Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-09-06
LETTER FROM SARATOGA SPRINGS.
The Season as it Approaches Its End-What
It Has Been The House In which ns.
Morsisssy Keeps His Tiger Too Beautiful
to be so Wseked-The Saratoga Geyssr-
SAKE the foet-The Masquerade Balls J.
Personal and Political, etc.
lCorresondence Of The Evening Star ]


sea. on, said the sarionc old Blivins yesterday.
"It il pleasant to be told hy the old hdb:taes
what you have missed in tAe race season, in the
balls that have ended, tse toilettes that have
shoUn rosplendant and then vanished, the nights
turns into days at Mosrrssey's palace, and 50 on
through the varied chapters of the July and
Augpst davs."
But there is enoughGsft OF Saratoga yet. It's
most remarkable and prosperous season is good
ior twenty days more. The leading hotels are
still quite full from the tide of travel that flows
down from the nortk through Canada and the
White Mountains anG Lakes George and Cham
plain. Nine hundred diDed at the Congress
Yesterday, and eleven hundred at the Grand
Unit N to-day, and yet so spacious are the two
hotels that there is sn air OF and comfort
that mark the absence of the crowd. There is
also room at the Springs; for all vine throng to
the Congress, the Hathorn, the High Rock, the
Colombian, and Washington are sated With
the sparkling. sperient and c;ithartic waters OF
the former and the tonic properties CO the latter
while the drives ana walks, more numerous than
here: fore, furnish enough OF out -deor enjoy
ment in these bright, cool, days. The Sara
fgiGH, careful authority, says that over one
hundred thousand people have been here since
the 1st Of July, and that in the boarding houses
and cottages there are now about six thousand
$50 Gee, and the Congress si25 900 in the season
hus far, and the other hotels have OF course
dort as well proportioAately. So, after all. this
is Ssratoga's crown!Gg glory, and these hard
facts, that the most u2relentiRg Gadgrind must
accept, prove il.
Distinctive from the general pleasure and
health seeking soiOurpers here il the sporting
eleL e 4 that promises ts be great an attrac-
tien 10 Saratoga, As it IS TO Baden Baden. The
ia e course has been for tive wears past the bet
co Tdl cite in the United States, and now the
Hon. John Morrisey has made everything CON-
plete by the erection OF his magnificent club
house. just back of Congress Hall, and fronting
on Congress SIring ark. The Hon. John enter
i?ins with elaborate generosity, and about all
that is need to place you within his good
sfaces Is an Introduction - gentleman" By
the invitation OF Mr.. NJ. three washingtonians
dropped in on him the other evening between
ten and eleven o'clock. merely TO see the sights
and were cordially received and taken through
out the irs:itution. lt seemed II be the last
place Tor struggle With the tiger, thou sh the
Keen ewes OI Mr. Dick SwIveller, one OF the trio
were at once fixed OH the ornate tIger-heI Id-
c'rved in walnut, which surmounted the mag
nIfceDt mir and the side board in the gene
raj card and roulette room. But glance con-
veys the best idea OF the largest and haudsomsst
gambling institution in Americ4, while dstails
may be lett for personal visit OF the reader
1t is just round the corner from Con yress Hall
and dozen Steps on the opposite sid. Of the
street from the old COnsress Spring. II is a
plain structure, bGilt or pressed brick, tbrce
st''..tcs high, f,,y feet iron, ani h1ni-'d AL
twenty deep, with haudsOne hight OF e. and
stone steps entering the hall in the center
of the building. Two huge gas lamps th.oS
dnfr; .l,o "A 81, of
the house, msrklng in bright, gilt outlines IL.
letters in the deep trar. ON of "rhe SIraiDga
Club Hou.e." But Two strokes are echoed ba TX
from silver bell knob, and the great walnut
doors swing open into a spacious hall, from
which rises in its Grim attire the central stair
cae word TO the colOred youth that you are
there by inv .tation rom the proprietor, and a
wave his hand ushers you into a long room
TIC Light o. the hall where the dazzling ie-s
from three chandeliers light up with graceful
effect the TIch and maguih cent upbOlsteriDg OF
the walls, and reflect back the bright colors OF
the velvet plush that "Opel'S for the foot fall on
the tutted ficor.' The furniture is walnut in
laid with rosewood. and with the exception OF
the chairs, IL elaborately carved On the right
center OF the room Is large sideboard with its
marble shelves filled with wines, brandies, etc.
of the choicest kind. with servants in constant
attendance to serve the guests tree OF
charge. Along the left wall, and at the
10, OF the room are the roulette, faro.
roe. ef Hor, and other gaming tables. Behind
and 1t was noticeable that they were, with one
exception, as middle aged, sedate looking men
as You would lind on the Congress Hall por,ico
surrounded by Eli interesting family. But one
game was gong on during our visit. and. instead
Of watching that, we were entertained with an
explanation OF the reu,e et noir game, which is a
played here else in this country. IL is the
evenest game, with less per centage in it," said
our informant, that Is now dealt" From the
lower end OF this general card room we passed
dining a
angle the whole width OF the building. Ii is, in
the eyes of some, the handsOmest room in the
house, and is, without doubt, fitted up in regal
splendor. The furniture, carpets. and uphOl-
STEERING have more quiet cOlers, but are none the
less rich. The table was laid for sixty persons,
and included all the delicacies OF the season.
such as brook trout, woOdcock fresh salmon,
Partridges, etc. MOrrissey has two men
out all the time shooting game, and is
the town. From the opposite end OF the dining
room in which We entered, we passed into a
saloon parloT corresponding in size to the card
room across the hall, which is exclusively for
the use OF the members OF the Saratoga Club.
This l. more elaborately and richly furnished
than any other part OF the house, the artistic
blending Of colors in the decoration of the room
giving IL rich, warm, golden hue that has com
randed the admirati OF all its visitors. The
furniture Of this room cost over SO, 900.
The members ef the club number one hundred
and hny, and mostly whist players. Ali
memberships are subjected ID Mr.. Morrissey's
decision, rs he retains exclusive control OF the
usedes whist-Tooms, while the single parlors ON
each eide OF the upper hall used by those
desiring privacy. The furnishing is a. haud-
come as down stairs About the middle OF Au-
gust the institution was, after p m, In the full
blaze OF working order, and presented In its
every feature scene as brilliant rs 1t was
wicked. The sunlight, as IL streamed through
the tall pines OF The Congress Park, met the a.
light in the early morning OF those golden days.
During the height Of the season three hours a
day were devoted TO q genera, reception, and a.
many four thorsaDd ladies' aud gentlemen
have visited the house in one day. Un one o.
casiOn eleven ministers oil the Gospel were
among the visitors, ard paid as close "A visit ~
the otkerr- One Of them declared to MOrr'sSey
that IL WIS too beautiful to be 80 bal. The
dealers explained the games to the ladies, and
IA some instances they were greatly pleased
During the season tie Hon. John has enter
iained n his table, which at any time is n
least MT for the gods." as his guests over eight
thousand people. His expenses for the house
alone, for August, we're si9,0 600, Including the
services of thirty servants. He don't agree with
Manillini, that =. Life 10 a demnitiOn grind" By
next season he Will have an addition built to the
club bouse, making ir as large again.
There II 10 fear that the Saratoga springs
VIII become exhausted. The Congress, for some
reason or other. has become weaker of late