The Washington herald., 1909-08-20
SARATOGA SPRINGS.
Downfall Of Famous Resort Is Due
Largely 10 Absence OF Gambling.

BOWhAdil or FumOus Resort Is Due
Largely 10 Absence OF Gambling.
From the Boston Herald.
An effort has been made this summer
70 revive the glory OF Saratoga as
watering place, and there has been in
teresung correspondence on the subject
Some maintain that the loss Of the
races is the ruin Of tho pretty village:
that persons needing the benefit OF the
springs now find no inducement 70 take
a cure. In the old days il was differ
ent. there was the salutary exhIlarauon
OF betting on the horses. the owners in
turn OF the sumptuously furnished club
I houses" stood as Aesculapius Offering
the pleasant remedies OF faro and rou-
lette- Now there Is nothing but natural
scenery with good air. The Springs?
Yes. they are still there and they stiH
! retain their medicinal qualities, but there
is no real incentive for cure. Others
do not regret the absence Of betting and
gambling. but they miss the "atmos-
phere" that IS so helpful at Carlsbad
Kissingen. and other European watering
places. The American drinks flppantIy
and not deeply at a Saratoga spring.
saragota IS stiU a delightful village.
its waters are undoubtedly of benefit 10
many; but IL IS doubtful whether II will
ever be as fashionable a summer resort
as IL was when Newport. with its gilt
tering hotel life. was its only rival. The
Saratoga described by Charles Astor
BrisJed m his amusing Upper Ten Thou
sand and by George William Curtis in
his Lotus Eating" and Easy Chair
L AZ rr-FfF ,t-,T.
IN the old days at Saratoga a hotel We
randa was as a microcosm Of "Au
America There was a constant process
sion Of distinguished men and women
A New York banker met his fellows
throughout the country. 4 Boston law
yer fnterchanged views with counselors
| from St Louis and New Orleans A
| Kentucky woman. sure OF her beauty
/ and her costumes. knew that che was
shining for all whose praise and envy
we're desirable. Incidentally. there was
/ much drinking Of mineral waters. II
was the fashion 10 take a certain num-
Der Of glasses daily at this or that spring.
/ I-fvers were thus put IN order FOR the
( coming winter
When this ,otei life was brilliant at
Saratoga and Newport, the ..lautic
coast. from Eastpo-. 10 Na- < was
| practically without summer co. .-Ses. The
/ Adirondacks were wild and accommoda-
| tons rude A visit 20 the White Noun
tains was regarded as good deal OF an
adventure Life IN a huge hotel was
eminently desirable There was grega-
/ riousness. excitement. there was the re-
lief from domestic cares. Then there was
no talk about the simple life, the bene-
fits OF open air. sleeping out OF doors.
! golf. Fletcherism. Vegetarianism was
only for eccentric persons. There were
TO automobiles; there were few private
yachts. The hotel was the thing; the
bigger the more crowded il was. the
/ better. And the hotels OF Saratoga were
world famous. To-day there Is a demand
for privacy, isolation; or, II the cottage,
be IN fact summer palace-for the rich
man Of 1903 has a palace for each sea-
son, after the manner OF the kings IN
ancient Persia-there IS private entertain
r1ent Of guests. AS long as there Is no
gambling, Saratoga must depend chiefly
on its mineral springs. It need not be
! dOwn-hearted; nor is Il fair 10 speak
Of 1t as a deserted village" It may still
offer comfort and health, even II the
fashionable pass il by.