The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-07-30
LETTER FAoM SARATOGA.
GFRoM OUR OWN ooRnEsPoNDKNT.l


tanned promise to your readers that they should
hear from me next from Ssratoga-in this let
them behold the fulfllment of said promise On
last Sunday night embarked on the Rip Tdn
Wtnkle, bound for Albany and Troy, and was
soon-that is to say, not I, but the Rip Van
Wtnb'e-ploughng, not the swelling billows of the
yasty deep, but the swift current of that noble
stream on which, about half century ago, Full
TON made the first successful attempt at steam
navigation. Ere drop into the poetic vein like Mr.
sias Wegg-ere ATTEMPT (and faiD to describe
the Hudson as viewed by moonlight would re-
mark, en- pdssdnt, and in plain prose, that the Rip
Van Wink1e can no more compare to the ST.
Johns or the Daniel Drep than can counterfeit
ex-Confederate five dollar note to a Spanish
doubloon. The Rip is an irreligious boat and
runs on Sunday. The religions boats do not, and
are good. The Van Winkle does, and is (com-
paratively speakiDg) bad. AS it was necessary,
however, for me to reach here by Monday, in time
for the great races, was compelled, noens uolens
particularly noens) to take the irreligious boat,
with the short and uncomfortable decks and
dark dingy and crowded cabin. The Rip Van
Winkle went to sleep before steamers were made
as comfortable and commodious as they are mag
nifcent. It has awaken to find itself the meanest
craft that runs up or down the Hudson River
But let me drop into poetry. In descending
let me borrow line from the song wherein 1t is
declared that "the moon was shining bright and
clear" remarking, however, that in this there is
more poetry than truth-for the moon, though
shining bright, did not shine clear on her fret
appearance, al the lowering clouds soon gathered
and descended In an uncompromisingly heavy
rain. The rain, however, did not long reign, and
the moon soon reappeared something brighter
than before.
And now behold the noble-I mean tho ienoble
steamer, % she souds through the water like o
thing OF life, the ripping wAvelets splashing
from her bows In oil their wealth Of diamond.
encrusted spray. See how We scud past the
rude and rugged rocky banks, picturesque in
their romantic beauty; see here the grassy slopes
here the noble forests, and there and every
where the pretty little towns and villages note
the precipitous palisades, the grandly rising
hills, the more grandly rising mountains, and
mark how, in the glorious moonlight, their
shadows are reflected on the mirror-lke surface OF
the broad swift stream See the Highlands, many
Of them rising to an elevation Of fifteen hundred
feet look up again at the moon, then come down
from the poetic clouds, and subside into prose
once more. Retire to your state-room, il you
have one, sleep IL you can, and awake next morn
ing ct Albany. Take . ine and highly satisfac-
tory breakfast at the 'Delevan," then take the
train, and arrive in o couple Of hours at Saratoga
Syringe.
Behold your correspondent at saratoea-at the
great resort of Fashion-at the place where hand
some ladies most do congregate-where one-half
Of the ladies dress within an inch OF their lives,
and the other half within half an inch thereof.
Watch them-and watch him as he watches them
- as they stand around the "Copgress Spring."
and drink the water-as they stand around the
columbian" and drink again-as they 60 round
to the "Empire" and imbibe-as they hasten to
the 'Washington" and again partake-as they go
to the many other springs and drink many other
tumblers of the water. See how the pretty little
water drinkers make prettier little faces at the
bad taste Of the good water, and see their gallant
beaux as they drink dozen glasses to show them
selves extremely heroic and highly fashionable,
aud render themselves extremely ridiculous and
highly uncomfortable.
Come to the Indian Encampmeut-ride around
the circular railway, and to show your great mus
cular powers to the ladies, overexert yourself in
| most ridiculous manner, and painting the while,
assure said la dies aud all within hearing that you
are by no means tired; endeavor to prove it by
going around once more; try it and make an igno
BILE failure and emile foolishly and sheepishly as
you catch the silvery laughter that comes from
their pretty little mouths. Do all this and more
HhuoaNoI W oAhiou youI SrooI oAiii LII eionoiJ,
take dozen shots at the target, and miss dozen
times; imagine that the ugly Indian man is laugh
ing at you, and be sure that the pretty Indian
squaw or maid is doing 30 in private and conf
Dental manner; try the air-gun, and fail again;
then chow your generosity by sacrificing sundry
copper coins to the oupidity and skill in archery
OF the little Indians. Do all OF these things, for
thoy are, Of Saratoga, most saratogan; then
drink dozen NOR tumblers Of water at the Con-
gress, take the ladies to swing and indulge in
cream, and escort them hotel-wards.
Saratoga, nevertheless, is fine instituion--s
gay place-a place which one is never in hurry
to leave wherefore your correspondent has con-
cuded to rest here for awhile, and will prate more
in detail OF everything in particular in forthcom-
ing letters.
Although the hotels-which will speak of in
my next letter-are crowded with the elite and
creme de la creme Of the Northern and Western
States, it is sad to behold how many Southern
faces we do not behold here-faces which, in
the days before she war, were. much more