Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-07-16
THE EVENING STAR.
DOUBLE SHEET.
JULY 10. 1881.


GOOD OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES THERE-wHt
| ARE COMING-THE NEWPORT sTYLE-THI
| AMUSEMENTS-THE INvALIDs-ETC.
| Especial Correspondence of THE EVENING STAR.
| RICHFIELD SPRINGS, July 18th, 1881.
! It is quite evident that the watering place:
| are doing a thriving business this season. Leav
| ing crowd at Long Branch. found this place
| also full, and the train on which travelled haj
scarcely vacant seat. This resort has long been
! famous on account of the strong sulphur
| springs and the baths Of hot sulphur water
which have relieved SO many cases of rheuma.
| tism and govt, as well as other complaints The
usual course has been followed at most summer
| resorts, health-seekers leading the way to pop
uarity and fashion and pleasure-seekers follow
! ing. think the latter are decidedly in the ma
jOrity here now. as they have been for some time
| pest. Many OF the same people regularly spend
| portion of each summer here.
Every season Washington society is well repre-
| sented here, well by some of its residents as
| by some members of the diplomatic corps and
gentlemen of each House of Congress with their
families. Quite number of naval families, we'll
known in Washington, have been in the habit of
| coming here. Admiral Almy will bring his wife
and daughters here before the close of this
| month"; on concluding their visit to Altoona.
Ex-senator COnkling's wife and daughter.
Mrs. Oakman, arenOw at the Spring House here.
and Miss COnkling, of New York, a niece of the
ex-senator, is in the party. They are living
very quietly, and seem to take little interest in
the social amusements. Mrs. Oakman is still as
attractI In face and manner as those who
knew her in Washington as Miss Bessie Conk-
ling remember her to have been. She still re-
sembleS her mother, though the likeness is not
so remarkably strong as it was before Mrs
COnkling grew stout and her hair turned grew
MI Oakman is engaged in business in New
YORK, but his wife and her mother are much
together. They have always been since Mrs.
Oakmans childhood as loving companions as if
they were sisters.
WHO ARE EXPECTED.
Among those we'll known in Washington who
have been among the visitors here during other
seasons are Vice President Arthur. Mr.. Justice
Hunt, Mr.. COnkling, Mr.. Baron Mayn, the for
mer Austrian Minister, and the former Spanish
Minister, Mr.. Mendez de VigO. and Mr.. de Soto
OF the Spanish legation. Representative and
Mrs. Walter A. Wood are here now, and also Mr.
StoughtOn, ex-Minister to Russia. and his wife:
Mr.. and Mrs. Robert Garrett, of Baltimore. and
Judge trick and his son and daughter from the
same city; Ex-Governor Latham and wife, of
california; Ex-Governor Van Zandt and wife. of
Rhode Island; Gen. J. L. Donaldson. Baltimore:
Mrs. Hughes and Miss MarkOe of Washington;
Mr. Isaac Bell, OF New York, and his wife, the
sister OF Mr.. James Gordon Bennett: Mr. G. w.
Vanderbilt, the son Of VIM H. Vanderbilt. and
Mrs II. Nick. TwOmly, the daughter of the lat
ter, with her husband and children; Mrs A. Sc
gum, the singer, and Miss Seguin; Judge Henry
L. Clinton and wife, of New York; Admiral Cur
vance and wife, Baltimore; Gen. Adam E. King
and family, of the same city. and Dr. Davidson
and Misses Alice and Edith Davidson of Wash
1ngtOn; Mrs. HObbie, of Washington and her
unmarried daughter have been spending some
time here, SO as to be near her son. Rev. Mr.
HObbie, who now has charge of an Episcopal
al MrC T 80
Annapolis. is here with her children and Miss
Wise, OF Washington; Miss Work, of New York,
VINO visited Judge Swayne's family last winter
In Washington is here with her father, Mr.
Frank Work and his family
the large number Of visitors who annually
spend greater or less portion of the summer
mere Is indicated by the fact that while the town
Claims no more than 500 permanent inhabitants
seven hotels accommodating each from $50 to
6OU guests, flourish here and twice as many
Doardlng-hOuses. or cottages" as they are
called since.
THE NEWPORT STYLE.
Newport swells set the fashion for snubbin O
those who board in hotels at that resort, and
patronizing their acquaintance who board in
so-called cottages. l find wherever 1 90 in
summer in the last few years that the next most
''nobby' thing to do if one cannot own or rent
cottage" is to take lodgings in something
which can be by some great effort of the imagi-
nation included in the category of buildings
which that much-abused word is supposed to
describe.
THE ENJOYMENTS.
The amusements here include a great many
out of doors. The town is 80 shady and clean that
walking is as much in vogue as at Saratoga, for
the same reason that ladies can 90 on the street
at any hour of the day in ight-colored or thin
white dresses, wearing slippers and eschewino
bOnnetS and hats if so inclined. 1t makes a vast
difference in the amount of exercise a lady is
Wiling TO take, whether she has to make a spe-
| indoors.
Driving is very much appreciated here, as the
roads are excellent and the scenery very varied
The fashionable drive is to and around Canada
ragO lake. beautiful sheet of water five miles
long, on which boating and fishing are greatly
enjoyed Many families bring their private car
riaSes ana horses here. some of them driving all
the way from Albany by good road. The dis
lance Is 66 miles. but there are pleasant stOp-
ping places all along the route and this return
to primitive style OF travelling affords pleas
| ing novelty.
| People seem to come here intending to spend
several weeks, and bring all their children. sew.
| ing machines, and sometimes pianos The mum.
Der of transient visitors is comparatively small
have rarely seen so large number of children
anywhere Their presence is due to the fact
that so many amusementS are provided for them
and the shaded grounds are so convenient fol
their games. The first hour of each of the hops
| is given up to Them and many of them dance
very beautifully.
An excellent band plays for dancing on alter.
| nate evenings in the parOrs of the two principal
notes.-the Spring House and American and also
gives concert once or twice during the day.
The attendance at hops and concerts is always
very large indeed. Here l notice. as did at
Long Branch. how much more dancing seems to
be enjoyed by adults than at Saratoga. l begin
to think it is because there seems less formality
about dancing in a parlor, where one is accus-
| toned to meet ones friends for a social chat
than in ball room reserved for dancing and
| entered only at stated hours.
Singers and musicians have long testified thei,
appreciation OF Richfield by making it an annual
| visit.
Concerts by the best artists are given here
every season. One was successfully given or
! the evening Of the 9th, at the Spring House. b,
| the celebrated violinist, Remenyi assisted by
Mr.. II. W. Beale, pianist.
THE INyALIDS.
| The invalids who are here for treatment are il
some instances so crippled with govt or rheuma
tism as to be obliged to use crutcnes or wheeled
chairs. They go through regular course O
| just so many baths and so many days drinking
| sulphur water. Some continue the treatmen
until silver coin kept continuously in the poke
turns black, thus showing that the system of til,