Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-08-10


emancipation proclamation of President Lin
coin had set him free and sent him on his
way rejoicing. He entered the Union lines
early in the spring Of 1853, where, in
common with many of his fellow-freed-
men, he thought life OF ease, without
work and the other cares of life, awaited him.
Discovering his mistake, he was obliged to have
recourse to the FRIENDS OF his former ma ster.
one of these happened TO be old Mr.. Cobb who
took him into bis family and installed him into
the Office OF waiter at the hotel which bears his
name. Jackson IS an original genius, whose
acquaintance is well worth cultivating Like
the generality OF his race, he has a copiops iiow
of language, though not always happy in the
selection OF his WORDS and somewhat inclined -
Gil cuIniocution and verbiage. He can tell YOU
the intimate history Of a score or SO OF Old Nir-
ginia families, and his recollectiops date back
with considerable accuracy to the beginning of
the present century.
SEA AIR AS is SEA AIR.
The bracing salt air, which here never dies
away, contributes largely to the comfort and
appetites OF the guests. There is but one por-
ton of the day when the ocean breeze fails TO
move the tree tops and long rows OF hedge.
This 's about noon, when the guests are mostly
within doors, engaged in writing letters or
taking midday siesta. But iL does not last
long. The morning breeze, after its short re-
spite. renews rselt towards the close of the at
ternoon. and 10y five O'Clock blows stiflty inland.
crowning the heavy swels with the whtest OF
snow caps, and causing the pleasure craft to
skim merl lily along, anu the sea guls and other
marine b rds 10 fly overhead in endless num-
bers. At night-gloriOus comtort-One sIeeps
under blanket. The inhabitant of the close city.
who tOsses restlessly about under TO covering at
all. gasplng, pray ing for a breath of fresh air
smltes his breast IN despair as he ponders with
IN himself what might be and what is not. To
think that IN latitude torrid Temperature
should prevail, while hundreds OF miles nearer
the equator there is spot where one is obliged,
in common comfort, 20 protect himself with
wrGppings from the opposite extreme
And, while speaking in this connection, IL has
often been matter of surprise to me WHY SD
many of our Southern people elk the wa ,ring
places OF the North TO spend t1elr sum mers in ,
when there Ii a spot so much nearer home, and
where with Infinitely greater comfort, and for
less expense they can obtain equal enjoyment
ana physical benefit. Cobb Island, like any
other place has its drawbacks. For instance the
carnage drives are limited aud less pie elSant
than those Of Newport or Long Branch. The
country has more barren aspect owing TO the fact
before stated, II its being a sand bar and the in
land scercry wants diversifcation; its confines
700, are somewhat restricted, and amusements
a1dTecreation are limited to hat sea and the ii re
side can produce. But the latter are sufficient
Any place that offers beach shelving gradually
with the ocean without dangerous undertow
to sweep the ungu .rded beyond their depth;
which abounds in all SORTS of finny and feathery
game; that has good home accommodations aui
aereeably society; has attractions enough for
any reasonable lie ng, whether the drives he
over macadamizei or a sandy road iu a rock
away or a hay wagon.
NO PLACE FOR jim FIsK.
The President, Fisk. Jr., Vanderbilt, Astor
and other purse-plethOric fashionablos in the
North, will never find their way to this latitude
because their trotters would be cramped for
want Of sea-room. The absence of good roads
is not felt, however, in the multitude of other
attractions, and We at CObb's Island manage to
lass the time without so much as a thought OF
ennui intruding itself.
WHAT ONE DOES AT CoBB's ISLAND.
There are several methods of Willing away
the honrs of daylight, and the routine is gene
rally the same with persons of both sexes
Everybody rises with the sun--or, at least, not
later than six O'Clock. There is a strong breeze
then sweeping in from the ocean, which neces-
states warm clothing, the ladies appearing in
high-necked dresses, with q scarf around the
&C tunes are picturesque in the extreme, espe-
cially those Of the bathers, who may be seen
tumbling among the breakers as soon as the sun
mas HIted above the horizon.
PRETTY RATHER.
These early "ducks' are principally Of the
masculine gender, though occasionally jaunty
hat, with its long ribbon fiuttering gaily in the
wind, bright, soft face underneath, a pictu-
rescue bathing dress enveloping and yet scarce
concealing a form of delicate outline, may be
seen nearly every morning striking out seward
as boldly as the staunchest male swimmer. This
lady Is one OF the daughters of a SOuthern SEN
ator, whose name / should mention were she
not at my elbow to enforce the preservation Of
surf boats in attendance, manned by stout, lusty
fellows, whose sole business ii is to keep an eve
on the venturesOme.
NO UNDERrow.
Their services are merely nominal, how
ever, for there is no undertow, and it is an
easy matter for one going beyond his depth to
regain terra frma again, the incoming waves
performing the office Of carrier for him.
now THE DAY Is SPENT AT CoBB's ISLAND.
About ten O'Clock in the morning. by which
time several hours have elapsed since breakfast
was discussed, the beach swarms with bathers,
and until eleven, when, to use a nautical ex-
preston, the sun Is over the foreyard and il is
time TO =" smile, mysterious word-not wholly
unknown, however, to the sterner sex,) the
scene is merry in the extreme. BY noon all are
comfortably housed except such parties as are
busy with the hook ard line, or sailing to and
lro in the open sea beyond the line OF surf.
The water hereabOuts abounds in fish OF all the
various sorts peculiar to the South. Sea trout,
tailOrs, sheepshead, hogshead, founders, crabs
etc, are caught in great profusion. The hotels
might easily he supplied by what their guests
brought home with them, but they have their
OWE paid fishermen, SO that a large quantity of
this delicate food goes to waste.
THE PARADISE or spoRTsMEN.
To those who are fond of shooting an extcn-
sive field is epen. The beach towards the close
If the afternoon is fairly alive with water fowl;
curlew, pl0ver, gray back and sand snipe, wilet,
shore - feed on the muscles and other food left
by the retiring of the sea. One evening last
week MeSsrs Godfrey and Burch, of Washing
ton, shot one hundred and twenty -four di iierent
birds in less than two hours without once leav-
ing the veraDdah OF the hotel. Mr.. NJ. Cobb,
who takes charge OF the fishing and shooting
parties, has SO arranged 1t that guests can have
their hooks baited and guns loaded by a servant
without charging it In your bill as extras.
OYSTERS ON THE HALF SHELL.
The oyster houses are on the beach, nearly
contiguous - the Cobb's House kitchen. Here
one can 60 and enjoy the delicious bivalves
fresh from the water without stir. The shuck-
ing house stands within a few feet OF the spot
where the oyster rakes arc in operation, so tnat
the oyster i.~elf comes from she'll that is drip
ping with the water that moment before cov-
cred it. Delicious morsel-an oyster thus served!
Meal hours are nOminaly the same those Of
other watering places, but really extend
throughout the entire day. There Is no extra
charge for having your meals served in your
rooms. Whatever the hotel can produce is cheer
fully furn'shed whenever called for. Mr.. W. ID.
Cobb takes charge OF the dining-room and per-
sOnally sur vises the arrangements. How MANY
Of our city hotel keepers could take pattern
from the management of this really CHEZ test
part OF the appointments OF wel-kept hotel
the dining-roo
A HOP AND WHO WERE THERE.