Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-09-02
LETTER FROM SARATOGA.
Life Mt the Great summer Resorf-Whaf the
season Has Eeen-No:abIe Evenfs-Personal
Notes, Etc.
,ecial Correspondence Of THE EvEv1ye STAR.

Few days the glare and splend0r OF these palatial
hofeis viii be turned into darkness for eight long
months. 1t has not been 50 long a season, and,
Therefore, not as profitable Oae as that OF last
year; tut OF what there has been none could be
more br. liant For a month and half the place
has been crowded and the attractions unusually
good. There IS such variety Of diversion that
the days 90 swiftly by. What other place could
nj grand stand OF q racing course for f1fty-nine
day. That most everybody USES the waters, too,
Is shown by the record During August 1872 146
persons listed the HathOrn spring, and nearly as
many the Congress spring; and to be added to this
are thousands who use the Empire, the Red, the
GeysaT All the Saratoga vichy, which, by the way,
Is one OF the most popular OF all the springs
Every yer some new attraction is added to the
pllCe. TIL year railway running to the top of
Mount MeGre2Or, one thousand feet high, has
been competed. and thus far e. 90 paoDla have
y~trai It. \ fan-IscaDe and mountain yjp,y M over
n ty miles % unsurpassed beauty Is had from the
summit NeaT.y half a million dollars has been
put into this enterprise, and more Is to be added
1or next season
HOW THE MONEY GOES.
The way money is spent here IS calculated to
dsze one little who has never seen It before. l
never saw such sight as the closing day OF the
Saratoga races The grand stand and quarter
stretch were crowded. quite one-half OF those
seated on the former Were ladeS attired In the
very height of fashion, their many colorS blending
Der than August The excitement ran high and
TIE betting was spirited. The ladies' seemed to be
quite as much wrought up as the men. They kept
their husbands, brothers. lovers and friends busy
buying Paris mutual tickets, and they laughed
and Capped their hands and waved their hand
k"TchiefS and fairly shouted as the horses came
flying down the quarteT-StTetch To the finish. In
many Instances, at least where sat, they were
successful one Ticket which cost nve dollars win
ming sS0.20. Even the children 1Oinei in #, one
Little fellow not over twelve the son OF a Philadel-
phia gentleman who won the rank OF Gen ,ral in
fhsax 10 Il frs Is it'll Il,
500 ana gave the Jockey $50 who won the race.
Cincinnati man won $500 in two days
and Baltimore young man, who has l1tely come
into fortune, lost 3 OG0 in one day. These were
facts where stood, and doubt not that the rest OF
the crowd won and lost IN proportion. Coming back
u town in the omnibus a family OF seven were ad-
1usting their gains and losses. one bright Young
miss saying: Papa, you owe me lust Sl02l" The
betting permeatei every element. 1t literally
combination ticket stands 1t was the last day
and the last chance, and nearly everything seemed
70 be staked. Many who had won at the regatta
the day before lost ali on the Steeple-chaSe, the
fdvOrite horse stumbling and rolling over his rider
while jumping ditch. Many had 70 borrow
money 10 pay the hotels and their fare home.
But wherever yOI went Saturday night men and
women were boaetng OF their gains or admitting
their losses. and children were Circulating sub,
ScTTtlOn lists for the relief OF the injured Jockey
There was the evidence OF betting on every hand.
IL is bad enough to engUlf men, but what are we
coming To when women AMI children, respect
able, CT claiming to be respectable, drawn into
this whirlpool? The Emperor OF Germany sup
pressed gambling OF another sort at the beautiful
resorts or BddeE-Baden and HOmbuTE. and the
legsl ture OF this state has driven the N0olrooms
out OF New York city, but at Saratoga they -four
1sh with a defiant license.
IN THE CLUB ROOMS
But all the money IS net spent at the races. The
extensive clubhouse, built In the palmy DAYS of
John Morrissey, opposite Congress Springs park,
and within block OF most of the leading hotels,
Is open night and day, and the games In its gIded
paricrs have been crowded for a month past.
While no actual resident Of Saratoga is permitted
to enter It's portals the bell IS answered for the
TEST OF the world Hundreds visit ft out OF curl
osity, who never saw the tiger in his den. and OF
such was party OF Washington gentlemen the
other night he gambling room is an immense
room. lighted as bright as day, and covered with
the soft cOlorS OF an Administer carpet Pictures
hang from the walls, and on all sides OF the room
are the gaming tables for faro, roulette etc Al
though the tables were surrounded by groups of
men, II was very quiet. There was no loud talk
inZ. The FOOTBALLS OF the tiger are noiseless.
The players bought their s'chfps," and the ONLY
sound was the rattle OF the roulette balls and the
announcement OF the numbers. The PLAYERS
seemed TO stand about one chance in ten. Ad-
Joining ms room ON one side was - elegant
apartment, with a large buffet on which were
oecanters of choice liquors. In its rear
there is spacious cafe, where dainty
meals are served, while on the Other side OF the
hall Is a luxurious lounging or reading room I'D
stairs are rooms for private parties OF card-play-
has been played at the OLD clubhouse near the
United States Hotel, this season, ana that on the
one western man quit as winner $3.50, There
are, OF course, many minor establishments and
all in full blast day and night. When the
5edSDn opens there IS the usual spaS by the local
authorities, looking 10 the closing OF these dens
but no more Is heard OF II, as the days wear on
or course this Is only one side OF Saratoga life
There are thousands and thousands OF moral
christian people who never see and hardly ever
hear OF these vices who come here every year and
nil the numerous hotels and boarding houses of
thiS beautiful town, seeking health ana getting 1t
from the stored-up fountains OF nature.
OTHER BEVERAGES TRAN SPRING WATER
II Is the popular impression that most everybody
comes TO Saratoga to drink the spring waters. and
in fact one sees but little drinking OF anything
else. Iventured 10 remark this TO MIR. Malon, the
superintendent OF the wine department OF the
Grand Union {and an old WashingtonIan). and to
add that there seemed TO be much less wine
drank at the table than IN old times He replied
that this was mistake, that as the visitors in
Creased the demand for wines and liquors in
creased The rich New Workers consume the
most, though people from every section call for
them. A visit TO the spacious wine vaults of the
hotel confirmed this In one part the eInpty hot
ties were put up in cords, and FOR this season
alone showed that thus far 1166 bottles Of spark
ling ana still wines and ale and beer had been
used 10y the guests. The amount is appalling for
when the consumption at the other hotels Is
added. II must exceed over one hundred thousand
bottles Of liquids In season OF little over two
months
PRESIDENT PRO TEN DAVIS
Judge Davis has been here week, and enfoys
himself very much In quiet way He is thor
ough believer in the waters, and drinks them with
regularity. They not only benefit him While here.
but he feels their good effect after he leaves He
was quite worn out by the protracted session OF
the senate, but expects TO be in good trim for the
DnceInber session. He has but little to saw about
politics. but thinks that the work OF dlsntegra-
ton IN the TWO political parties OF the country is
going on so rapidly that no can foretell Whar
viii happen In 1854 The contest In this state T.
already marked by such bitter feuds in the ranks
OF each party that It would seem 10 be impossIble
10 heal them before the next presidential cam
patEn- Although he does not quite say so JudOa
Davis evidently believes that there is a strong
Prospect for the formation OF d new Darty
from the distracted elements In the oid
ones Just what shape this may take IL is
impossible TO predict, but one based on anti-mon-
opoly, reduction OF the tariff and internal taxa
ton, reform In the civil service and the abolition
OF political assessments is not regarded as i'm
prot bic by some shrewd politicians. AS about
the only public man occupying an Independent
position. Judge Davis may come to the head OF a
new party II it should suddenly become an ele-
ment In our national politics. Those who have
discussed these questions with him come away
with the opinion that stranger things than that
have happened In politics. Leading politicians
from all parts OF the country turn up here almost
daily, and no better place can be found lust now
10 learn whether there Is any drift or not In any
SEXTON towards new or third party. The polit-
cal history or the country IS of course against the
SUCCESS OF any real third Vn,,oh