The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-11


the Centennial it seemed as if the
metropolis would have to sit in the
shade and allow all the world to
go rushing by to Philadelphia. Well,
good many people have gone to
Philadelphia and good many are going to
Cincinnati and st. Louisiana to many other
places, for that matter; but the metropolis,
without u prodigious show, without con-
vention, without any especial attraction,
keeps on in its usual busy fashion. We
have multitude of visitors coming
and going. and the hotels seem to
have as much trouble to accommo-
date their guests as at Cincinnati; but with
all this tide Of trade and these Astounding
indications Of activity we see the signs of the
sleepy summer season. The summer hotel
keepers throw out their enticing advertise
ments, and the generally sober advertising
columns of the HERALD begin to have
pastoral flavor, with their descriptions
of sea and stream and fishing brooks and
fresh butter and .'all the comforts of a home"
In a few days the fashionable preachers will
be off to the mountains for the most elo-
quent and sanity Of men must have time
for repose In a few days we shall have no
more of the comedians. The theatres are
trying to drag out the stock Of sensa-
tons to the end of June. Sensible people,
who know how to enjoy their summers, are
looking over the passenger lists and securing
good berths near the middle Of the steamers
and thinking Of Baden Baden and the Boule-
wards Others are making ready for sum-
mer run on the Plains after buffalo, while
others are mcnding their fishing tackle with
views upon the Adirondacks, the lakes and
Labrador.
In few days the great city will be
sleepy town indeed. Our avenues will be
given over to the shopkeepers and servants
and the mansions will begin to show the
effect of dust and neglect and the alb
sence Of the master. Just now we have
lingering temptation in the way Of races and
summer gardens, and Mr. Otfenbach, after
brilliant season Of music and beer, is about
to give us a week of opera bo,Ge, with the
sprightly and musical Aimee. We suppose
some of MS will remain in town long enough
to see a new chapter of life in Paris, but MIR.
Otfenbachs wand will hardly be attractive
that his caricature Of Bardwell Slote is quite
in the fashion, and, as every one is thinking
of the politicians, every one naturally de-
sires to see how this consummate actor rep
resents one of the best types of politician
on the stage. But the dreary fact remains
that we are at the flag end Of the busy sea-
son, and the question now arises, What shall
we do for the summer?
Does it ever occur to our people that after
all New York is attractive MS summer city?
Why should we go to the Boulevards or
Regent street, except that there is novelty
in the trip and instruction? Already
we have complaints from Philadelphia
as to the heat, and a day on the
Lansdowne terrace is said to rival
some Of Stanley's African experiences. But
no one has any such complaint to make Of
New York. We have a cool and bracing June,
and, in fact, there are very few days in the
summer when do not have cool and
bracing airs We are surrounded by water.
We have the Palisades for splendor of
scenery and within an hours journey of
the HERALD Office a dozen different resorts.
Is there city in the world which has as
many summer possibilities as New York?
DO we crave the sea. In an hour we may be
tumbling in its waters at Coney Island
DO we wish the mountain air. We may
be on Orange Mountains in IN hour. Do we
relish more moderate amusement in the
"a L. 4. Al Al,
We have Long Island and the hundred
places along the picturesque and beautiful
Sound. In an hour from the HERALD
Office the citizen may find solitude
as wild and interesting as in the heart of
Spain. We have the Battery, which is as
fine as the walk at Hamburg, with its sea
breezes blowing in your face, and which the
caprice OF fashion has happily abandoned to
the poorer classes We have the Central
Park, which is always pleasant even in the
dead midsummer days.
The city itself is pleasant place, or,
rather, would be if our rulers were to do
with it what is done with Paris. Why should
we abandon New York to the dust and the
chanbermaids for three long months
Why should our churches close? Why
should we give over our best theatres to the
clowns and negro MINISTRIES? Why should
we not utilize our squares and parks If
our rulers were wise they could make New
York as attractive in the summer as Paris.
There is the Battery, for instance! Why
should we not have every evening, during
the hot months, at least, a band playing?
The fact that the Battery is the poor
mans resort is the very reason why we
should make it attractive. If some Of our
citizens who delight in good deeds were to
improve the Battery in this respect we can
not think of n more delightful place in
which thousands Of our citizens could pass
an evening. Then in the evening, when the