The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-23


after oil, is gained by this summer hegira
from New York ?" Is it a necessity or mere
fashion? Why should New York not be as
much of a summer city as Paris or London
Take this summer as far as it has gone. Has
there been IL day during this season when we
have not had cool breezes and fresh air from
the sea and when the really inviting parts OF
New York have not been as pleasant and
grateful as any OF the surrounding suburbs
which are now attracting their multitude of
visitors? There is no city in the world where
! pleasure seekers can find as much rest and so
many beautiful views as in New York A
business man can go from the City Hall to the
Battery in ten minutes and have before him the
fine open park and one of the most masnif-
cent prospects of land and sea in the world.
| From almost any point he may in half
hour be in the marvellous garden of Central
/ Park or on the heights OF Brooklyn Park look
| ing out upon the ocean Much abused Coney
Island is really very honest place in its way,
and in an hour the citizen can be diving under
the ocean breakers.
\ city, in our modern civilization, means
comfort. How many comforts New York
possesses that cannot be found at the seaside
or summer watering places! What highway
at Saratoga or at Long Branch-what evening
stroll is to be compared to the walk from the
Ramble down Fifth avenue to Washington
square? What drive can excel in interest and
beauty the drive through our bouleyards or
over to ward Fort Hamilton? More than all,
we are at home. There are the books to read,
the churches to visit, the pictures to see,
familiar faces around US, opportunities for
conversation, for amusement, for improve
ment, which are lost in the idle proftess
and the great seaside and summer resorts.
Inherently New York is as much of summer
city as Paris or London. The trouble is that
we have fallen into the fashion Of running
away during the summer. We have neglected
advantages which, if properly developed,
would keep our people at home. Here for
( instance are the theatres They are closed,
or, if open, it is with some foolish, absurd
performance like the ''Donovans." The
churches close or open only to some wander
ing preacher who is anxious to exhort New
York audience even in midsummer Our
squares are abandoned, the Libraries are
shut. There seems to be general conspiracy
on the part of those who cater for our amuse-
ment, those who look to our religious ex-
periences and those in authority to destroy
New York during the summer.
And yet, if anything would show the attrac-
tons that really exist in New York in sum
mer, it would be such record as we pub
lished in the HERALD the other day. There
was first our narrative of the races at Jerome
Park, with sunny skies and immense attend
ance," and ''the beauties Of fashion and their
toilets" the gathering OF fashion and wealth
\ and beauty" at one of the most interesting
scenes in our metropolitan life. Then came
/ the narrative of the cricket match between
| two famous clubs in Hoboken. This match
was attended by thousands Of interested spec
\ tators, who stood upon the open field, on the
banks of the glorious river, under the sun
shine, inhaling the pure air, watching the
skilled and active young men bound over the
grass with bat and ball. Then came the mar
rative Of the eighteenth annual regatta Of the
"rattling breeze Of wind, and which, from the
report, was a brilliant and inviting event,
with seventeen yachts, schooners, and sloops,
scudding down the Bay followed by thou
sands OF spectators eagerly noting the varying
I incidents of the race Then we bad report
of q miniature yacht regatta in Central Park,
telling how the children had q race with tiny
schooners, the first 'for all boats under
twenty-six inches" with q miniature anchor
among the prizes, and how the first race was
won by the Anneta, and how, in time, the
/ wind died away and the pond was becalmed
and the boats would not come TO the bank,
and how, as our reporter expresses it, 'the
boys danced around the lake with the hope
less purpose Of recovering their lost craft,
but in vain, and had to leave without them
/ Then next on the list came our narrative OF
/ the Model Yacht Club race at Prospect
Park, in Brooklyn thousand people
\ in attendance and much enjoyment.
Then we had the regatta Of the
4 Columbia Boat Club, on the Kill Won Kull.
I To close the chapter there was brief an
] nouncement Of the second annual regatta by
/ the policemen OF the Twenty-third precinct,
Y near Mount Buena Grove, Everything to be
conducted in the best possible manner, =
and, among the enjoyments, "clog dIncing
4 and Waiting" There was shooting at Creed
moor and base ball games. All the while our
advertising columns invited the people TO a
hundred excursions. This one days record
\ Of the midsummer issue OF the HERALD, giving
a summary Of the events Of one Of the longest
days Of the year, day sacred to heat and
dust and discomfort, shows that aftersl, there
\ are summer resources in this metropolis
which should not be overlooked and which,
if properly developed, would 20 far toward
redecming the character Of this city as a
summer resort and making il as attractive to
the outside world as Paris or London are 70
\ Al ~ American Who on from tuoa L