The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-02
The Commencement OF the Summer
"--....a Season.


This year the seasons seem to have been
slightly out of joint Winter fingered long
and spring came late. As yet we have had but
little of summer; for, although we have seen
the end of May, the summer sun has not
warmed the earth or made city life I'M
comfortable. Now, however, we have entered
upon June, leafy June, as the poets have been
in the habit of naming it, and it is not possible
that the summer sun will much longer restrain
his power. Already the exodus from the great
to say, our well-to-do classes are not
seeking the GOODNESS of our mountain
retreats or our fashionable and long
established watering places. The rush
| is for Europe, and our Atlantic steamers
for the last four weeks have been crowded
with first class passengers, eager to see the
historically renowned places of the Old World.
In week or two more our great cities, from
Maine to California, will give forth their thou
sands, and, Notwithstanding the exodus to
Europe, our numerous watering places will be
certain to do fair stroke of business. I'll
summer has been slow to come, it may linger
longer, and it is not unreasonable to take it
for granted that our hotel proprietors, who
look for their harvest in the summer season,
will be amply rewarded for their enterprise and
their patient and persevering toll.
1t is quite apparent that our people, all over
the Union, are all but recovered from the de-
pressing influences begotten of the late war.
Money is plentiful, and it is not characteristic
Of the American people to bury their talents
in the earth or permit them to rot in their
money bags. Hard work in winter and little
ease and recreation in summer-such is the
ideal Of American life. Long may this ideal
be one Of possible attainment and may the
time soon come when the summers rest and
after the winters toll, will be en-
joyed, not by special and favored class, but
by all ranks and classes of our people, To our
Western and Southern friends who are in quest
Of change Of scene let us say, ''Come and
soc New York" We know of no superiory
watering place. Here they will find all the )
attractions and novelties of one Of the greatest
Of the worlds cities. Here, too, they will
find all the amenities supposed to be INSOFAR
able from the immediate neighborhood of the
ocean, New York is not yet what it ought to
be, and what in few years it will be; but as it Z
IS, and take it for all in ALL it has, as great !
,ity, few if any rivals. Our hotels, our stores,
our theatres, our Central Park, our splendid l.
river front, our bay, our proximity to Staten
Island, to the Jersey coast, to the numerous r.
attractions Of Long Island-these make New
York city comfortable and attractive summer
resort In few years New York must become
to the United States all and much more than
all that Paris was to France.
Much regret has been expressed in some|
quarters that SO many of our people should
this year have preferred trip to Europe to q
three months sojourn at Saratoga or Long
Branch. The fact speaks for itself and
requires no comment. Of the monster hotels
our people have become tired, and with the |
cost of living at these hotels they have become +
disguised. What is wanted is greater simpli-
city Of life at our summer hotels and more
moderate charges. If change in this direc- /
ton is not introduced our watering places
must suffer more and more. AS things now
ore the European trip is cheaper and other
wise more desirable, and therefore the Euro
pean trip is preferred. 1t is well to look facts
in the face and if the proprietors of the hotels
of our different watering places are wise in
their day and generation they will not too
long defer the work Of reform.