Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1860-02-23
NATIONAL HOTEL, NORFOLK, Va,
February 18th, 1859. {

The first day OF August, 1850, L was
on the Plains, somewhere near the line di-
viding Utah and Oregon Territories, walk
ing on foot and driving two lome-siek
mules. The mules became seriously i'll,
and, as my own salvation depended upon
keeping the mules along until reached the
other side of the desert, began the prac-
tice of medicine on those mules with COM
plete success; and our company prefxed to
my name the title of NJ. D.; but it has ev-
er been a question, whether M. D. meant
Mule Driver or Mule Doctor.
Well, /, the Aforesaid III. d., left Wash
ington City on the 10Th iust., for the pur-
pose of being present at hifalutin we'd
ding to come off at Norfolk the following
day. | arrived at Baltimore in time for
the Norfolk packet. The Louisiana is a
magnificent steamer, sets a superb table;
and at supper the Captain showed us a
bottle of Catawba, la Longworth to Chi
cago Excursionists.
The Aforesaid arrived at Norfolk next
morning, simultaneous with the arrival of
the Louisiana,all right side up, and was met
at the wharf by an emblem of the South,
and honora5iy escorted by said dark col
ored emblem to the National Hotel, and
shown to the apartments of Capt..
Wbereupon, the Aforesaid proceeded, with
out ceremony, TO take drink. Breakfast
was announced and we proceeded to pay
our regards to Oysters.
The National is very well 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
oysters in Norfolk; and the proprietor of
this hotel is always examining bis guests
with oysters in every possible style, in Or
der TO save more expensive provisions. 1t
is arascally imposition! and, I'd, There
are beautiful ladies who dine at the table
d'hotel, and sing in the parlor, TO whom
the Aforesaid has not been introduced.
Norfolk contains not go, 900 inhabitants,
as the Aforesaid had supposed, but l6, 600.
The public hacks have ebony drivers, and
were probably erected about the time of
the Revolutionary War; horses most likely
served in the last war, and have been kept
on fasting and prayers since that period in
American history. The streets were orig
inaIly intended to be crooked, and they
are crooked. Chain lightning may have
run through the city at some remote peri
cd, marking out the channels where hu-
manity might flow, if in a fluid state.-
The people are constitutionally 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 harbor south of Mason
and Dixon's line; and the lack of trade is
all that prevents an immense commerce.
But "Norfolk isn't any ploce, and will not
be until they get the Ohio river vid. Alle-
ghany and the canal, ace are going to build
into Norfolk"* for no man who amounts
to SO much as two rows of pins would stay
here if they would donate him two such
towns, previously to the turning of the riv-
er.
Portsmouth on the opposite side of
Elizabeth river has 10000 Inhabitants
Une of the principal United States Navy
yards is located there. These are not ri
val cities. The people are not in favor of
rivalry it interferes with their peace and
quiet. The inhabitants have great ideas
Of aristotocracy. 1t is failing Virginians
have. Intermarriage has been going on
so long, that all have got to be F. F. VS.;
and for what I know, all may be slightly
tinctured with the blood of certain grea-
sy old squaw, known as Pocahontas.
Having taken birds-eye view of the
city of Norfolk, the Aforesaid proceeded
to the apartments Of the bridegroom in
the National Hotel, where the invited
guests had assembled "to get good
ready" and learn the programme, which
was:
1. Wine and oysters.
2. More wine and more oysters.
8. Broiled oysters and wine.
4. Wine with oysters fried, seasoned with
Bourbon.
S. Wine with oysters in the shell.
s. Three bushels of shell oysters, fresh
from the bay. and dozen of wine, with
two "niggers" to open them.
Then began the most terrific carnage
this country has ever known, and the world
has seldom witnessed such a sanguinary en-
gagement. The famous battle of New
Orleans, of which this is the anniversary,