University of Virginia Library

AT THE CLARENDON.

Many good people sat on the Clarendon steps in pious attitudes,
with prayer-books in their hands, or in anxious groups
listening to the reports of hotel committees.

I stopped a moment before a group of pious Philadelphia
ladies, to listen to the proceedings. They were proceedings of
terrible interest.

“We will now listen to the report of the Committee on
Incomes,” said Mrs. W—.

“What does all this mean?” I inquired of my old friend,
Richard Suydam.

“Mean,” said he—“why, don't you know that our hotel is a
grand social Congress—that they have a committee appointed
to investigate the social, commercial, and intellectual qualifications
of new arrivals?”

“I am a plain, unpretending inmate of Congress Hall,” I
replied; “how should I know these things?”

Mr. Suydam then presented me to Mr. B—op, Mr. V-n N—t,
Mr. T—n, and Mr. M—all, who took me into a secluded room

near the balcony, where I listened to the exercises. I listened
with avidity, and determined to write down what I heard and
saw for the benefit of thirty thousand Commercial readers at
Newport, Long Branch, and at Congress Hall.

All the managing old ladies and young ladies of the Clarendon
who have reached the age of discretion (29) were present.