The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1874-09-10
JOHN PAUL At SARATOGA.
A Crowded Town but a Dull Season.
Correspondence of the N Y. Tribune

correspondence Vi TIE ~ l. 1Tloulle
SARATOGA, Aug. 20.-Away from
home again Not at all; Saratoga is
''hcmc, in the sweetest sense of the
word. At least, It's 1.-THE dearest spot
on earth to me, and always accept
popular definitions.
Board bills will be paid weekly is
one Of the pleasant legends written on
the ''notice to guests" which | find
pasted on TIC door of my room. Who
will pay them is not explained with ex-
actly the accuracy that would be graft
flying to one OF my precise and mathe-
NAUTICAL habits, but as the broad fact is
plainly stated, | shall give myself no
trouble about unimportant details. And
as intend to leave before the seven
days are up, suppose it doesn't matter
much, for it follows, of course. that in
such case no one will have to pay any
thing.
Is it because I am year older that
things seem less jolly to me this sea-
son than they did last! Or is it be-
cause Of panics, and fires and floods,
the bursting of time-honored reservoirs,
brooding of poisonous mists in the air.
that few seem to enjoy life as they did
last Summer Never before was there
such season; all the large hotels have
been filled to overhowing, and board
lighthouses have fairly dubbed up to
the very brims Of their capacious chop
ping-trays, with the surplus population !;
but for all that, Saratoga seems less
lively than usual. Full.dress balls have
been such failures that few are now at
tempted, the inexpensive hop being
substituted on all sides by general con-
sent; but even the hop is not hilarious
as of old. At the tables, too, l notice
a change; here, ags;S, the shop comes
in as substitute for something more
sparkling and costly, bottled beer be-
ing drank instead of wine! The wait
ers tell me that .hey suffer in conse-
quence of the general stagnation of
business. Taken all in all, | do not
really suppose that have distributed
more than thousand dollars this sea-
son among the faithful attendants who
forget to black my boots at night,
never bring ice-water to the room, and
always inform me that the last Spanish
mackerel was broiled just minute or
two before my family entered the
dining-room. But, thank heaven,
Peruvian woodcock on toast is al
ways obtainable, and on ordering this
you are promptly served with plate
Of cold pork and beans.
Incidental mention of an alderman
thumb-ring brings up little incident
of last evening. The ladies of the
house gave Prof. Manuel 'sCompli-
mentary Testimonial is to say,
a benefit ball. Faithful master of cere-
monies that he is, indefatigable in his
exertions to compel growing youth to
turn their toes properly out in walking
through life, to see that at the hops
even the ugliest girl is provided with a
partner shade or so uglier than she
herself is; little the wonder, l say, that |
there should be disposition to step
forward and testify iu his behalf. Well, |
| attended the affair with my family
accepted six complimentary" tickets, |
[ think. which was the proper thing to
do, it being Complimentary Testi-
monial. Pauiina. in addition to want
ing to dance, you see, had new sash |
to exhibit, so we all agreed to go-l
though instead Of sash to show [ had |
enly pain in my side-in my inside, if |
the truth may be spoken--to fall back !
on.
In the wild whirl of one of the waltz
IS noticed that Paulina stopped and |
picked up something, and when the |
dance was done she brought me hand |
some handkerchief which she had found |
On the floer.
''Paulina," said I, severely, s.you
should never pick up . handkerchief
which does not belong to you, espe-