The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-01-16

FROM NORFOLK.
[OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT
NoRPo.K, Jan. Is.
One noticeable popularity of Norfolk So
ciety is its decided penchant for the navy.
You see evidences OF it on every side, and
sights in the streets quite other than those
observed In an inland town. The ladies
seem to have a different manner and car.
riage; the men dress in navy blue and wear
the navy cap; the yards and gardens are laid
off and kept in navy yard style; the marine
views that hang in every drawing room;
the number of South Sea shells that adorn
the NANTES; the models Of ships In the tore
windows; the shops bordering the water
filed with fancy articles to please Jack Tar;
the signs upon the various offices and ware
houses would all mark it as q seaport city,
aside from the view of its broad and beauu.
full harbor. To one fond of the sea, who has
been a long time separated from 1t, the first
breath Of the salty air brings with it new
life and vigor. II he be travelled man, and
has wandered through the dusky purieus
of the old sea.board towns Of Europe, every
thing here is pleasant, from the constant
smell Of tar and oakum to the broad expanse
of water that stretches down by Old Point
Comfort to the sea.
Being, as presume all are aware, the most
important naval station on this continent,
the people have q right to be proud of its
reputation, and cannot be blamed for having
once considered the navy their own peculiar
properly. Nor is 1t strange they looked
| with a jealous eye upon any city which ven
tured to claim the attention Of its gallant
and handsome officers, and that they pub
lished the fact this was the favOrite town
with navy men-more officers having mar
! ried here, and there being more girls to mar
| ~ than in any seaport city where the great
war ships cast an anchor. When the United
States navy was In its glory, life here Con-
sisted Of very strongly marked ups and
downs. Sometimes, tor weeks and months,
the city would be almost as silent and quiet
| as the catacombs of Egypt; then a ship
would come in, and-prestp! change i'm
character. Parlors long idle are busted and
arranged; jewels and dresses are brought
| out anew the stores are crowded; and bright
eyes sparkle with delight as if preparing for
| mardi 4ras. A few weeks of par ties and hops,
| a few R,rtations, an engagement or two, per-
haps a marriage, and then the city relapses
into somnolence, waiting for a fresh arri-
val.
Time and tho revolution have failed to
drive this feeling Of love for. the navy alone,
out Of the hearts OF the people-and why
should theyi 1t is this recherche pride in the
profession that constituted the peculiar
charm of Norfolk society. This olden love
il hard to forget, and there IL now many a
young girl whose heart beats high at the
sight of the eagle and the anchor, and many
dear old belle who still cherishe s her fond
ness for the navy blue. Standing beside one
of the latter at the hop few evenings since,
] was much amused at her reccllections Of
had to relate Of Old Point Comfort in years
now numbered with the past. Presently an
interesting girl ran up with a request TO in.
troduce friend.
"What ship has her" she asked.
"He has NO ship" cousin.
"But what Is he ~
"Hs does not belong to the navy, but to the
army"
"No: q volunteer"
"Please don't introduce me, them" she
| said beseechingly, and turned with a sigh to
listen to the efforts Of plain civilian to do
| the agreeable.
spoke OF the chop" On the night Of
| Thursday last the second Of the season was
given by Mr.. Walters, Of the National"
| the first having been at the "Atlantic" some
disagreeable, but, thanks to Providence and
| Hne weather, the evening was delightful.
| The young people of Norfolk turned out we'll
on the occasion, and at an early hour the
| BY nine the ball began. Such crowd-sO
many beanties-such a number OF fine uni.
| forms-it was bswlldering to cast an eye over
| the scene. "Your own, - did the "heavy pa
tsrnal" and joined the modest "wall- owers"
| in their silent admiration Of the happy dane
| ers moving in harmony with the music of the
| band. Not SO his friend Light Fantastic-a
nice young man who showed himself the gay
| est Of the gay. In less than half an hour his
| card was filled with names, having the prefix
"Miss," and himself looking as happy as
| when saw him tour years ago at bail in
Paris, where the great Musard led the or.
| chestra. His first partner was a sweet bru-
| nette, and do not think II would be an IN
| pardOnable vulgarism to call her 'a stun.
Fantastic trip it through the dance as
gaily al If he had not seen every day
| Of thirty years, and was not trying
to make believe he was only twenty -four.
close, and his rising spirits nipped In the
| bud. In one OF his marvellous pirOuettes he
| put his foot in it-or rather on It, and an au
| dible s.rip-rip-rtp," and the Hash Of a pair
done Fantastic begs ten thousand pardons.
| Black eyes looks poinards, and the single
| word "clumsey" rolls out between the rosy
| lips. Thereupon life becomes burden 70
| Light Fantastic, and all the remainder Of
| the evening his feet drag heavily over the
door and every one In the room could not
| fail to sec he was every day OF thirty years
that All !. DOOR Tom. He attends all the par .i.
! ties and buys fresh pair Of white kids on
every occasion. but he has the single fault Of
starting lift , TOO haAvy on the wine. After
supper, Tom speech vsrges on the mandlin,
/ and his legs entirely fail TO come up to time.
| 1t Is q relief TO his friends 70 SEQ him get
tired Of Waiting. and pleasure TO pack him
away between the sheets, q candidate for soda
| water and headache in the morning. Poor
| Tom generally he 10 not given to drink !;
but when drank II given to him no exceeds.
There are others besides poor Tom who 60
| army Officers who seem to forg0t-bQt here