New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-07-12
LONG BRANCH.
WHAT A MoRALIsT SAW.


always blinds tho eye OF reason and Judgment and in
deed mpars IL it docs not wholly destroy the percep-
ton OF the human mind No OF fresh instincts, who
has lived long enough outside Of soOetys dissipation 10
think and observe with impartial clearness, can contem
plato the extrayagant tendencies OF society without the
gravest sorrow and apprehension. Let such person
spend but single week at Long Branch, vhero the sun
Is warm the breezes COOL and the nights are serene
and fair and he will have material enough for reelection
during the next tweyemOnth In his library his oce, or
his workshop ....- Pa.
While the oiddy exrayaRance OF women In the matter
OF dress and Jewels Ia probably tho most conspicuous
evidence of an unhealthy condition OF society Is oy 10
means the most demoralzing. The ehoct OF He Such
a. s led at Long Branch and Newport and Saratoga upon
the young children and half-grown boys ana eHis,
who are found here IN such numbers s'
think moro hurtful What. that Is bad, Is not taught
here Everything that destroys the body AID eorrups
the mind finds encouragement here Here the ohAdren
arc taught to disregard the Of day or night they
may retire at the CLOSE OF the evenings hop they de-
sire they may rise and breakfast at noon II they WILL
life OF ldeness and Incidence Is always before them'
not az a warming but as example. Alurements 70
dyspepsia and destruction are not wanting here
are cucumbers and bananas, and ieecream ana nuts
and rasns and coffee for your children, with greasy
pastry and unsea sonabe vegetables ad hbuDl; aud IN
clothing they are taught that papersoed shoes are the
proper things TO walk In the wet beach; that bare
arms bare shoulders and unprotected neck, are su-
cient TO resist the night breeze, which brings chill
ing dampness TO even stoutly-bult adult IN "ooshs'
The life here turns the mind Of the child into unhealthy
obannes for children permitted to see only the al
urements OF dissipation, not the realities or RESPONSE
blllties OF life Nothing useful or Instructive hnds Odg
nent herefe is rs unreal and decetful as the ig"s
6dtae.
Yet would not be taken as depreciatng Long Branch
regard II a. the most advantageous and delightful OF
the seaside resorts it against tho tendencies Oi
society that am railing Long Branch Is not singular
The same social puzzle Is solving at Saratoga cape May
and Newport and t IS working itself out across this
broad sweep OF water which rolls before us me resut
ought to DO Of vital interest to all who love their eoun
try and their species.
What rs all this gloomy forehoding why this high
pressure OF xcitementi Follow and Will toll you
Let us take the subject OF dress and come with me 10
the fine paror Of the West End Hotel The shadows OF
early night'fal long since obscured Dy the drA-
ness the moon rising and It's line OF light Is already
seen upon the ocean, Tho air delcOusy COOL ann the
melody Of music comes with flood OF light from the
open windows OF the parlor. The band plays dreamy
vouptuous waltz Of graceful girls and women
20 skImming over the floor 1t is gay scene Inc IN
termnglng of colors is very picturesque IN eject the
wowy grace OF the slight figures here ana there con
spicuous excites the admiration, While the ookers on
of the gentler SEX present faces full OF brightness an
enthusiasm Surely in all this there is nothing remafEa-
BILE It merely very pretty picture to look ut Tor ha
an hour But scan for o moment the Ialment Whioh
floats in such soft waves before your eyes, aud
you will see that there is almost fortune in
every dress IL is not merely the handsome silk dress
and the rich lace collar and underseeyes which the
welltodo can afford for his wife and daughter, with
nice gold or coral pecchain aud Q2ket and perhaps
modest set Of diamond earrings IL Is rather pattern
Of silk which of itself work Of art and the product
of nobody knows how many weeks OF hard and anxious
labor The embroidery around the bottom was wrought
with suffering fingers in France. None can tell now
MANY months OF priyaton and misery 1t could reveal
IL had the power OF articulation That covering OF lace
looks old and yellow yOu think, but notice Its sofness
s delicacy Does It not look delicate and fragile a.
A SPIDERS webl My friend, that white lace oyerdress
would buy you farm that would support you ana your
wife and your children IN comfort stu the figures 60
floating by aud when that and that overdress pass
Won again. lust notice the diamonds in tie ears OF the
wearer Yes, fair lady they big as your thumb
nail and they are you may trust. Of the finest water.
II our Young friend had Just those two diamonds, he
could start national bank tomorrow II the young
clerk in the store up had the rings which adorn
that fair white hand which rests so easily on her com
| panon's shoulder aud the jewels that shine on tha'
round neck he could start in business for himself This
mind you is but lady among the hundred now IN
this ROOM and this but Of her costumes This is
not fancy sketch. There are dozen ladies in the
| room who vie with her.
That lady Of infinite grace whose wavy gray hair sur
mounts beautiful young face, fair and wen cut and
sensitive in every line, has sOltares scarcely 10 be
matched 10 the country They not ostentatous but
as she recnes easily the sofa 1t is easy to imagine
that they are the proper ornament for that face Her
hands are small aud round but they covered with
big diamonds which, say what you WILL is des Grafton
of Gods beauty. Can anything be more beautiful than
asnal white round hand, perfect in its mold And
not an outrage TO conceal, even with diamonds, Its
fair lnesl Her dress is OF dark material but also Is
| covered with lace and embroidery.
That dress near the window OF ndescr6able green ia
still more extravagant. It's great value is in the making
and in the destruction Of material The lace Oyerdress
above alluded to will last life time il carefully used
and may be handed down rs rich heirloom to coming
enerations but this green silk will be worthless and
east aside month It's scoops, its bindings, It's
its bts Of embroidery tabs and loops anc
small pieces Of silk will pass for nothing whensthe first
Roman punch is split it. This dress Is marvel o.
patience. Queen Catherine with all her skill and pa
tence at embroidery could never have achieved such
success dresses to be seen IN this parlor tonight
that are not extravaganza and although it must seem
exageeraton and doubtless 1t is nevertheless appear
| TO me that there is than two quarts OF diamond
| jewelry on the ladies here assembled
longer pearls sapphires, rubeS, emerads onyx
| eameos and all that-more's the pty-Dut it is da
monds. II it fair young girl with blue eyes an'
blonde hair 1t makes difference. She does not appeal
in the pale pink coral. in the necklace OF pearls
which are so chaste and becoming but her father
afford it she must stare heaven in tho face in diamonds
And where is this 10 endi Tonight is simply the same
"a last night tomorrow night will be. for there il
hon lasting TO IL O'Clock every night. IL ia not for
nal ball. with invitations. big supper, and a that
| The ladies and gentlemen do not even wear gloves
Guests come n it is true from other hotels. TO parct
pate in the enjoyment, but 1t is wholly Informal and
ordinary affair What grand ball would bring forth is
something dare not allow my mind to contemplate. II
such dresses and such jewels but everyday affairs
| may Providence spare in the future
IF IL not mean this tempest OF eXtraYagancel