Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-08-18
LETTER FROM NEW YORK.
correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette.
New York. Aug. IS, 1902.

New York, Aug. l6, 1902.
Your correspondent has at length re-
covered from his aversion to doing much
writing this summer, and remembered
that the old Gazette would possibly not
object to a letter from his retreat.
Strange as it may appear to some, who
hive forgotten the fact that New
York is really one of the most popular
re sorts for country folk, this retreat Is
now in that celebrated city between
Central Park and the Hudson. His con-
slant travelling companion considers that
it is the most comfortable place found so
far i'm our travels this summer. Two
weeks were spent at Atlantic City before
coming here, but as that unique and
world-renowned seaside resort has been
described by your correspondent before
and is so welI-known to your citizens 1t
seems superfuous to say much about
it. Sousa and his band, which ought to
have been been one Of the great attrac-
tions. had very slim attendance at the
superb concerts given every afternoon
and night. 1t is said that he Is to re-
ceive 500. 900 for the season which ap-
parently must be bargain for the owner
of tine old Auditorium pier. We have,
however heard since coming to New York,
that Sousa himself desired to break the en-
gagement shortly after going TO Atlantic
City. owing to the poor attendance, but
the owner of the pier held him to 1T,
probably looking forward to increased
attendance in August and September.
Among the many attractions at Atlantic
CITY. we considered this the very best,
and found the music equal to the reputa-
ton of the band which scored such a
great success in Europe. Another
event at Atlantic City this summer was
the sale of IL valuable portion of the
famous Humbert collection. Your read
ers will remember the denouement OF
! Jhis case in Paris a short time ago and
the dismav of the creditors on finding
that Humbert had escaped the meshes OF
the law. 80 the articles of vertu and
priceless antiques he had collected were
out UP for sale and fine portion OF
them found their way to Atlantic City.
Humbert. rascal as he is, is man OF
excellent taste, as is shown by some OF
the most splendid Sevres vases ana
French marqueterie tables exquisitely IN
laid. We have ever seen. There was especial
" a pair of superb ROYAL Seyres porce-
lain-painted Grecian shaped vases by Ber-
trand. the celebrated master, dated l1S9.
They were valued at S2l, 800 the par.
We looked and admired but refrained
from bidding on these. There was also
fine plaque of the NapoeOnic period
with dozen cups and saucers all of ex-
luisite dark blue coloring, decorated on
the outside with NapOleon's bees and on
the inside with % carat gold. The
plaque was also decorated with the Ia
NOUS bees. As we looked atty we thought
of an intimate friend in Alexandria, bui
the prize was beyond our reach even foI
a gift. =,
But we must now stop describing the
attractions found at Atlantic City Other
than the bathing, else this will be let
ter from New York about Atlantic City.
We must, however, refer to some OF oul
country friends whose names have moi
yet 50 far appeared in the Gazette a
visitors at that place while we were
there. Their visit is now, of course,
matter of ancient history as times now
90. but they might feel slighted if they
did not appear in our first letter. They
we're Capt. David Meade and wife, Mis-
Isabella Randolph, DIR. Thomas Lewis
the venerable Mr.. William kennerl.
and Mr.. Reardon, all of White Post
and Mrs. Hamilton Fletcher, Of Kappa
hammock county. Their presence, no
forgetting that of two others whom tn
atiouette of the Gazette does not per
nit rs to mention, added much to on
endowment, and we hope there may be
similar conjunction of visits anothe
season. g.
Passing now to New York, tri
there seems so much of commonplace
+, business men and Others, involving
II does the hurried rash OF the presen
tSot its great attractions, outside OF bus
moss resorts and the centres OF America
and European travel, are apt to be owe
looked. We do not know any plae'
where two or three weeks even III sun
mer can be spent more pleasantly. |
course this is an exceptionally cool SCI
son. but there is always plenty oil a
stirring here. except in the dense
packed portions of the lower part OF II
city. Besides the parks and river al
barbor trips give abundant opportunlu
for keeping cool on hot days.
Among the objects of interest VISIT
by us the Metropoliton Museum OF y
easily occupies foremost place.
contains large number of valuao
paintings. masterpieces of old and mo
ern times. A portion of the Villa
4, yspderbiit collection OF mode
paintiEas m Is row on exhibition loan
by Mr.. George Vanderbilt for this yea
II is the first time that tii. collectl'
has been thrown open 20 me Puon
Among the finest OF these =
must mention Ros bonheur ~
Monarch. ." representing al aged li''
ssat