The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-07-16
LIFE AT SARATOGA.

foremost OF American summer watering places.
Time was when Newport, sharon, and Rock
away cqualled 1t In popularity but Newport
has become q mere cluster OF cottages, and
Sharon resort OF lnvallds, while Rockaway,
whose Marine Pavilion thirty years ago, under
the management Of the veteran Cranston, was
thronged regularly every season by the wealth
and beauty OF the metropolis Ia scarcely known
to the general mass Of pleasure seekers. The
Springs alone have retained their ancient re-
nown, and to them dock from all parts Of tho
continent not merely bcaux and bellies, but
steady sober papas and nam mas, solid mer-
chants aud bankers, astute politicians, profes-
slonal men e Exhausted by their winters work, aud
invollds who fondy hone to prolong life II not
to regain health, by imDiblng the medicinal
waters.
The attractions Of Saratoga ara manifold. The
least Of them Ia the springs, TO which No 1rst tho
place owed It's name and fame. Tts climate,
though warm at times, Is generally delightful
Its air is pure ts soil dry and we'll drained, and
its hcalthfulnesa unrivalled. There arc no mos.
quitoes and but few flies. The spft brcczes that
float In with the morning are fragrant with the
odora Of grass and everpreens, and as tho vs-
itor sits lazily IN his chair on hs piazza he snG,
a perfume like that OF the virVIn forest, without
its plaques Of Insect life. Az the day venrs on
ing point, and evening almost always brines
cool freshness that gratefully soothes tho
nerves and woos one TO slcep with resistlcss
charm. Nowhere In the world, except in Ven
Ice Ia absolute idleness so delicious 70 tho
senses, while eating and drinking, which idle
ness usually deprives OF their zest, become. by
some mysterious alchemy OF the air, tho sources
OF more than usual pleasure. Long years Of cx-
perlcnoc and a wholesome competition have
brought the leading hotels OF tho place IN to
high pitch OF perfection respects both ac-
commodatlous and cookery. Spacious parlors,
wide and lofty piazzas, with plenty Of luxurious
chairs, large, well-furnished bedrooms, and good
dinners, conspire together TO render animal ox-
lstence in these great establishments as pleasant
as It possibly can he.
Tho town OF Saratoga has not much beauty TO
boast OF. II CONSISTS OF one main avenue,
called broadway, lined with hotels, boarding
houses. and shops, and a few side streets ex-
tending short distance In both directions from
it. The hotels, as may be Imagined. are tho
most ooDspio uous objects. Two OF them, the
United States and tho Grand Union. are i'm
mense structures, each built around several
acres Of ground, laid out in grass aud travelled
walks, and planted with large trees. Nothing
prcttier can be imagined than the appearance
Of these enclosures at night. when thsy are
hghted up by gas lamps, and filled with paily.
dressed thronas Of men, women, and children.
Another large hotel IL Congress Hall, which has
no grounds Of its own, hut overlooks the little
public park Of the town, In which Is situated
tho famous Congress sorlug. Another IL the
Clarendon, which has the reputation Of enter
tanning aristocratic COMPANY, but Ia 80
dreadfully dun that It's guests are glad TO 90
around to the other hotels visiting, TO get a
morabio smaller hotels, no end OF boarding
houses, all provided with ample plazzas, upon
which their inmates seem To spend IN lost OF their
time. and few furnished cottages rented by
the season. Shade trees abouni, and the side
walks are good, 40 that walking about, even at
noonday Is not impossible; but the roafways
are badly pggcd, being for the most part nothing
but The nltural light, sandy soil Of the region,
which requires constant watering Ia prevent its
flying into clouds OF dust. Still. there Is about
the place a general effect Of leaaness and repose,
which IL extremely grateful to an eve woaried
with the contemplation Of hot city; and the
want NJ urban nnIsh t- readily forgiven.
These physical advantages are, however, In
SUFFICIENT to account for the vast popularity OF
Saratoga. fancy that delicious air and c.-
mate. good hotels, and the prettiness OF
country village would hardly suffice to draw to.
ge;her the immense number Of people which
every summer oils the Saratoga hotels md
boarding houses. The secret OF the matter lies
rather In the facilities which the place offers for
the qualification of our national gresarlousness.
Americ ans VIGOROUSLY love 10 20 where there ia
a crowd. and whore they can see ani he seen Of
tho most people with tho least exertion At
Saratoga they have only to sit upon hotel
piazza, and a vast PROCESSION OF their fellow ciu-
zcns from every state in the Union is constantly