Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-09-01
FASHIONS FOR SEPTEMBER.
On the Heights ichGeld ms IL Was
and Is-Glimpses OF Autumn Styles.
Ac.
[FROK OUR OWN CORRESPONDENCE
RICHFIRLD SPRINQs

and on the mountains console themselves with
peaches and reflection upon the undeniable
fact that this has been the loveIiest summer
upon record. Set ii down, that whatever else
has happened or may bappsn, this summer OF
1sI now ended, has been bright, beautiful, and
enjoyable beyond precedent. No hot nights
even between brick walls, few really melting
days. yet skies blue rs Itaiy's own, and sunshine
nearly all the time. Perhaps we shall have 70
pay for it IN a wet autumn and snowy winter
but We have had the summer at any rate.
Nvr is it yet over. Business men and busy
women musI be at their posts of duty, but per-
sons of wealth and leisure, ladies who have the
happiness or misery Of being provided for, are
still defyiDg the care in the woods, by the sea
side among the hills, or upon the mou tain tops,
as witness the still silent streets (up town } the
blocks Of vacant houses, the comparatively
empty cars, mot more than one row standing, J
and the sad looks of the butcher and the baker
who mourn the continued absence Of their Gus
toners.
Here at Richfield Springs, however, which is
about fifteen hundred feet above the level OF
the Hudson river at Albany, it does not seem
summary at this season, particularly in the eve
ming. Coming from the hot sun and glaring
asphaltum of New York streets and squares il
s rather odd to sit by the fire in the evening,
sleep under two blankets, and be afraid-as
many ladies are-to STIR step without q blan-
ket shawl.
Ricbfeld has long been q charming place for
summer sojoaTn, and still retains a part of its
old-time attractions. 1t is built upon a plateau
at the top of hill, which, like Catskll, forms
part Of q spur of the Alleghanies. There are
seven lovely lakes within q short distance of the
sulphur springs which have given its reputa-
ton, the largest OF which are Lake Otsego and
Lake Canandsigua. The latter Is only a mile
or so, Is reached by stage every hour in the day
and furnishes boating, fishing aud water lilies
OF fine quality, at very small expense.
COoperstown is within easy driving distance
and one Of the things to do is to ride along the
banks OF Lake Otsego, visit the cemetery at
CooperstOwn, where the Indian romanc.st is not
buried, aid, returning, eat rsh aud poultry
dinner at "Tennieclitfes small Greenwich
about mile this side OF OOoperst0wn, which
mas acquired local celebrity, justified by the
excellence OF It's cuisine, and which obtains Al
added charm from the simplicity of its appoint
ments and its proximity to perhaps the lOyeIiest
point on the lake.
RICHPIRLD AS 1T WAS.
Ten years ago Richteld was almost unknown
to fame; doctors sent their patients there occa-
stonally, but the place had to be hunted out on
the map or from the railroad guide, aud MANY
were deferred from going when 1t was found
that access could only be obtained by stage
ride or twelve miles up an almost straight as
cent from herkimer, ana that opinions as to the
accommodation TO be obtained were of the most
inverse aud therefore doubtful char acter. Those
WHO persevered were, however, repaid by the
sight OF go0dly, If not quite the promised,
land-a peaceful land, high up, out OF the rush
Of the wearing csres and tOrmentihg anxieties
II the lower worid-a sort of vestibule of heaven
where one could breathe reviviDg air and al
most catch glimpse OF the gories beyond.
This is what it seemed to some Of those who
saw IL before the freshness was gone: before the
siokenlng odor OF fashion had penetrated IL; be-
fore the IA lIoad had spanned the mountain and
Brought the vulgar crowd to its holy places.
To be sure, the hostel had low ceilings, and
its walls were whitewashed; feather beds were
placed upon ticks filed with clean straw, and
- &C mfoI ters"-whica, with the feathers under
ne atD turned the straw beds into very Comfort
able Inattrasses- took the place of blankets;
hur the air D,sne the sle~ri-e= siaes, svhiie the
corn bread, the tried chicken. the Quicken pot
pie and the blackberry pudding would have
fOused enthusiasm In the soul OF a cynic.
Ii is true that the host who had been a vel!
TO do farmer. aid did his 0w- carving, cut his
roast beef in what would be. not politely, called
''chunEs," but IL Was tender, and il was to his
own loss, (they Lave learned lao " 20 serve il In
isshionably thin and meagre style,) but then
the potatoes, they were not potatoes at AL, they
were Mamma dropped Tight down out OF heaven,
mashed with cream.
HOW THE CHANGE CAME ABOUT.
OF course this state Of things could not last
always. A change must have come sometime,
but IL was precipitated by an enthusiastic news
PAPER correspondent, who went to RichfelG
sick, got well and sung its praises in rspturous
ETY. e. 1t is the rarest thing in the world to nnd
a well person; everybody is sick more or less,
and naturally everyb body wanted to 60 to Rich
teld Springs: The following summer every
AID sent the drivers to the insane asylum; they
overrun the country like swarm Of locusts,
and like those small imps ate up every green
and eatahle thing. They democrats the I'M
sophisticated minds Of the residents by putting
thoughts of greed and money making into their
heads, so that they raised their prices exorbi-
family and erected sheds in which they packed
people as If they b ad been cattle.
But this evil in time cured itself. Richfisld
began to have bad name, people left il alone
severely for year or so, until now it has re-
uever be again the ideal spot it seemed when
1t was first discovered, yet Ii Is very agreeab
resort, not over fashionable. yet not dull, aud
aooundiDg In resources OF quiet, middie-ased
kid.
HOW WE DRESS.
The dress at k,chneld is very cosmopolitan,
and therefore difficult to describe or specify.
Thin dresses are but little needed, or If worn
during the sunny part of the day, are covered
up with wooden shawls and sacks in the even-
ing, or exchanged for the inc vitable black silk
There is little if any of the extremely fashion.
able dressing to be observed in Saratoga mixed
up with SO much that is common and 0utre and
obsolete, but there is large infusion OF the
quiet good taste characteristic Of people OF the
highest class. Ideas OF dress are more fixed and
permanent, because they are the result of in
telhgence and cultivation, and not OF a restless
and feyerish desire to be IN the fashion, or
morbid fear of being out OF it,
This Is the reason Why fashions seem to change
less here than elsewhere, even among the sum-
mer visitors. Many persons and families come
here year after year; their dress always consists
of the same pure, self colored fabrics, unosten.
tatOus, but thoroughly good, quite carefully
adapted to the prevailing styles, but with no
Shofs W AohoW tAO ice VI push eiylcs W
extremes.
A dauehter Of q wealthy New Yorker, for
example, Is here with her mother, who has
never been TO party or spent an evening away
from home in q mixed company; who mas never
worn q particle Of false hair, or had polon aise
Think Of that, you little old women Of thirteen
or Whereabouts, who are crazy for long dresses
and cbignoEs, who want to 60 to parties instead
OF to school, and are worn ont and tired OF life
at twenty.
One is glad to find such people as one meets a,
Richheld. There is . restful spirit about them
which IL inexpressbly quieting and pleasant
after the tear and rush Of New York life. 1t
makes one realize that there arc people still
Who live their own lives, who have happy, care
free homes, who cultivate esthetic taste and
have NO more TO DO with the vulgar contests OF
the world than II they lived out Of 1t.
NEW AUTUMN STYLES.
Back to New York, very much against NV
will, have come, in time to tell my readers
something Of what 10 in preparation for them
for the coming season. Much win be said about
novelty, or course; but ~ vet there IL nothing
more than an emphatic reproduction Of recent
ideas. The skirts cling more closely than ever;
over-ekiIte are aprons arranged with ladders OF
loops at the back, or scarfs crossed upon one
side and forming sash upon the other or ct
the back. The new polonaise is the old polo
nsise with jacket back.
TIE rage II for cuirass bodies and eleeveless
jackets, the former differing only from the lat
ter in being plainly cut, fitting closely, and
being striped or wrought all over with beads OF
beaded paeee menteYiee, 20 az to form q yeFftable