Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-08-09
Ou.ofthe "EIcursions."

A party CT about one hunared anu MY
ladies AMI gentlemen, members OF the Choir
Union, and their friends, left this city on
Wednesday evening last on an excursion to
Piney Point, with the intention OF having q
good time; and it may be that some OF them
did have a good time There we're so many
drawbacks to the enjoyment Of the occasion.
however, that many of the party pronounced
il a failure, and said that, as Is was the hrss
experiment of the Choir Union in giving an
excursion to this place, it would probably be
their last The company were all on board
the p whatau et sbOut eight o'clock, and the
boa. started. Ii was then attempted to get
up some singing, and the members assembled
on the lower deck, where there was mo
piano; but it was impossible TO obtain light
enough there to Zee the words or the notes,
and tia, attempt was soon after abandoned.
Another difficulty, and serious one too, was
tue absence Of ice on board. The water was
so warm and brscksh As to be unfit to drloK,
Shile the heat was excessive. AS the hours
wore on, new vexatiOus arose. Some OF the
gentlemen were vainly seeking places to
sleep, all The births having been secured; and
these who could not fnd any, seemed detern-
ined that nobody else should enjoy any quiet,
and kept up Oh noise that slumter was
out Of the que zion. Then those who bad
berths were unable to remain IN them on
account of the extreme heat; and 90 the
whole, such q catalogue OF vexstions would
be diff cult to equal. All conso!ed themselves
as best they could, with sntcipstions OF the
euilyment of the coming day; and at about
sunrise on Thursday morning the boat ar.
question was, when will breakfast be
ready?" for the whole party were in need OF
food as well as sleep. On tudlng that they
would have to wait three hours, some OF the
gentlcmen determined to avail themselves OF
the saltwater bathing, In order to refresh
their lnnguId frames.
81 they went into the water but came out
much faster than they went 10, tor the sea-
nettles were 20 thick that bathing was rem
dered intolerable. Alter waiting with pa
thence and resignation, ut last the breakfast
bell was heard, aud all rushed ioto the
dning-room. Some succeeded 10 satisfying
their hunger, aud others did not; for the &C.
comcdatioLs were insufficient for the party.
and II there was food enough, the scarcity of
waters rendered it Impossible for all to OBJ
tain attention. Toe water here was misera-
BILE, and 10 ice could be obtained. The coffee
was very fair, but no milk accompanied it.
We will here remark that we met with sew
eral gentlemen from Washington, who were
staying at the hotel mporarlly; and we have
90 duuot but that for limited number Of
persons the accommodations would be all
that could be desired; but, for party like
this, they were certainly inadequate.
The piano was removed from the boat to
the pavilion, and the members OF the a-socia-
ton expected to have some musical practice,
but during the whole day the singing was
munopolsed by some half dozen amateurs,
and no general practice was bad until after
tea, when the conductor called the party TO-
gether, who made an attempt to sing q few
pieces in the dark, the music being drowned
by the escaping steam Of the boat. which was
DOW ready to start. This WAS another failure
anu the party returned on board where the
scenes of the previous night were repeated.
with additions and variations I'D htttun,, Of
the Growing of chanticleer and various hide
Gus noises which ettsctually dispeled slum'
ber About one or two o'clock in the morn.
ing, however, all became comparatively quiet
aud after two OF three hours sleep we arrived
at the wharf in Washington, fatgued and ex-
hausted, vcxed, and disappointed, but glad
that the affair had come to a termination.-
So passed the pleasure trip to PDey Point!
WASH IHiOU