She
dances, but is obliged take lady partner In vain sh,
tries every and exercises every fascination
powerful and successful The tide is against her and
she floats downward with it, She is called affected and
cut. The gentlemen think her bore. The landlord is
| disguised with the very whims to which he once so
sGpplely yielded. The walters are nattentivc
and impeg.inent. The ladies' longer fear
! her, but crtcise, laugh at and tell witty,
keen stories about her She wishes She had
back and she vii! again. Still she waits and waits,
hoping outsay her rivals and regain something Of her
former power. But all is useless and III last she
home--tsg,lsted miserable disnpponted-lo dcposed
queen unhappyno disgraccd corer tired Of
life There is study OF character for rainy day, and
there many others here hardly less interesting and
4 unique.
The actors form quite little community here at Long
Branch As have before noticed, Archbishop Hughes
and fhean of billiard fame, here nj the hotel
but the actors do not them together with other
people, end have cluster of cottages by themselves
distance down the road There the beautiful miniature
school of that fine and perfect gentleman the elder
Waiack, and with him Lester Is stopping. Farther
down shady lane, is Mrs. Hoeys cottage quantity com
pounded Of modern built. cupoacd affair and an old
house the residence Of Gen Greene Of Revolutionary
| fame Still further away is Mr.. Bakc's residence, n
quocry built cottage, with the stairs upon the otsdc
and then at Deal is Mr.. james Walacks place, which is
considered very handsome. Brgnoli has Just left here,
or is hermtIg somewhere about. We have, therefore,
actors enough here form quite set by themselves,
| they do to mnge with more ordinary people
Tonight however, shall all be actors, after fashion
for we have grand masquerade and fancy dress
bali here at tho National. Wc shall have Romeos and
flower girls and devils peasants and sayrs, all jumbcd
together, and are all in fuer about it. Such
tunes sees when passing half opened door such
fun and joty all expect. The great sensation Mrs
Lincoln expected only be limited at here
wait for full description until my letter.