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

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That will again appear.
American Watering-Places.
The American watering place can be one
of the most inconvenient, disagreeable,
vulgar and Objectionable places in the
world; on the other hand, it can be some
what healthful, very amusing, and quite
unobjectionable. Be it what it may, how
ever, we are all bound to go to ito endure
it to perpetuate it. For we are hardly civ
ilized enough in this country yet, to live in
the country, after the fashion of English
people, making our own houses the circle
of delightful neighborhood. Our domes-
tic service is so poor, that the lady at the
head of the house is always housekeeper
and frequently cook, SO she can hardly be
expected to provide for more than her own
household. She naturally gets tired, and
wants to 60 away herself, and be amused.
As for the inhabitants of cities, they must
leave the town for their own and their
children's health, and so grows up the
watering place.
And it is true that life in America, as
soon as it ceases to DO struggle. becomes
monotonous. The well-to-do in America
are much to-be-pitied class. There is no
one to stop and play with them. They
have comparatively few amusements.-
Dress and society takes up little time, not
much, and there are none Of those tastes
and amusements possible which arc so
Immediately practicable in the old world
Therefore amusement becomes necessity,
and we find it in the gregarious watering
place hotel, often at the expense of neat
ness, and good food, and other most desir-
able attributes.
Saratoga was tlas first fashionable water
ing-place. To it came the Southerncrs
after successful season: to it the ambi-
tious Westerners; to it the gentry of the
North RIVER to it, all the opulent New
England fam lies. 1t was an epitome OF
Our best society, twenty years ago. 10 1t
can be traced back some OF the most con-
spicuous intermarriages of our well-known
families. The old "United States," with
its broad piazzas, has seen some goodly
company, then VIC had much greater sep
aration of sets than we have now. There
was a decided aristocracy in those days
which has died out since.
But Newport began, even before the
war, to tread Oh the heels of Saratoga and
take away its prestige. The beautiful villas,
the superior attractions of Newport began
to tell, and the burning Of the United
States Hotel impeded the career OF Saratoga
as fashionable watering place. Of course
the war in taking away the Southern ele-
ment, conduced to this result very much
Saratoga must alwas attract crowd from
its mineral waters, its race course, and now
its gambling-which is a very conspicuous
clement; but it has ceased to be a fashiona-
bic or desirable place of Summer resort for
gentlemen and ladies.
Newport on the contrary is perfect
Either as resident of one of these charm
ing villas, or as the modest tenant of a
hired cottage, or as the boarder at hotel,
one can gain health and recreation in its
delicious breezes, beautiful and varied
drives, and delightful society. 1t is urged,
by moderate people, that too much dress,
too much equipage, too much society is
necessary at Newport; but that is entirely
optional. One may lead his own life at
Newport, gay or grave as he pleases, and
may enter Or not that very gay circle.
Long Branch, near New York, used to
be perfect in it's way as a seaside place.
Now it is crowded beyond all reason, and
the prices are enormous. The unhappy
visitor is put in cell, with the scantiest
allowance of furniture, and is charged five
dollars a day for being roasted alive. The
hottest garnet in New York was more lux.
urious last summer than the general run Of
rooms at Long Branch. Of course the
ocean is always there and beautiful. Oh
course it is gay and sometimes agreeable.
They are fortunate who own cottages there,
for, take it for all in all, Long Branch has
good average climate, and few objections
except the people, of whom there are toe
many, they crowd each other.
Sharon is a healthful, happy and agreea,
BILE spot, particularly in July. Its sulphur
baths are very useful, and the drives very
pretty. The new Corners complain that
the old settlers are little exclusive, and
that it has somewhat the effect of large
tea party; but it is not long before the new
conner becomes fond of it, finds his place.
and enjoys himself.
Richfield Springs has taken great star
within few years, and is thought by some
to be more a. reeable than Sharon. 1t, too
Inns excellent sulphur baths, and goot
hotels, some elegant private residence
and good drives through a pretty country
Lake George offers more attraction thai
almost any place in the United States, will
the lake before you and the Adirondack
behind you, it is wonderful that fashion
has not, as yet marked it for its own
Happy are they who have found it out, 70
they have good food, great comfort, mucl
amusement, for comparatively little money
1t is very difficult, almost impossible
seems, to feed well huge caravansary ful
of people. The men who keep the hotel
have not mastered the subject, as they hav
in Europe. At Baden-Bade one is as we
fed as at the best cafI in Paris. So at a
the crowded places in Europe; but here
has become a serious question, whether
is safe to take family to one of thes
large hotels for the Summer, the foo
being an offset to tho advantage obtaine