New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-07-07


The Fnslions-Poiitics.
Especial Correspondence Of the Republican,
GRAND UsIoy HOTEL.
saratoga Springs. June 30, 1872.
The season at this delightful watering
place las not yet fairly begun. The fash
ionables who yearly grace the stately vei
andahs. and Hoat to witching music arouR.
the spacious parlors, and condescend t
support nature upon the abundant and de
licious fare Of its best hotels, are still a
home preparing for their summer displa!
or on their r0ute,.Or at other summer re
sorts that blossom earlier in the season. o
the many little stores that every summe
sellat enormous prices the trumpery finer!
which modern ladies deem indispensable Il
the completion Of their toilet, several hav'
not yet opened, and some still bear the an
nouncement "To let"
Even the Grand Union Hotel, the Largest
and among the best in this village of hotels
is net one-tenth filed; and those who loitel
on it's grand yerandah, or lounge on the
comfortably cushioned seats OF its elegant
dFawingrooms, display an air Of listlessnes'
andmdiference quito unlike the tense and
aetiye manner which prevails during "the
height Of the season In short, Saratoga
is in her morning dishabille, and, like many
another lady she looks better in It chan she
knows
Contrasted with the fret and turmoil OF
New York, this dreamy quiet has upon the
restless sojourner the soothing effect Of a
topid bath upon the strained and aching
muscles of way-worn pedestrian; and its
attractions seem to be appreciated by class
that need repose rather than excitement
Among the guests, Of this hotel at least,
large proportion are elderly gentlemen,
with the general appearance Of solid bust
ness men "who have made good thing Of
it" during the winter, and are affording
themselves a little relaxation; matrons,
yoHngish and otherwise, who have come
early with their families, and settled down
for the season; and few tourists, stopping
for a few days or weeks, en- route for other
places. Beaux and bellies are scarce; and Of
the latter, those that are here are not in
harness; but, like the Russian lady in the
story, who, by means Of talismah, used to
save her beauty on uninteresting occasions,
in order thatit might blaze more brilliantly
when she deemed it worth WHILE are rest
ing their faces and their minds from the
arduous-duties Of their chosen vocation.
The appearance Of Saratoga has been inn
proved since last year by the erection of
magnificent hotel in place. of the buildings
burned down last autumn. 1t is Of brick,
six stories high, and capable of accOmmo-
dating a small army OF guests, There is
some talk Of opening it next month, that is,
of using that portion which is finished; but
it is not likely that persons will be found to
incur the risk Of occupying rooms so freshly
finished, while hotel room is to be found
elsewhere. The building remained unnamed
until quite recently, the proprietors hest
tating in their choice, like young couple
with their first baby "Grand Central was
at length decided upon, and Grand Central
it is.
This hotel the Grand Union, is a spacious
and elegant building, in the form Of hol-
low square, the inclosed portion forming
garden, divided into grass plots, separated
by graveled walks and shaded by magnif- |
cent elms. All around the galleries or
piazzas, between the pillars, are hanging |
baskets, filed with choice flowers and |
plants. This space is overlooked by the |
on one side, the dining-hall |
N the other, and guest-rooms on the third,
he surrounding Liazzas forming con-
inuous prom enade, which is almost as /
popular as that fronting the street The |
ourth side is overlooked by the billiard |
ooms. On gala occasions this charming
pot is rendered more charming by the illu-
dinatiop of ail-beautifying gas, tempered
o a pearl-like softness by ground-glass
hades. A fine band is already employed,
md every afternoon and evening the air is
made musical with the soothing or stirring
ones Of their various instruments. There
nave been few ''hops7 Gas dancing parties
IRE now vulgarly calledl, but for that
as for others, the time is not
yet ripe, although the large drawing-rooms
md broad galleries of this and some of the
,ther chief hotels are admirably suited for
L. Strange what magician fashion is,
and what sacrifices her devotees cheer
fully offer at her shrine. Now, when
the weather is comparatively cool,
and dancing would be endurable,
nobody dances, although the most in
spring airs nightly invite to the exhilarat-
ing exercise. Later in the season, when the
dog star RACES and the least exertion is fol-
lowed by copious showers of perspiration,
every young woman who "knows the steps"
viii feel sighted and injured unless she is
kept in perpetual whirl Apropos Of fash
ion, the Dolly Warden fever is not so preva-
lent as expected to find it, nor are tour
nures so mOnstrous. Some ladies. indeed,
VIII persist In dressing a Ia dromedary, and
would, no doubt, kneel patiently under the
niiietion Of still greater loads of dry goods
on their already overloaded backs, did Mrs.
Grundy so ordain, but, as rule, all but the
ultra fashionable seem to consider little
too much quite enough,
There is not much political ero;tan,a,+
here, although the question uGrant ar
Greeley" is about the first that i asked
when old acquaintance meet, or when new
ones get on the subject of politics. In Neyv
York city, however, and throughout nc
State generally, the coming election is the |
all-absorbing topic, and the ofice-helding
wing Of the Republican party foresee
plainly that the days Of their power are
numbered. Timid Republicans in the rural.
districts, though prefering Greeley person
ally, are held back for the time by the
dread of Remembering the party, fearing
that the Democratic party may vet make
separate nominations notwithstanding ~,