Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-07-27
NEWS AND GOSSIP.

On my return from trying to cstchs hat sbssps-j
hcad-that proved not enough Of xdunder head
10 let me catch him. found the (Old Point
paviliOn) parlor graced with many ladies and the
Standing bcaux Of the season here, enjoying music
At The plano, Of course made by different guests.
Thus an hour, was made attractive before tea. |
After early tea most Of the guests stroled upon.
the ramparts of Fortress Monroe, making their |
entire circuit and then wentied their way 20 the /
parade grouads ,where the band Of the fort psac-
tice for hour after twilight every faff evening
That free concert (such enjoys ontwo utter
moons In week In washington) being over, all |
FASTENED back to the pavilions ballroom, where |
shortly after nine p m. the nightly ball began |
T hat was kept up by the young folks until half
past twelve; other guests, by hundreds, looking
on, and anon strolling back and forth upon the |
long and spacious corridor that gracss the Hygeias
water front. - y = 49,.
1 omitted to mention that various parties Of
ladies and gentlemen spent each some hours of
the afternoon sailing or fishing Half dozen ca
pacious aud substantial sloops are kept ready for
the service Of such parties at any moment They
are safe and very agreeable, and really form quite
an additional attraction for the Point. After S
p. m, especially, the breeze is fresh and most
exquisitely delightful, and can be best enjoyed
thus upon the water. While those fond of ladies,
society, patronize the ballroom after p. m; the
fast 'uns' were for the most part In the bowling
saloon and billiard room, with not few engaged
-as some will spend much time at watering
places-in handling ''the papers, So there was
amusement to suit every variety Of tastes at Old
Point So far a. card-playing was concerned,
saw no more OF II there than occasional game Of
whist played half by ladies. That spe,ks well FOR
the management Of the hotel the work Of pre-
venting any gambling nom taking place in the
main building Of such an establishment, though
absolutely necessary for the comfort Of guests who
very properly eschew gambling associations, is one
Of great difnculty. Fortunate, indeed, is the en-
pressario who succeeds in It. -- - 80 . ~ y
left the Hygeia with great regret; for a more
pleasant sojourning place, or more healthful
one is not to be found this sde of the Atlantic
apprehend. Most Of Its servants, by the bye, are
colored ones from Washington city. Proverbialy
accommodating, as found on inquiry, they were
more than kind to me. In their attentions. was
happy to trace the Stas's universal popularity at
home; with that class, with all others. x
We are just out Of the petite harbor Of Hampton
where the steamer touched for brief moments
village Of few hundred inhabitants, which has ex-
listed since revolutionary times, fine Female In
stitute building, the neat and modest residence Of
=
substantial Washington master mechanic builds
for himself at times the outskirts Of the city
and Chesapeake hail. a summer resort Of modest
pretensions, form It's noteworthy features. re-
collect IT, twenty years ago, mnch dingier
looking burg than at present; proof that King
Progress holds sway even there Itcan enjoy little
trade except in being sort of headquarters Of the
numerous oystermen who fish for the bivaves in
the waters hereabouts, to sell them exporters to
other parts Of the Atlantic coast In twenty wears
the business has increased twenty fold, vet the
supply is not believed to have diminished In
that time the prices at which they sell have in
creased about three fold. AZ r'-
The numerous truck farms" skirtng Elizabeth
rverare institutions that have grown up here since
my sojourn in Norfolk, twenty-odd years ago
The early vegetables and fruits found in the mar
kets Of all the Northern coast eties (yNashington
included) are grown on them, to the extent of a
million and hail ooilArs' wvrth -...-.n, 4 ....
informed. Vegetables and fruits-the soil being
peculiarly adapted to them-rnature here at least
a month earlier than those grown on the Eastern
branch with US which, in turn, mature perhaps
two weeks earlier than similar crops grown else
where In the vicinity Of Washington. 1t is fair to
estimate that this truck trade and the trade in oys
tiers and fish taken out Of the waters in the vicinity
Of Norfolk draw tribute of at least two millions
Of dollars annually to the laboring population of
that region, from the pockets Of persons at dis
lance, who are fond Of good eating 1t is all hon
estly earned for other labor requires the exer-
else of more patient care and forethought than
market gardening, nor is any other more irving to
the constitution of the strong man than ovstering
for livelihood.
The approach 20 Norfolk by water is very fine
the city being seen to most advantage from that
point. On the right hand the fine naval hospital
Of the Government believe the largest in the
country-stands out very prominently. II has a
Background Of tail, dark dense and graceful pi ne
forest, that brings most conspic s features into
glarfDg view. Its design Is massive and dignfned
and tits kept, as well as the ground, through which
one approaches it, with commendable care.
Portsmouth, little further south, upon EIiz
abeth river, has improved magically In twenty
ave years. Thrift is evident in all one sees Of il
from the water. Its population and buildings
have evidently doubled, at least, in numbers 4
and 1t wears in all things the aspect of busy.
money-makng modern town, with thoroughfarts
crowded with busting striving men and wharves
and dePots with produce, porters, runners, hack
men, and all other usual appurtenances If a city
that is the terminus Of considerable railroad
From the river in front Of IT, l caught my only
glimpse Of the Navy Yard, with i.sl three or four
immense ship-houses, the Pennsylvania, (receiv.
ing ship.) the largest American Inan-of-war IL
not one Of the largest ships of war anywhere.
and Of the thriving village of Gosport, which
owes Its existence to the operations of the Gov
eminent there, employing at times from thousa nd
to fifteen hundred persons in various callng..
whose families for the most part inhabit IT, Cos
port, too shows the advantages Of the presence Of
large force Of industrious and skiIlfuI me-
chanics, in now looking 20 like q considerable
little town, full Of life, animation plenty, aud
consequent contentment. w. d. w-u.
NAVAL ORDERS. The following Eno.,eers
have been ordered to the o. s. steamer Saginaw
now fitting out at the Navy Yard, Mare Island.
California, for the East India station: Sd Assi,.
tants George Rntz, WIS. Thompson, H. w.
Robbie, and James Sheridan. e',I ...t'-rrr