The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-06-08

can people is steadily upon the increase. AS
rule Americans keep too closely TO their
houses. The men are confined to their stores,
shops and Offices, and the women to their par
lors, sewing rooms and kitchens. during the
day, and their evenings are passed in the
theatres, at home or in other peoples resi-
dences. Many q lady, more unfortunate than
her servants, never has day out Many gen.
tleman goes through the year without allowing
himself even the brief vacation enjoyed by his
clerks and Office boys. That benefcent institu-
ton, the Park, has reformed US somewhat In
this matter; the Boulevards will improve us
still more and the growing love Of outdoor
amuscments will complete the reformation.
Men now sometimes leave their business and
women their household cares to take walk or
drive in the Park or to witness yacht race,
game of ball, or . steeple chase
at the Paterson course; and although the
present season has been rather backward,
it is easy to see that we are to have an i'm
mense exodus to the watering places and rural
retreats and correspondingly large attend
ance upon every sort of outdoor sport 80 soon
as the tickle weather settles into the appropri-
ate temperature for June.
The yachting season will soon be inaugu-
rated by the annual regatta and review Of the
New York Yacht Club, and the baseball and
cricket season has just commenced. At present,
however, the races are the great outdoor at
traction and crowds Of people attend them.
The old courses upon Long Island, the new
courses at Paterson and H0boken and the
course not yet completed at Bathgates, under
the auspices Of the Jockey Club, all have their
enthusiastic patrons. As to the old courses it
will be observed that they still adhere to trot-
ting horses, although the public taste has
changed in favor Of runiniig racers. The
grand race meetings of twenty years ago
were superseded by trotting matches
but there is a genuine revival Of the
racing Juror once more. The conse-
quencc is that the trotting courses are no.
very popular, and, in fact, are chiefly ire
qlented by those who wish to bet and who
make living by betting. We still have the
fastest trotters in the world, but the decrease
Of interest in their performances Is very evil
dent. The Paterson races, where running
horses are entered, attract a very different
class Of people from the roughs and rowdies
who 60 with the trottcrs. A pleasanter scene
than the race course, with its thousands o!
gaily dressed spectators, its natural beauties
of trees and turf and its swift horses, mounted
by parti-colored jockeys, would be very dificnlt
to find.
To the English style, in which the Paterson
races are conducted, there can be no objcc-
ton, since that seems to be the best style; but
to the English nomenclature adopted we de-
cidedly object. Those English races, the Oaks,
the Derby. the EPSON and others, are named
after persons or places connected with Eng
lish sports. We cannot have an American
Derby, for no Earl Of Derby established our
course. Let us give the various races
American names appropriate to the To-
calities or to the persons concerned. At
the Bathgates course this idea of originality
Is to be carried 50 far ~ To change the usual
oval form Of the race track to something re-
sembling the outside lines Of the figure g.
Whether this form will not decrease the speed
Of the horses by causing them to change step
at every turn remains to be seen. Ii may hap
pen that some geniss OF the Jockey Club has
discovered an idea Tar superior 10 any ever
entertained by the racing men Of England and
the Continent; but we are rather inclined to be
doubtful in regard to this matter, and We hope
that the>new fashioned track will be critically
tested before ii IL thrown open to the public.
It's novelty seems to be its only recommenda-
ton, and old turfmen shake thoir heads over II
knowingly and with disapprobation; but still
it may prove successful and II 80 its originator
will be- entitled TO all the more credit. AT any
rate, no matter what form Of track may be
finally adopted, the Bathgates course will I'M
doubleday do much to make racing still more
fashionable and will give powerful stimulus
to the taste for outdoor sports.
Americas Toad y lam or Foreign Govern
menas.
The rigor with which our government is car
rying out the neutrality doctrine is part and
parcel Of the same system OF subserviency TO
foreign powers which has characterized the
ard assumed control of It. This officer has in
this, as In his conduct towards the people Of
Chile and Ecuador and his speech in Havana,
in which he praised Spain as q powerful,
Christian and Americanized nation, displayed
an over-zealous disposition to serve the pnr-
poses or toady to the power Of foreign nations
totally unworthy the sanction OK the people of
this country and he should be led to so un.
derstand their sentiments.
In this connection We would inquire what
has become ofthc report Of Captain Walker, Of
the DE Soto. in the affair OF the Bull Dog at
Cape Haytiens There must be such docu-
ment in existence, as II Is the duty OF every
officer in command Of our squadrons TO send
full narrative OF all important occurrences in
which they take part to the Department. In
the whole annals ofnsval operations there never
was anything moro wanton, cruel or unjusti-
fable than the conduct Of the British