The national Republican., 1867-07-27
THE WATERING PLACES.

THE WATERING PLACES.
There is much complaint on the part Of
landlords and others interested, that the
places Of summer resort are very poorly
patronized this season. This is especially
true Of the expensive places, such as New
port and Saratoga. The landlords may, in
truth, exclaim that their splendid hotels pre-
sent, indeed, "a beggarly account Of empty
(rooms) boxes" They are all losing money
and in few years, IL the thing continues
as it is this year, these palatial mansions
known as hotels will become the places
Of moles and bats, and the "deserted vil.
ldge" will be q fitting name for these
wllilom resorts Of the elite, the wealthy
and the fashionable Of our country
The question naturally suggests itself,
why are these watering-places SO nearly
deserted ? Almost everything which oc.
ours can be accounted for, and certainly
there must be an answer to the squestion
propounded above. Doubtless there are
several reasons which may be assigned for
the paucity Of the guests at these fashion
able resorts. One is, money in the pockets
of some people is not SO plenty as it was a
few years ago. Then the spectators in
petroleum stocks and the shoddy con-
tractors believed themselves rich, and
some OF them for time were undoubtedly
rich; but fortunes made in this way, in
nine cases out of ten, have vanished.
Fancy petroleum stocks are not very
bouyant to-day and Mr.. and Mrs. Shoddy,
and all the young Shoddys, did not know
how to keep money, and therefore, to use
cant phrase, these people are played out.
While these people had money, Newport
and Saratoga resounded with their praises,
and they, no matter how vulgar and litter
ate, were, by the toadies and .a,nkies,
which most do congregate at such places,
applauded to the echo. During those
years when these people, whose fortunes
and positions were Of the mushroom
growth, bore sway, the people who had
real fortunes and who we're educated and
refined; the men and women Of cultivated
manners and Of real worth, whose positions
in society did not depend upon any such
Fictitious circumstances as we have named,
fell off and sought in elegant leisure, their
pleasures elsewhere. The consequence is,
they have not returned. Mr.. Shoddy and
his family and Mr.. and Mrs. Petroleum
cannot return, because they have not the
needful; hence we hear the dolorous cries
of the landlords, Our houses are empty
There is another reason, which has had
as much to do in checking what is called
pleasure travel to watering places as any
one cause, and that is the people have
learned that there is really more comfort
at home than can possibly be found in q
little seven.by-nine room Of crowded
hotel. The only wonder is that the people
who have splendid and commodious man.
sions, with all the luxuries and comforts
which money will purchase, did not find
this out before. Why should people &c
abroad for enjoyment, when, in their OWE
dwellings and around their own hearth
stones, there is ten times more real happi
ness than can be found at any watering
place in Christendom?
We have been frequently asked, do you
mean to stay in Washington all summer
ehaye invariably answered that question
in the Yankee way by asking another, and
have therefore said, why notH We can
see no reason why the majority of our
people who are tolerably well to do in this
worlds goods are not as comfortable, as
safe, and much better of, every way, than
they possibly could be at Newport, Sara
toga, Cape May, or Long Branch.
Where can you find healthier city than
Washington, or one that is visited by fewer
epidemcs When we shall have adopted
that system Of sewerage which is based
upon correct scientific principles, as we
are preparing to do, and shall have given
due attention to every sanitary precaution
within our reach men may live here almos,
without exposure to disease, certainly with
out any fear of "the pestlence that walketh
in darkness and wasteth in MONDAY"
Within the limits Of the city proper, and
in the suburbs, there are many splendid
sites which we hope TO see occupied by
many happy homes, where our people shall
find so much real comfort that they will
never think Of going to crowded watering
places for pleasure.