New-York tribune., 1880-06-27
THE AMERICAN AND his HOLIDAY.


It is not more than dozen years since the hard
worked New-Yorker or Philadelpblan with small
income, made up his MIND that the summer hGnoaX,
nei0hbor. was q necessity for himself-as much
of necessity in the work of the year as the hours
good. Now, that he is convinced of that, he takes
his holiday but he is not yet used to 1t. He car
ries the luxury uneasilyi It discOmfOrta him; he
chance to be idle in the year, he is captous about
the idleness and scared lest he may not enjoy every
moment of 1t.
He knows what he wants very well. He and his
wife and children are talking about that at this
very moment in hundred thousand places. lie
will tell you that he is not hard to please; There
have when he leaves homo for enjoyment; sublime
scenery, pure air. no mosquitoes, plenty of game,
milk, huit and eggs. congenal society spring mat
tresses, wel-cOOked meals and little TO pay at the
end of the week-gve him these and he Is satisfied.
Where he shall 60 to fnd them, and, after he has
gone how he was cheated while be was m there. snord
Now his French or German cousin oyer the sea
has hundred holidays In the year. de knows how
to bring the favor out OF every drop in the orange
When bis fete comes, he goes, fof few francs with
his sweetheart or wife. mile o. two out of town;
blows-it Is all good. 1t rains it is dusty-but they
Joke and laugh all the same. They criIcise nothing.
how good il all isl
But as for our American corn-husk bed, or o
mosquito in the woods. will OYerturn whole Sum-
mers airy fabric OF happiness. In his anxiety lest
he should not seize the OeSt cnance OF 6nJOynent'
he is apt to follow the largest crowd. He goes to
Niagara to Cape May, the Adirondacks, or to some
one of the countless pasteboard mansions or hot
farmhouses in the suburbs of the cities. He tells
Won that his object is rest and freedom, but the
chances are that ne leaves both behind in his house
in town. There he could wear bis old slippers he
chose his own companions he held snch habits and
opinions as suited him ; he was the Macdonald an d
where he sat was the head Of the table. Bnt III
every one of these Summer homes society tramples
him down, 1t is often little clique Of which be
never heard before, without father, mother, or
descent" He may laugh at 1t as vulgar and ignO-
rant but it is master of the position he s not. In
the hottest months of the year, when even the
beasts in tho field lie down to rest. it forces
upon him hurly-burly of fashion gossip,
dress, outlay, and weariness, which at
home he can manage to shut outside of his own
door, flo goes back, rule, to his shop or Office,
his gas pipes and family table, nnrefreshed, and
glad that the holiday Is over But, after all. he
| goes with the crowd the next year. The average
Amencan is afraid not to move with the crowd.
The history of all SummerIng-plao 10 alike. An
adventurous artist usually ventures into new field
and whispers his discovery 20 his friends. Scenery
IS well-ngh as popular hobby just now as house
hold decoration After him come pell-mell the
would-be aesthetics and later the mere fashionabes
as the flock follows the tinkle Of the bell-wether
and up go tho mammoth hotels as fast as mush
rooms spring on May morning Oh betramped sheep
walks.