The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1880-10-16
Notes from Aunt Chats Portfolio.

IN votes from Aunt 0Hnt'S Portfolio.
From Long Branch to Saratoga-Hudso:l
River Steamers-TE1e Attractions of New
York's Famous Watering PIace-On the
Beauties of Nature.
FABIAN HOUSE, WHITE MOUNTAINS, }
September -, 1880.
EDITOR CHIEF:
From Long Branch we went to Sara
toga, and as we had seen the Hudson
river scenery several times, John pro-
posed that We should take the night
boat from New York to Albany. We did
so and reached Albany at 5 A. n.
The boats on Northern rivers are very
different in construction from ours. |
can not explain the ditference-I only
know that they are low pressure, not so
liable to explosion and that their ma
chinery works perpenaicularly through
the centre Of the boat where it is exposed
to view. To Inc, it is always a pleasure
to watch its movements, so regular, SO
smooth, 50 complicated yet SO simple.
The night beats on the Hudson are
large, elegant and luxurious, accommo-
dating several hundred people. They
have two-story cabins, fine stairway
leads to {; balcony extending around the
cabin, upon which the upper rooms open,
they are the width Of the balcony small
er than the lower rooms The brilliantly
lighted saloon with its crowds of people,
some seated II, groups, others promellad-
ing the balcony, forms a novel and pic
turesque spectacle.
We reached Saratoga for breakfast. It
was a lovely morning and when we
walked across the street and entered
Congress Park it seemed as if we had
been ushered into Paradise. 1t certainly
is a lovely little park, with pretty pavil-
ions nicely graveled walks, terraced hill
sides, shady groves, lakes, fountains,
flowers, deer pens, trout ponds and COM
Portable seats everywhere. It is much
freunented all day, but the afternoon
concerts attract crowds of people who
meet their friends and amuse themselves
with conversation and promenading un-
til the hour for tea. The park must
yield a fine profit to its owners.
Saratoga is Il very pretty town, pleas
ant enough even ont Of season, with
beautiful avenues, grand trees that in
terlacc their boughs overhead, lovely
cottages that display the most exquisite
taste, and charming drives. One finds
it easy to take !, great deal Of exercise
walking to the various springs; a favor
lite ramble was through a skirt Of wood
to the Excelsior Spring, where we loved
to while away the hours drinking in the
pure air and watching the dear little
squirrels sporting and chattering as they
garnered the nuts for the Ninter-wise
creatures that they are!
The Geyser and spouting Springs are
also about two miles distant and the lat
ter is very curious, spouting its waters
straight up into the air full thirty feet.
Hotels are numerous III Saratoga, some
Of them magnificent, and almost every
dwelling, even the school buildings, are
open to boarders during the season, so
there are accommodations to suit the
taste and purse Of every one. Persons
may board in some retired spot and yet
have access, if SO inclined, to all the
gayeties, as it is customary for people to
visit the large hotels during the day
and evening, promenade the parlors and
piazzas OF taking a seat, enjoy the de-
lightfnl concerts. The bands publish
their programmes daily in the "sarato-
ga Summer Season." and play from ten
to twelve P. N. At all such gatherings,