The New York herald., 1866-07-20
THO season ss the waserias Placer.

Av48~ - - ~ - -
The season ss the wateriss Placer.
Tuesday was the hottest day Of the season
More than this, it was the hottest that has eveI
been experienced in this city. The thsrmome
ter stood at over one hundred in tho shade
Business was almost suspended, except in Wall
street, where the bulls and bears were unusually
active in spite Of the weather. Cases Of sun
stroke were exceedingly frequent The NOR
tality among the car horses was excessive.
Towards evening the exodus from the city was
immense. People rushed into the country in
the vain hope Of getting cool nights sleep.
The heated term seldom lasts more than three
days; but since Merriam, the sage Of Brooklyn
Heights, who seemed to have charge Of this
matter, has deceased, the clerk OF me weather
has INDUCED in all sorts Of Irregularities. Not
only do we have tropical heat in this temperate
zone, but the heated term has now lasted for
ton days and bids fair to continue unabated.
The Oldest inhabitant, who d always consulted
upon such occasions, has never suffered from
such intense heat before. The weather-wise
people are totally perplexed and can
only utter the Bunsbyan prediction that II 1t
rains II will be cooler, and II not, why, then 1t
will not. This may not be perfectly sstisfan-
tory, but it exhausts the subject and the pro-
phets. .t
Fortunately everybody who can afford the
means and the time il supposed to DO out
of town at this season, and the sufferers belong
to that class Of people who cannot get away
and who expect martyrdom during July and
August This summer, however, people have
been much moro sensible than usual All ao-
counts agree that the so-callsd fashionable
watering places are by no means overcrowded
this year, and that tney arc frequented by
very different sort Of society from that which
used to render them so lively and enjoyable.
The letter from our Cape May correspondent,
which We publish this morning, gives graphic
idea Of tho routine at these resorts. The COM
fort Of visitors is the last thing thought of by
the landlords. At the hotels the guests are
furnished with one pigeon-hole for their keys
and another for themselves. The accommoda-
tions for bathers are Of the rudest possible de-
scrip6on. The cuisine is inferior and the wines
scarcely deserve the name. From Newport,
Saratoga, Long Branch and other places we
hear the same story, with few local varia-
tions. The landlords have been making 30
much money during the war that they naturally
expected the same flourish Of shoddy this sum-
mer; but the reign Of shoddy is over, and
Americans are again beginning to realize the
value of money. While the war lasted and
war prices and war contracts were In vogue,
the paper dollars we're scattered about with
perfect recklessness, and the newly rich people
were content to pay dearly for any fare and
any kind Of accommodations, provided the
locality at which they sojourned' was called
fashionable. Now. however. We notice the
signs Of returning common sense. This sum-
mer the vast majority Of those who leave town
20 TO quiet little villages among the mountains,
or to secluded villas in the suburbs. Hot as
the city undoubtedly is, it ID fAr more comforta-
BILE here than ct most Of the watering places.
In feN weeks the summer resorts will gain
. new interest, however, from the politicians
who will gather there to ssttle the details Of
the fall campaign. The radicals in Congress
uOW u8tC uO OuOlCC WUb W ouJOuIus uAb
weather is making Washington too hot for
them. They are not patriotic enough 10 die ct
their posts for what they profess to consider Q
GOOD ee".e and In snitA ~ th~ -~hn-tossnns ns
Thad Stevens they will break ranks and rush OF
to the watering places. Already the gamblers
and pickpookes arc awaiting the arrival Of
these Congressmen. Saratoga has become
worse than Baden Baden In this respect, and at
al the other resorts gamblers and blacklsgs
are mentioned as the principal features. The
excitement about the races has served 20 attract
these fellows; but when the racing 10 over the
politicians will come, and our politicians are
ihe natural game Of the gamblers. Il Is not
uncommon to see the leading wirs-pullers Of
he State betting heavily at the faro board, or
lndulging in poker, or in "forty y-Aves," or In
cribbage. Money is also staked upon political
events, and the success Of the Philadelphia
topic In all circles, will involve large pecu-
mary loss to several noted individuals. What
with the gambling, the drinking and the dissi-
patton at our watering places this year, they
have become perfect psndemoniums and are
therefore much warmer than New York. The
fortunate folk who are enjoying their oti,sm
cum digaitate in suburban villas or In distant
rural retreats may congratulate themselves
upon their double escape from the heated term
in the city and the vicious society Of the
former fashionable resorts. Unless there il o
thorough reform next year the watering places
win be abandoned BY oil respectable persons.
Even those psupiring people who are obliged
to pass the summer in the city are not without
reason for thankfulnes. II is certainly much
better to stay at homo and be moral, with the
thermometer at one huidrsd in the shade, than
/ 70 &c 10 the springs or the seaside and dwell
| IN the tents Of wickedrss.
A PRoposAr. Apour IL. New CoURr HoUsE.-