Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-07-24
LETTER FROM SARATOGA SPRINGS.
The Season at its H~ishth-rhe Arrivals
and menades-Thr New Birth Of the
Bepd-lts Inner Mysteries-Fashio on
Nefes-Bail> at the Congress and L nisn-
Minor Notes, etc

Netes-Eail> at the Congress and nisn-
Minor Notes, etc.
tNpecidt Correspondence Of The EreRtHg NdT.l
SARATOGA STRINGS, July 22.-Ths Saratoga
calenGar makes this date 'the heighth OF the
SEASON." The presen ce of New Yorks famous
Seventh Regiment, the inauguration OF the
grand balls ani hops, and the ,mmer cement
OF the Stratoga races, all combine TO NIL this
wats ring plsce 10 It's reasonable limit. For
week past the arrivals have averaged hvs hun
dred day, and III spacious pirlors and col
onnaded piazzas of the Congress, ULion end
Clarendon hote,sfurnish a IA shIonable display,
grand even III It's vanity of vanities. The
weather is de.iciously bright and cool, and the
he lies ard bsaux eahhit themselves IN regal
style out well as in doors. Such a gloss OF
satin ard glimmer OF pearl and nash OF
diamond can hardly be described IN the
pages OF a newspaper letter that the
distant reader may have the picture cOmple'e.
Let II be plainly saId, then, that fashion
is growing with ats growth and thai
every season sees IL strengthen in exagge-
ration and absurdity. Even the Greciin oend,
which everybody theught had been carIcat1red
by pen and pencil oat OF sight of furtaer ridi-
cule, is revived III adj OF its redoubled glory.
Such panniers and bustles as have greeted the
new birth of the bend have caused much lsmen-
ratlon among some of the Washington, Is ilti-
more and Philadelphia glrls, who ned them
selves here minus the latest elevation ia
female dress. The bustles are so mach larger
and higher than last season that the ladies ap-
pear, while walking, TO be much the shape OF a
kangaroo. One no longer hears advice that III.
dear things should take peppermint or Con-
gress water, for the bend cannot b. talked
down, nor written down, here at least. II is
ordained, hut to marvel is inevitable. All day
long, and far into the night, the brilliant prom.
enade goes Oh. Through the parlors do wn the
long, wide and brightly lighted porticoes The
procession of handsome women aud homely
women moves IN its uIitormIty of excessive
dress. The " effect is saij, by a better posted
one than your corresponde Mt, 10 be produced in
TINS wise. The explanation seems uthoritative
High heeled Shoes-the heels TO point-incline
The We arer onward. She is thus more readily
enabled 10 elevate her hips unnaturally behind,
enhancing the aspect OF the panier 10 contract
the stomach and to form an S-hke curvature
OF the upper shape by thrustng ont the chest
drawing back the shoulders, and bending for.
ward the head, the latter crowned by a hideons
chIgnOn. To secure this posture, ID which
nature is unequal, il IS said that a belt IL
fastened about the waist, from which belt down
either side descend two straps furnished with
buckles, and these are attached to strong bands
tightening of these buckles draws up the hips
and holds them in place. Thus. by the aid of
the panIer, hustle, contracted stomach, expand
ed chest, out.thrnst head, enormous chignou
and the apparatus Just described, the whole
superstruc,ure standing upon Al CATERS, we
have the Grecian Bend.
The bend appears IN every style of dress
that for the street, the drawing room, and the
ball room. No lady amounts TO much among
tho fsshIonasIss who does not appear during
the day in four separate costumes, with iew-
elTy 10 match. Nor 10 keep up with the ton
must she appear in any old dr. sse. or dupli
cate them from one day 10 another. A hand
some blonde, who arrived here On Friday
last, has already appeared IN twenty .one new
dresses, and Is still tantaIzng the other fem ale
guests at the Congress by coming out each time
in handsomer one. Ii the season. lasts long
enough the bottom of her trunks may b.
reached. The morning walking or breaktas'
suits run from striped cimbrics TO silks anc
satIns OF every conceivable style and color.
With lace sacks aud shawls and Jaun:y hat
and feathers. The beaux tor the morning
drives and walks TO the springs wear black
velvet sack coats, with Russia duck pants ana
vests and white cloth hats. The STAR has nor
patience enough, nor am / competent, 10 de-
scribe the dinner and evening dresses. All
through one dreams, especially If your Con-
gress water has not had a good effect. there is
an endless fashion plate, like that in Demo
rests, swimming before your vision. The
fashionable lewelry is diamonds the ears
all over the hands, and about the neck and
wrists. Coral ahd gold and the o o.her precious
stones do not contribute TO the outfit Blu.
refb. sap
The Balls at the Congress and Union.
The first ball Of the season-though there are
hops every eyening-came off at the Congress
last night. Bernstein's band from Bos ton, and
an excellent one, too, furnished the music.
The ball opened at l0p. m. Gov. Hofmann
Commodore Vanderbilt, and SAKE, the poet,
We're on the committees 10 insure success.
Here are some of the attractions: N g. Drake
OF New York, daughter OF Drake. the plantation
bitters man, was one OF the bellies, and Wore a
black and white striped silk with pink over
skirt, in the Maria Antoinette style, with d,a-
monds SET in lett. Miss Cross, OF New York a
grand daughter of Commodore Vanderbilt, was
attired IN silver tinted silk, bounced a. halt
mast" with black lace over-dress, "a pdaier
with a broad black sash MIss q reer. or Phil
adelphia, daughter of Associate Justice Greer.
the Misses Allen and Davies, OF Providence,
X. l.; the Misses Gansevoort, Of ALBANY: Mrs
Darling, Of New York; Mrs. Mills, OF New
York, and many others, We're famous the entire
evening 1oT tue beauty and richaeSs OF their
costumes. OF course there was q belle o. the
ball-rocm, Miss Cordova, from Havana. who
wore diamonds to the value, II /. reported, of
one hundred thousand doll lars-but fifty thou.
sand looked more like the truth. Tonight the
Unicn Hotel opens its ball season with the
Seventh Boys. The Union Park is brilliantly
illuminated with Chinese lanterns and globe.
lights and decorated with flowers. Its grounds
are filled with all Saratoga-the admission fee
only being three dollars-and the scene Is iu-
deed fairy one. The band is composed OF one
hundred pieces. and is playing Ofenblch 10 the
very end. Nearly every soldier boy has on his
white kids, and q lady on his arm. There are
about seven thousand spectators Of the scene.
in and out of the ball room.
Miner Notes.
Ex.President Fillmore, Thurlow Weed,
Governor Hoffman. John e. SAKE, (who reads
his own poetry to the pretty girls on the Con-
gress piazza,) Commodore Vanderbilt, Hon.
: John Morrisey, Henry Smith, OF ths Chicago
Republican, E. Hepple Han, the author OF a
wIetched Tourists' book, are here. Roberr
Beall, OF the Hudson Taylor store, General
Kelion, Mrs. Commodore Davenport Miss
kelton, l.. s. Turner and wife, George H.
Farrar. and T. N. Sullivan are among the
WashinGtonians at the various hotels.
There are hosts of On hans here They driva