The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-07-23
COL. FRENCH'S HoTEL-oLD POINT

~ cer'aihiy must De gratifying 10 Col French
to perceive SD many 6at,erng notices of his
Temple of HEALTH" not only from the press,
but from statesmen, authors, and private gentle
men. who have luxuria,ed at that delightful
place, Old Point Comfort" We cannot spend
day or two with him. we wish we could we
are tied hand and foot. 'iill the return of our
Senior," when we hupe to have our share of
the sheeps-heads, hog fish, turtle, terrapins, oys
tiers, and other decacies that our cotemporaries
north. south, east. and west. are Dragging ON y
We take up the Richmond papers, and The
Enquirers." Compilers," and the 4" Whios %
are chuckling over the happy hours, thew have
spent at the "Old Point Hotel" five want Ia see
what 'he"folks" are doing at Petersburg, .sSyme,"
and the Republicans" are saying how much
better they feel, since the have taken a new
lease of life from the " Hypeia" The first thing
IN the morning we look if Norfolk. has not vet
been swallowed upby Portsmouth and there again,
the " Heralds." the :" Beacons," and the :. Cou-
rlers,' are relating the pleasures Of trip To 'Old
Point" We expect " later news" from Phila-
delphia and Baltimore, and the first article tina,
strikes our eyes is the encnniums of the .. Suns"
Arguses." " Ledgers," Sentnels," d" Kew
stones" Spirits, or Pennsylvanians. - mao.
netzing each other with the pleasure and eninv.
ment they have received, at that delec,able
Point" Even Father Richie. has had his share
OF the good things at that - Health Renova,or ("
Well. we are not envous. if zee could not eniov
ourseif there, it affords us pleasure to know
that our contemporaries have, and that does us bnlf
as much good. as if we had been there mr.
sell All we fear is. when we do take up our
march for the "Osceola," Alice" or &c An.
gusta.' you will have no room. Colonel. how
is it 2
We cannot close this without extracting from
the g Western Continent the following ms,
remarks -
90 But all this you observe is well enough for
the young and the healthy and the gay-yet.
what is there to Invlgorate the enfeebled frame
TO raise up the detected mind and restore health
to the sick The really sick will find here ii,
is all. alas! they can find anywhere.) skifnI
physicians to attend and kind friends ia nurse
them for them there is no Comfort-save that
which is washed by the far off ocean of Eterni,v
and lighted by the beams of everlasting olorv
But for the valeludinarian and conyaJescen, l.
The hne salt air. baths, hot and cold and baths in
the sea, so lnvigoraling and identifying i'm their
effects as no doubt to have given rise among The
ancients To the idea that Venus herself. the
Queen and Goddess of Beauty sprung into heinz
from the ocean foam. But more than all this IS
the fine society, male and female, SO extensive
yet having SD much polish and so much intel
lectuaiity. bringing together from the North and
the South, the East and the West, treasures ofl
all sorts to cheer. delight and instruct. and so
feeding and refreshing the spirit, as that the bodv
cannot fail To be invigorated also
. We have already said that, Old Point stands
upon the very high way Of nations and thitber
are borne with the greatest speed and facility.
news and people from every quarter of the world
Ii is IN the general thoroughfare between tho
North and South, and steamboats, and vessels of
all description are hourly passing and re passing.
SO that here you may gain regular intelligence of
what is gong on IN every portion of the civilized
world, or ct far away friends or of anythino dear
you may have left behind You at home. And
should circumstance require a quick return TO |
your home, you can at almost any moment take
Inc wings OF the wind or the more speedy i'm
pulse of steam to bear you away thither.
&c But leave Point Comfort when Won NAV
1t will be with feelings of regret. You will |
there have formed some attachment (and
who can say how slrong) or strengthened old |
ones. You will feel like one awakinp from
some delightful dream. But the dream will have
left behind it much for pleasant "Reminiscences. |
And IN future while chewing the "cud of sweet
anu pittel idhcy, IL VIII recur to YOUR mind |
suggesting the beautiful words of Moore. a little
modified
Time is long past and the is afar,
But When my head rests its pillow
Wlll memory sometimes rekndle the star
That Cloud on the breast of the billow So
,. has truly said, it is delightful and healthy
place DR.. Finley in the accompanying latter
fully corroborating his assertion
Fort MONROE, July Is, 1916.
To james S. French, Esq.:
SIR In reply to your communication of the
ON july asking the result Of my experience in
relation 10 the healthfuIness of Old Point Comfort
during the months of August and September.
have to state that the Medical Topograp hy of the
place. and my own experience, verified by nv |
quarterly reports for the year 1914 and 1916, au
thorzes me to say, that more healthful spot
during those months cannot be found South Of
Mason & DixoD'S line indeed. | believe might |
say with truth, in all our country.
Respectfully yours.
G. a. FINLEY, Md,
Surgeon United States Army.