The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1871-07-15

to lose appetite after four days at even the
best hotel, and to como reluctantly to a
table which appears to be groaning with
every luxury. This has driven people to
take country quarters in farm houses, to
go to very dull and disagreeaple places, but
very often the results arc not much better
there. The genius of cookery has not
descended on our North American CONT
nent. Let us hope that it may be one of
tho effects of the European war, that a
number of French and Italian cooks will
be driven over here.
Such are some Of the physical evils of
the American watering place. Let us now
look at the mental and moral side.
There is no doubt that the pouring in of
divers people into one house, compelled to
a sort of intimacy, all at leisure, with the
added charm of band Of music, dancing,
boating, croquet, and other amusements-
relieved from tho horrible monotomy of
black coats and tove-pipes, and recreating
n the becoming light colors and straw hats,
of Summer, presents, at first glance, a very
attractive picture, that before three weeks
is over everybody is very tired of it, and
very anxious to change the scene. What
can it be that descends like pail over the
senses, after fortnight or less at water
ing place? Is it because it is all unnatural
and because no one is responsible for any
body else? Imagine such scene at an
English country house, with an amiable
hostess at the head Of it, and we would
gladly go on forever.
But have seldom seen people who could
stand one watering place more than
month. They want new slavery, and 60
off-from Sharon to Newport, from New
port to West Point.
Now for the moral aspect Of the Ameri-
can watering place. Undoubtedly it is bad.
1t is the hotbed of scandal, of Irritation, Of
that school of manners which is so repre-
hensible, and so ruinous to American soci-
ETY..
1t is the arena where the dissolute and
vain young married woman carries on that
career which is sapping the sacredness of
home. 1t is the "V anity Fair" of the
present day 1t of course opens the door
to an easy familiarity which is shocking in
its outward effects, and most dangerous in
it's tendencies. OF course, envy, hatred,
and all uncharitableness, are the immediate
srowths. To sit on the piazza and hear
the characters of those who walk up and
down before you, assaulted, is to doubt if it
were best ever to bring a young girl into
such sirocco of scandal and suspicion
The American woman never appears to
such disadvantage as she does at the Amer
lean watering place.
OF course there are ladies everywhere
Of course we must not ignore their e1is-
tence, but the Frisky Matron," and the
"Handsome Harpy," and the &C Associated
Harpies," and the "Girl of the Period !"
all crop out in full development and are the
prominent and conspicuous ones at all
these resorts.
Side by side you sec the good mothers,
the modest girls, the perfect ladies-it is
all mixed up together; but no one can
deny that the other class are in the assem-
dency, and they have the American water
ing-place in their power. One would
imagine that broad piazza, bright moon
an assemblage of well-educated and
refined people gathered together for that
"pursuit of happiness" which the Dec
laration of Independence declares to be an
inalienable right, would bring about a
beatific state of enjoyment; that politics,
literature and art would, each in turn,
engage the conversational wrestlers, and
that something good would be evolved
But such is seldom the case. Either an
awkward. silence, Or a deafening noise OF
nothingness or worse, the dissection OF
character engages the group" At every
breath repu tation dies" and tho glow of
eloquence, the witty repartee, the quiet
philosophical reflection, or the learned ex-
perience fails you. 1t is not what you
have hoped for or expected.
At American watering places there is
nothing to do out of the crowded hotel
No Kursaal No music in the grounds; a
noisy band scratching at dinner when you
want to be quiet, is the only equivalent
No Lively clean walks for neatly booted
ladies': = woman must be shod like
roountaineer" if she walks out. A bill
lard saloon o. bowling alley affords dis
traction for an hour. What are you to dc
with the other fourteen.
OF course we can not have the old castles,
the historic interests, we canfsSt have the
chains of a European watering place, but
we might copy some of the good fsatftres
For instance, respectable ladies never dress
"fine'' at 4 watering place in Europe
They ear plain costumes, almost always
dine in their bonnets, and devote theil
time to a sensible out of door life.
The foul. or five ball, or state costumes
with which American women vulgerize
garish Sum, ner day, would be IN Europe
merely n ty pc of class for which lady
does not lik, to be mistaken.
In Englan seaside retreat is place t(
wear out old gowns, to ramble IN search
shells, and STA weeds, to read and EMO.
oneself in q uiet and respectable way
They do not mix up the London season
with the sea-sai nd.
There are, it il said, delightful and yer.
cheap Summer TO treats along the St. Law
renee River in Can ada. The air is so bril-
liant and revivif yins', that you seem 10 nav
been drinking champagne. There ar
pleasant things to do at Mount Desert II
Maine. in the White Mountains, at Man
chester in verm ont, md all along the coas
of Massrchuse' its. Thu extreme END Q
Long Island offer delightful, GOODNESS an
retirement. Cuahos, on the long Islam
coast, is good. All these are the senslbi
places and don't come under the heau' OF III
fashionable W Altering places.
But they are all deficient in comfort.
believe every one. sympathizes with a late
distinguished sta tesman, who said "h'
liked Rockaway better than any othe
watering place, he was always SO glad t.
get home from it."