Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-07-28
Correspondents Of the EVENING STAR.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY, July 27th. 1888.
thought until my summers travels began
this year that I had very large circle Of
acquaintance, as one who has lived so long in
Washington and visited SO many watering.
places in summer necessarily must have. But
wherever I have been this season have met
fewer Of those have before known than ever
before at the same places, and am tempted to
wonder where the majority of the people know
have gone for the summer. Some say that more
people than usual have gone to Europe. and
others that more than usual are spending the
summer at home, or are remaining there until
later In the season than they have heretofore
done. 1t is frankly admitted here that the sea-
son thus far has been unprecedentedly poor.
Last season people were late arriving, but not
SO late as now.
think there is q general feeling OF discour-
though OF course the place will be much fuller
IN August. The attractions OF Saratoga are
even greater than usual, as the variety Of amuse-
ments y greater.
The weather has been cool and delightful all
summer, but there have been more showers of
rain than were conducive to outdoor pleasures
until this week.
THE RACES
The races began on Saturday with very
large attendance, especially Of ladies' but it was
saddening to me, having seen, as have, sew
eral such fine contests for the Travers stake as
those Of Tom Bowling and other noted winners
of that stake, to see it dwindle down to mere
walk-Over for Barnes in such slow time that I
could scarcely believe it was genuine start
and that the race was really in progress until 1t
was nearly done. / never saw so little Interest
manifested in race before for such an import
ant stake on this course. The crowd present
limo .t.~A
and equally SO when the victor came in slowly,
as if he-Barnes-did not think 1t worth his
while to exert himself.
Those better instructed than I about racing
matters say that In August there will be q much
better show at the course, though some OF the
races this week have been excellent, as was the
steeplechase on the opening day.
All who take an interest in racing and are not
personally interested in rival tracks must al
ways wish we'll to the Saratoga course, the old
est now In the northern or eastern states.
1t is amusing to hear the talk Of those new to
races when on the grand stand. A party I'M
versed in even the simplest technicalites OF the
turf were near me there Saturday. When the
Travers Cup" magnificent large bowl Of
hammered silver lined with geld similarly
treated was brought out and placed on the
pedestal, Just in front OF the stand, one young
woman OF this party exclaimed: There's one
of the pools; isn't it pretty; Just see IL! Can
buy that for five dollars? | didn't know they
had such pretty pools"
Another of the party insisted that the horses
must always 60 three times around the track In
all races, and that they always had to come in
meek and neck" They were all greatly disap-
pointed that there was no music. as one Of their
number had Insisted in advance there would be-
When they noticed on the program that ''those
In heavy figures, meaning the printing Of the
numbers of the horses, We're probable starters"
they wondered aloud what 'St0rters" meant
and why their figures would be heavy. They
also expressed aloud their amaZement when
told that the owners, and not the gaily-dressed
riders OF the horses. got the money won by the
victorious horse in each race.
SARATOGA ATTRACTIONS
The amusements here are in full blast. Con-
gress park has had some fine displays of fire
works during its evening concerts and the
hotels have begun their hops, except the Grand
Union, which has not opened its ballroom yet,
but probably Will do so on Saturday evening
Congress Hall had hops on last Friday and Mon
day evenings, and the United States hotel has
also had two on successive Saturday evenings
That of last Saturday was numerousy attended
and there was much dancing all the evening
The Clarendon hotel under its Washington
management, Messrs. Harris & LOsekam, is
doing well. Its first full-dress hop Of this sea-
and was a very enjoyable occasion. When hops
are given at this hotel, as 1t has no ballroom,
the very spacious dining-room is cleared for the
dancing.
GRAND GARDEN PARTY.
The Grand Union opened its season for dane
ing on Wednesday. the 25th. by garden party,
If possible surprising In beauty any Of those
given In its enchanting park during the past
eight years, when at least two such events have
occurred there each summer. The lessee OF the
hotel, Mr. Clair, is always very liberal In extend
ing invitations to those staying at other hotels
and to other pleasant people who are at the best
boarding houses, or who keep house here during
summer, as well as to many residents of the yil-
lage, so that the attendance at these fetes in
cludes a majority Of the interesting people In
Saratoga at the time they are given.
The invitations vary in style every year, and
are engraved In the finest manner. This time
they were on very large plain white cards, in
closed in an envelope to match. The design
showed on the left young girl and child in a
garden in ball dresses, and on the right moon
light lawn scene, two children playing. and a
bani and tambOurine and sheet of music lean
ing against vase of flowers. On the center
space square of plain white-the invitation
appears wOrded as follows:
First Garden Party, 1888. The pleasure of
YOUR company is requested at the Grand Union
Hotel. Saratoga Springs, n. Y, Wednesday July
rs, 1888. Children, afternoon, 4 to Z. Ladies
and Gentlemen. evening, 9 to IL. H. Clair
iltScut IniS 1utitatiOu LOT abundance.
The name of the holder of the invitation was
written on each one, and they were not trans
ferable.
The garden. four acres in area shaded by
magnificent elms, forming perfect Gothic arches
over Its pathways, lawns, flower beds and foun-
tains. was made the more enhancing by its dec
OratiOns OF hundreds Of flags and shields among
the trees and colored draperes of silk and plush
with gold fringe along the balconies OF the
hotel and cottages, and the three thousand
Chinese lanterns, which, with electric lights and
gas lamps illuminated 1t by night.
Whether In the afternoon, from to z, when
the children had possession of the dancing plat
form laid on the lawn beneath the elms, which
al freSc0 ballroom floor measures lis feet by GO
feet, and the slanting rays of the sun from the
western end Of the garden lighted the scene, or
at night, when illuminated as above mentioned
and the archways formed by the trees were re-
splendent with chandeliers composed of tiers Of
the gaily-decOrated lanterns on hoops and stars,
and the fountains looked like the jeweed fruit of
Aladdins garden as varying c0lOrs were cast by
electric lights upon them, it was difficult to de-
eide which spectacle was the most alluring
Above the dancing floor q canopy was formed
by streamers Of cOlored tarletan fastened at the
four corners to uprights and meeting in the cen
ter high enough above the platform to admit of
an electric light. hanging like q blazing dia-
m0nd pendant from this apex over the heads of
the dancers Separating the dancing floor from
T.