Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-17
A DAY OUT OF TOWN.
Trip Up the Hudson From New York
and a Visit at Saratoga.
CHAT WITH EX-GOVERNOR CURTIN.
Fashionable Gambling as Free and Open IS
Any Seen at Monaco.
TIE HOTELS AND HOW THEY CHARGE

CORRESPONDENCE OF THE prsPATcH.l
NEW YORK, August 16.-There are NOR
places out of town for o days recreation
immediately accessible to New York thai
can be found in the vicinity of any othe
city Of the United States. The tired busi
ness man can have his choice of seashore, o
mountains; of lake or river or rail. From
90 cents to So will land him anywhere
from Coney Island, the Jersey coast and tn
Alleghenies to Saratoga, Lake George, LAX
Champlain and the Adirondacks. know
OF no mere agreeable trip than that afforded
by the day line of steamers on the Hudson
Those magnificent palatial steamboats,
''The New York" and "The Albany, ply
ing between the metropolis and the Stat
Capital are crowded this season of the year
The fare is but s. and the scenic treat Of tn,
American Rhine" is cheap at the price
The route is favorite one for tourists.
I noticed while going up the Other
day that the upper decks swarmed
with the same class Of people that are seen
on the little Rhine steamers between Ma.
Yenee and Cologne. The same women with
bundles and waterproofs and umbrellas
the same men with field glasses slung to
them, with extra canes and new travelling
bags, crooks and alpine stocks. On the
Rhine the boats are not bigger than an
American gentleman's yacht; on the Hud-
son they are floating palaces, with restau-
rants, immense saloons, comfortable state
rooms, orchestras, accommodations for half
thousand guests, and room enough for
double the number.
BEATS RHINE TRAVEL.
The Hudson river travel is to-day nearly
that of the palmy DAYS of the Mississippi.
The Hudson river itself is in volume and
dignity as far superior to the Rhine as our
boats are to the old-fashioned pointed barges
of Germany. When it comes to scenery
there are points along the Hud-
son equal to anything along the
Rhine, though lacking the wild and weird
romance of the latter historical stream. The
creature comforts of travel are, of course,
with us. could not help but contrast the
meal served me in the splendid restaurant of
the Albany, where at least 200 guests were
being served at once, with the miserable,
stingy table d'hote dinner set in the little
crowded cabin of Rhine boat.
Another difference also presented itself in
the matter OF baggage. Abroad you must
sit on your possessions all day, like sitting
hen, or else pay somebody to watch them.
When we speak of "The American Rhine"
let the term be understood in the
broadest American sense. It is only by
contrasting these things with the best &C
of other lands that we can
realize and fully appreciate our own.
A DAY AT SARATOGA.
From ALBANY to Saratoga is but a trihe
more than an hour and dollar. You have
been just IL hours, to 8. coming up. By
rail along either river bank you might have
made it in shout five hours, but you would
pay more money, have less comfort and no
enjoyment. Lovely old Saratogal The
thoughts of it bring back the futter of
wings, the grand hotels sounds
Of music, gay turnouts, splashing fountains,
brilliantly lighted baz.ars, bareheaded
the festive roulette wheel,
springs and daily races-and over all and
greater than all else the thick, outrageous
shade of elm and maple.
Saratoga is one great sylvan grove where
fawns and fairies disport themselves for
brief season. coming and going with the
leaves and flowers. I don't know what
genuine fairy would do if charged S. day
and the usual extras incidental to hotel life
IN Saratoga, but you cannot even imagine a
'airy on the sun-stricken beach on Long
Branch, much less even think of such
ethereal things at Coney Island, Atlantic
jity, or other seaside resorts. In fact, by
he side OF Saratoga all of these places are
Is Q new rough pine fence to a granite wall.
KNOW HOW TO CHARGE.
The large hotels are more substantial and
Dore closely resemble the continental hotels
f the watering places of Germany and
But the meals are by no
means as good and the prices are much
igher here. 1 stopped at one walking
round block to reach my room from the
jevator, sitting down to dinner among
cres of tables, and viewing with an in
ulgeut and not bypercritical eye our
American hog aristocracy. For these
paid So day. for one consecu-
sntious cottage where 1 got quite as good
Or 50 30. The hotel can seat and feed 800
uests at once. and another about !, 900. The
inners could be duplicated, except in
ariety, at any half dollar d'hote dining
lace in New York.
I am a simple diner myself, and abomin-
te the Western habit OF two or three meats
nd a whole litter of side dishes. Ny
alter brought in response to my order
bout four tablespoonfuls of soup, two cubic
1ches Of fish, four ounces of roast lamb and
lint sauce scarcely fit to eat, quarter of a
Juab on toast, four thin slices of tomatoes
,st In big china tureen, and some mashed
otatoes. In ordinary quantities and well
repaired this would have been q substantial
zeal; as il was it proved a hollow mockery
dinner. For this the hotel charges g.
THE PROFIT In THE CARVING.
By sending the waiter back and waiting
alf an hour longer you can supplement
our first order and get enough to eat. AZ
.rwards you will know more and order |
lore. The waiting is not disagreeable if |
ne wine is good, and you have an eye for |
he health and fashion that surround you. |
his meal reminded me of the Washington |
Indlord's saying, that the profit OF hotel
eeping is in the carving.
Saratoga has long been famous resort |
II public men. met one who has made |
is mark upon his generation and who is
DIV in his declining years, retired from
ing and useful public career, loved and re-
,ected BY everybody who knows him. This
the "Old War Governor" of Pennsyl- |
ania, A. G. Curtin. His friends will be |
lad to learn that the waters and rest of |
aratoga have brought him better condi-
on of health than he enjoyed last winter. |
know OF no more interesting talker than
overnor Curtin. We sat on one of the |
road piazzas one morning after breakfast |
.e was dressed in plain business suit. like
Pennsylvania country merchant, but his
ii figure, as straight as an arrow, and his
oble bearing would command attention
,ywhere, as they did here even from those
no didn't know him.
CURTIN AND HAYWARD.
An eI-Coniederate Colonel, William A. |
.syward, of South Carolina, Joined Us in
Colonel Hayward himself is
striking military figure, a man with a his