The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1860-01-24
THE DAY BOOK.
From the Cincinnati Commercial, Jan. l3.h.]
A Sensation Virginia Wedding.
BY THE AFORESAID N. D.
NATIONAL HOTEL, NORFOLK. Va,
Eahrnorv 1Ttb 1Q6Q

CLan ana oregon IerFltOTles, WhlkluR vi
loot and driving two home sick mules. The
salvation depended upon keeping the mules
along until l reached the other side of the
desert, began the practice of medicine on
those mules with complete success; and our
company prefxed to my name the title Of
!, NJ d.; but it has ever been question,
whether NJ d. meant Mule Driver or Mule
Doctor.
Well, l. the Aforesaid NJ. D., left Wash.
ington City,on the 18th instant, for the pur-
pos Of being present at hifalutin wedding
to come off at Norfolk the following day.
arrived at Baltimore in time for the Norfolk
packet. The Louisiana is a magnificent
steamer, sets superb table; and at supper
the Captain showed US bottle of Sparkling
Catawba,o la Longworth to Chicago Excur-
ionists.
The Aforesaid arrived at Norfolk next
morning, Simultaneous with the arrival of
the louisiana, all right side up, and was IN ct
at the wharf by an emblem of the South, and
honorably escorted by said dark olored en-
bem to the National Hotel, andshown to the
apartments Of Capt. -. Whereupon,
the Aforesaid proceeded, without ceremony.
to take drink. Breakfast was announced,
and we proceeded to pay our regards to Oy-
ters.
The National is very we'll kept house,
but has two objections; lst, AS pork is the
cheapest provision in the "Queen City," and
is used as matter of economy, SO are oys-
tiers in Norfolk; and the proprietor of this
hotel is always examining his guests with
oysters in every possible style, in order to
save more expensive provisions. 1t is a ras-
cally imposition! and, I'd, There are beauti-
full ladies who dine at the table %hots, and
sing songs in the parlor, to whom the Afore-
said has not been introduced.
Norfolk contains not 60, 900 inhabitants, as
the Aforesaid had supposed but 1000. The
public hacks have ebony drivers, and were
probably erected about the time Of the Revo
iutionary War; and the horses, most likely
served in the last. war, and have been kept
on lasting and prayers since that period in
American history. The streets were origi-
nallY intended to pc cIooked, aud they are
crooked. Chain Lightning may have run
through the city at some remote period,
marking oat the channels where humanity
might flow, if in a fluid state. The people
are constitutionaliy opposed to all such
things as work and quick motion.
Norfolk is one of the oldest cities in the
United States-has the finest oysters in the
world-the hardest yellow fever north of
Acapulco--the best harbor south of Mason
and Dixon's line; and the lack of trade is all
that prevents an immense commerce. But
"Norfok isn't any place, and will not be un-
til they get the Ohio river Uia the Allegheny
and the canal, ace are going to build, into
Nortolk,"* for no man who amounts to so
much as two rows OF pins would stay here il
they would donate him two such towns, pre-.
viously to the turning of the river.
Portsmouth GU the opposited side of Eliza
beth river has $4,000 Inhabitants. One of
the principal United States Navy.yards is
located there. These are not rival cities.
The people are not in favor of rivalry; it in
terteres with their peace and quiet. The in
habitants have great ideas of aristocracy 1t
is failing Virginians have. lEtermarrisge
has been going on so long, that all have got
to be f. F. VS.; and for what know, all
may be slightly tinctured with the blood of
certain greasy old squaw, known as Poca-
hontas.
Having taken birds-eye view of the city
of Norfolk, the Aforesaid proceeded to the
apartments of the bridegroom in the Nation
al Hotel, where the invited guests had as
sembled "to get good ready" and learn the
progra nme, which was:
l. Wine and oysters.
2. More wine and more oysters.
3. Broiled oysters and wine.
4. Wine with oysters fried, seasoned with
Bourbon.
5. Wine with oysters in the shell.
Three bushels of shell oysters. fresh
from the bay, and dozen otwine, with two
"niggers" to open them.
Then began the most terrific carnage
this country had ever known, and the
world has seldom witnessed such asapguina-
~ engagement. The famous BATHS OF New
Orleans, of which this is the anniversary,
sinks into insigniicance compared with this;
and Gen. jackson is nowhere when placed
beside the heroes of this occasion. We
stood unflinching until the signal for at
tack was given by Vines firing the first
shot. Then our brave Company pitched
first into Wine, then into Internationally
but with a determination to conquer
Oysters met US half way, then it was "war
to the knife' Like the Contnentals at
Bladensburg, each man imagined himself u
General, upon whose special action the glory
OF the day depended. Oysters stood bravey
to the scratch, knowing no such word as
ran, until one by one, they were vanquished,
and their remains lei scattered lndiscrimi
nately upon the glorious field. But Wine,
amid the roar of his artillery. was discov-
cred running in every direction. AT last
victory was ours; but not without the loss
of some Of our b. avest comrades, who, by
the aim Of Wines battery, were shot---in
the neck; and the Aforesaid M. ID. pronoun-
ced them unfit tor further duty, an d as they
were laid out and beyond the hope OF pres
eut resurrection, we chanted over them the
following orthodox requiem
And the saints were drinking,
A drinking, drinking;
And the saints were drinking,
At the e-e.nd of time"
AT two o'clock the assembled bachelors
marched out of the hotel, took hacks, and
went as directed, to bring each lady. The
| Aforesaid arrived with his lady at the
brides residence; got out aud went ln--tor-
got my lady-went back for her, and she
Was gone-lost. The driver said she was in
the house--had my overcoat ON and gloves
off; every body had gloves on and overcoat
oh; wrong again, for the company were now
ready to leave with overcoats on. Our hat
was gone. 50, went without it. Tried to
move one of the hack wheels for lady 80
pass, and muddied my glove--toek lady IS
hand to help her in, and "siled'' her glove =
lady indignant.