The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-07-04
Dur Summer Ressrts-why tho CHESTS
Fall on.

Nowhere in the world are the denizens OF
cities fonder of sojourning in the country in
the summer than in the United States. This
IL one of those traits Of our people which
show their good sense and intelligence, as
well as their love of pleasure. But how is it
fostered by those most interested In doing soF
Although We mean to answer this question as
fully as the limits of an article will allow none
need expect US to point out any place or per-
son for either censure or appreciation. AT the
same time there are few summer resorts In
America to which our remarks will not be found
more or less applicable in one form or other
That keeping such places has become an
extensive business all who read the newspa-
pers are aware; and there is no reason why
1t should not be honorable as well as profts-
BILE. Far be 1t from us to deny that there are
landlords Of summer resorts as honest and as
incapable of imposing on those who deal with
them as any other business men, In town or coun-
try But the difficulty is that there are too few of
this class. For one who is satisfied with
legitimate profit at least half dozen have no
higher motive than to exact a. much as posi-
BILE from their guests. Indeed, the extent to
which extortion is carried in every conceiva-
BILE form would seem not merely incredible, but
utterly fabulous, were it not that thousands
Indignantly bear witness to it from actual ex-
perience.
Before giving any particulars in illustration
Of this, for the benefit of the uninitiated, we
may remark in passing that it is because the
grab system is carried, in numerous instances,
beyond the bounds of endurance that so large
| a number of our citizens have ceased to visit
those places; preferring foreman in the city,
| If they have no country residences Of their
own, rather than subject themselves for
months or weeks, or even days, to what they
have been compelled to regard as little better
| than organized swindling.
| All remember the time when. those having
| any pretensions to responsibility to men
| ton fashion-used to be ashamed to be seen in
their comfortable houses in the city after the
| middle of june 1t was no mere sarcasm on
this class that many of them were said to pre-
tend, by closing their front windows, to be in
the country, while they hid themselves away
in their back rooms. Now the same class
think it much more respectable to invite their
friends to their city residences than to visit
three-fourths Of our summer resorts. 1t is Of
the latter they are ashamed to-day, although
they set as high value as ever on every ad-
vantage to be derived from rustication in the
sultry season. They do not admire the groves
or the forests, the hills or the valleys, the
brooks or the rivulets whit less than they
did seven or ten years ago. Nay, they sigh
for all as much as ever they are also as
willing as ever to spend their money; but they
are less willing to be at once cheated and kept
under regulations" like naughty schoolboys.
Our readers know that we are not of the
cynical order. 1t has never been our habit to
pretend to expect perfection from any class
we are much more disposed to look at the
bright than at the dark side Of human nature;
and had it been otherwise we would long since
have denounced at least portion of the
s'tricks upon travellers" played at some of our
summer resorts. Even now we have no in
tention of any violence; and if our remarks
be needed only in proportion as they are true
and just-free from any aggeration-they
| will ultimately, if not Immediately, serve the
country landlords at least as much as their
guests.
But let us not do injustice to the country
folks for it is not they who do one-tenth of
the mischief in this case. In all our large
cities there is pretty numerous class always
| ready to 60 to the country in time to prepare
the way for those who only 60 in search OF
recreation and health. The former are sure
to be early enough in the field to take the
latter in, and they are quite as intent on doing
30, metaphorically as literally. Some who
expect to better their condition by taking
charge Of summer resorts are honest, respect
able men, who have gained well-earned repu-
tation as clerks or superintendent at our
metropolitan hotels. But these are CANCELS
visits" in more than one sense, and to such
our criticisms have no application except as
contrasts to those Of the opposite class.
In general the keepers of country resorts
are persons who either occupy subordinate
positions at our fourth or fifth rate city hotels
during the winter, keep third or fourth rate city
boarding houses during the same period, or do
nothing but walk about and amuse themselves
in anticipation of the fine harvest they shall
have in summer. Not unfrequently the same
party known as plain Mrs. Sausage in the city
turns up in the country as Tom Smith Il Co..
proprietors, &c. 1t is almost needless to say
that the s'resort" in charge of this firm has q
long catalogue of attractions, and yet Smith
is no fonder of calling his brass gold, his mole
hills mountains, or his carrion veal prime beef,
than almost any of his numerous rivals.
Generally the first illustration the guest
receives of the live and let live policy is in the
shane of q bill for whole week two or three