The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-07-27
Tn. F..hi..as,e watering Places.

CoESolu W Do oxt6ublVcly tOiOWcu-
Tho Fashissabie Watering Places.
Most Of the fashionable places Of summer
resort are slimly attended this year, and a.
natural consequence the hotel keepers, hack
men, boatmen, and all others whose business
depends upon crowds ofvisitors at this season,
look very glum. There are few exceptions,
such a. New London and Long Branch, whore
there have been or are special attractions. AT
New London there have been, in addition to
its natural advantages, the New York yachts
and yachtmen to attract the fashionable
mammas and their beautiful daughters. Long
Branch, besides being one Of the best seaside
localities in the country, has the advantage OF
being near the great metropolis The mer-
from and so to this place every day by one or
other Of the many steamboats, and the rail-
roads; thus. while enjoying change Of air and
scene with their families they can keep an eye
on their business Then Ste!son, who is q sort
ofmonarch among hotel keepers, and who has
monopoly Of customers and friends enough
to people good sized town, has opened
magnificent hotel there this season. Besides
the Astor House, the hotel in the Park, and
we know not how many others. he has now
the Stetson House, at Long Branch, capable
Of accommodating thousand to fifteen hun
dred guests. With keen foresight he knew
where business would be good. and has con-
tributed not little in making it 80 at Long
Branch. But this last week thers has been
an unusual attraction In General Grant being
there. The greatest general Of the age and
the next President Of the United States me-
cessarily draws crowd after him. Univer-
sally. admired for his splendid services in
putting down the rebellion, as well as for his
fine traits Of character and simple republican
manners, his fellow citizens, and particularly
tho ladies, delight to do him honor. Then
the hordes Of politicians, who are ever on
the lookout for indications Of the future, see
in him the coming man, and follow his move
ments like birds Of pray. If the hotel keepers
at other places who are pining over their
empty houses could induce him 70 visit them
all round in turn, we have no doubt the tide
might be turned in their favor.
Among the causes which leave the fashion
able places Of resort desolate this yssr may be
Paris Universal Exposition has taken away
great numbers. The flight Of Americans
across the Atlantic is unprecedented Never
before was there anything like it. There has
been sort Of mania to visit Europe. While
this is . great loss to the watering places at
horne the present season, it will be an advan-
tage next year il the hotel keepers know how
to profit by It By and by the thousands Of
our citizens will return Disguised with the ex-
tortions they have endured sbroad, and while
they may feel bound, for fashions sake, to talk
largely Of Europe and their travels, they will
in their hearts come home more satisfied with
their own magnificent country. In TACT, we
look for such reaction that few will 60
abroad next year. But there are also causes
for this decline Of business in these places
themselves The extortionate charges and bad
accommodation at most Of them have driven
people to country farm houses and more retired
spots. where they could get comfortable rooms,
good milk butter, meat, fruit and vegetables,
and were not insulted by impudent servants.
Now, we advise the'hotel keepers at the water
ing places to dry up their tears and to put
their houses in order for q better time next
year-that ID il they can save themselves from
bankruptcy this year. But they and their
establishments have to be reconstructed, as
well as the South, before they can expect to
prosper. There are many thousands Of people
who would visit them that do not now If the
charges were more reasonable and the accom-
mediation better The American people are
liberal and spend their money freely but
they have become tired Of being cramped up
in little sitting closets called rooms, in being
stuffed with unwholesoms food, and all this
with bad attendance and frightful charges.
There is no reform in our social life more
needed than this for, independent Of the de-
sire to change our residence during the hot
summer months, We are gregarious people
and flock together ct the fashionable places.
Still we may be driven to spread ourselves
over the country and among the farm houses
II there be not . reform ct the hotels. We
advise the hotel keepers, therefore, without
charging them for Il, to brush up aad recon
struct their establishments upon q proper
basis ready for better season in 1863
Decidedly Outaanked.
NJ III - III l.