The New York herald., 1868-06-29
SUNDAY AMUSEMENgG AND EXCURSIONS.

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clear blue sky, necked with occasional neecy
clouds, warm. bright sun and. an atmosphere tenn
pered by gentle and exhrarating br eeze Afforded
most agreeable opportunity to work-wom and
dust-begrimed metropolitans to breathe fresh air,
and they were in no wise unwilling to avail them
selves OF the recreative Sunday excursions which
enterprising steamboat proprietors had announced
for yesterday.
All the pleasing little riverside towns that dot the
banks Of the beautiful Hudson for distance of sixty
miles were invaded yesterday by swarms Of New
Yorkers, while the villages that skirt the shores Of
Long Island Sound and the islands that loll on the
surface Of the lower bay were visited by thousands
oI pleasure seekers who preferred the sun SAT-
breeze Of the Atlantic to the bucolic scenery and
forest perfumed though less vigorous airsthat play
along the crests Of the barriered Highlands
and woOd-crowned SUBMITS Of the Catskilis
abutting upon the rivers brink. Early morning
witnessed parties astir with baskets and satchels
hom which the corners OF white cloths and cork
plugged bottle necks protruded, and ntutiyely sug
geSted that the not unmindful OF the TACT
that reStauraeurs on excursions and picncs are ire
quently very exorbitant, even though their bills or
fare generally comprise little more than pebeian
lager and sandwiches. Groups, embracing every ma
tionaity, several positive coors and multiplicity or
shades OF complexion, all heights ages, sexes ana
conditions OF persons, brgaded themselves on the
piers, and amid the jangng of tongues and steam
boat bells and the shr Shrek of steam whistles,
whose warning throats made the flair, fat and fory
element move with momentum Of no questionable
degree though at the sacrifice OF the Ideal ease ana
grace of pleasure lovers were hustled on board the
vessels and borne away on the waters In search OF
the relaxation which the city on the quiet Sab
bath does not afford to its inhabitants.
And at last night came, and the piers witnessed
again the hustle and confusion that had characterized
the morning start. The fair fat and forty' element,
ward with deliberate STEP tired of the pleasures they
had so eagerly grasped in the morning, each having
done their utmost to fatigue themselves in the pur
suit OF happiness and having also In most cases sue
ceeded SO admirably as to become anxious TO reach
the homes they had so willingly quilted few hours
before
staten Island.
Truly the harbor of our metropolis is probably one
Of the most beautiful in the world, and certainly,
with respect to this Continent, occupies the position
which distinguishes Naples among the cities Of
Europe From that most distant point, where the
homeward bound vessel is first gaddened by the cry
OF Gland, hol'' series OF magnificent pictures is
evoked in its progress until the anchor has been
lowered beneath the shadows Of quarantine On
every side, and from every point Of view, the
scenery of Staten Island affords material for a
myriad OF pictures, which might be multiplied
almost to intinity. From the Narrows upward to
where the island rests like huge sentinel guarding
the city, the luxuriant hillside presents most pic
turesque appearance with the white walls of its
towns, cottages and club houses cleaning out from
the midst OF rich vegetation. The Notifications,
at times almost Overrun with foliage, possess his
toric importance, as do many points OF the
surrounding country. Nature has done much for
StdteH t;tSte anu wealth. Vi
tants have contributed to render 1t one OF the plea
santest summer resorts on coast There yesterday
the temperature OF the city being severe, thousands
OF our inhabitants that they might not suffer gura:
lively did the martyr st. Lawrence hied away to
its cosey retreats Once gained, they renounced
their Mephistophelian mood, voting the "precession
OF the equinOXes,n or whatever else the scientific
men call II, meaner than Fourth OF July process
sion, and took themselves to swallowing at
first glasses of lager and after the police, in
carrying out the provisions OF the Excise law, had
placed an estoppel upon that nervy liquid, expert
came on, and the luxury OF the several charming
parks grew somewhat less, thousands wap4ered
in viewing the broad sails piled aloft on ships pass
ing up and vending their way through quite a fleet
OF yachts and smaller boats that coquettishy darted
to the shore and again out on the broad bay. All
was pleasant amid the great crowd and, so far as
practicable to note, Sunday was passed on Staten
Island by many thousands with that degree OF plea
sure long to be remembered.