The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-08-09
Tho Annual Cruise or the New YEA yarss

Twenty-one yachts are entered for psrscipa-
ton in the great yachting event Of the year
the annual cruise of the New York Club. This
beautiful little feet was assembled yesterday
at Glen Cove, that being the first point on the
route-a rendezvous at which, with a good din
ner and dance, the cruisers were to take leave
for time of the many delights Of land life,
and adventure the possibilities Of the sea- and
of the rude marine existence Of any Down East
places at which they may touch-from New
port to Nantucket, where the civilization il
exceedingly salt. Doubtless the festivities Of
last night were exceedingly brilliant. Memory
of the beauties whose presence made the hop
delight will preclude the possibility of any
Tannhauser of the party taking too deep fancy
to any charmer born of the sea foam; and we
in spite of all the northeast appetites of the
occasion All the buoyant spirits that fire the
twenty -one little ships are in high glee now at
the prospect of sport before them, for the
present cruise surpasses all previous ones in
promise. There are more and better appointed
yachts on it, the occasion is marked by a
more general interest in its success through
the organization, and there are many prizes for
races to be sailed at different points, 50 that
anticipation can never flag for want of sensa-
ton to come. Commodore Stebbins is in com
mand and spreads his colors from his yacht
Phantom. The other yachts that sail are the
Idler, Thos. G. Durant; Palmer, r. Stuyve-
SAINT; Rambler, f. Skiddy; Widgeon Lloyd
Phoenix; Restless, VIM. p. Douglas; Daunt-
less, j. G. Bennett Jr.; Alice, Geo. W. Kidd;
Fleur de Lis, John S. Dickerson Magic, G..
L. Lorllard; Sivie, E. Dodge Matte, W.
Aston; Halcyon, G. Griswod; Scud, c.
Manchester; White Wing Sheppard Romans
Addie v, Jacob Vorhis Magic, R. FvLoper;
White Cap, Arson Livingston; Sallie E. Day,
N. B. Palmer; Gussie Henry Steers Clytie,
M. Harrishoff
In the fact that this the latest cruise of the
club promises the best sport and excites the
greatest interest of any cruise in its history,
we perceive that this institution grows; and
this it is pleasant to contemplate. Yachting
is an ennobling, elevating sport. 1t takes
those who pursue it into immediate association
with the grandest phases Of nature and makes
them familiar with her In those moods in which
she most impresses man for his good. Nobody
hardly ever saw an old sailor dwindle into the
meanness of character that many other pur-
suits seem to induce nor an old sailor who
did not possess in high degree all the manly
virtues OF courage, generosity, fidelity, pa
thence, tender heart and a readiness to take
things as they come and make the best of
them and it is good sign when sport that
promises to develop men ever 80 little in 80
good direction takes hold on general favor.
Yachting is, moreover, of all sports the one
most likely to be pursued for itself-not for its
transient excitement, nor for the occasion it
gives for laying down wager of so much
money. This is the demoralzing direction
that horse-racing inevitably seems to take, and
this always reduces sport to the level of the
sharper, so that the gambler eventually drives
than other sports to be free from this great
evil, and some other great evils; and we
therefore rejoice when We see 1t growing to
such proportions as promise to give it national
character.
The highly respectable, well dressed and
polite Mantilinis of the Manhattan Club hav-
inc very little eyperience in tho camn hut we'll