Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-08-16
The WATERING PLACES.
A Trip to Cobb's Islani-Excursion Of the
Lady OF the Lake "A Sniff Of the Briny"-
Fathing, Fishing, Shooting, &C.
GETTING OFF.


The pleasure excursion to Cobb's island,
planned and carried out last week by the pro-
priefors OF the Ene steamer Lady of. the Lake,
proved to be what everybody expected-a COM
pete success in every particular. On Friday
morning, promptly at the hour named in the
advertisement, coOpl my OF nearly two hun
dred pers ons assembled at the steamers wharf
anxious - escape even for little time the heat,
cares, and labors Of the city. The asssmblage,
which was pretty evenly divided between the
two sexes,-the "stsgs" being unhappily some
what in the pscendant,-inciuded within its
numbers fair representation OF the beauty
and brilliancy of Washington society, with a
goodly seasoning from the learned professions,
the press, the army and navy, the diplomstic
corps, and the mercantile, Industrial, and gem
eral business interests OF the city,-all equipped
and provided accordingly As their taste or re-
quirements dictated. The face of eyery one
gave promise OF a determination TO have good
time, If such thing IVES to be had, either upon
the land or na,igable waters OF the United
States, or upon the dominions of old Neptune
himself. And they had it, too. But that is
farther along.
. Unfortunately, owing to . m m'scalculation as
to the length o. Tine necessary to put the vessel
In proper trim for her trip, she was not as
prompt in getting under way as was desirable,
and a considerable amount of grumbling was
indulged in by the impatient ones OF the party
But those more philosophical in their make MP
took TIE delay good naturedly, and turned it to
account by cracking jokes at their iras-
cible companions, and by occasionally " crttin,
watermelon" Nem:-This latter exercise ap-
peared to be indulged in, not in the vicinity Of
q huge pile Of the fruit lying near by, rs one
might naturally suppose, but In a building a
little distance away, with the word " saloon,'
or something like that, over the door; and the
after sport consisted, not in shooting the slip
perry seeds in each others faces, but in bouncing
queer shaped corks, much like those taken from
champagne bottles, of every bald head that
hove in sight.l
UNDER WAY.
However, with the bow OF the boat turned
southwardly, good humor was soon restored, and
everybody went to work making himself and
herself as comfortable and agreeable as pos
sible. For q while there seemed to be the usual
tendency on the part OF q good many to play
wall flower in little sets of twos and fours and
half-dozens, but this feeling OF stiffness and re-
serve soon wore away, and presently every
thing was as lovely as any one could wish, with
the famous baromeIical goose hanging high
over all.
Cards, music, story and song wiled away the
time until Piney Point was reached, about 0
O'Clock in the evening. OF course, a landing
ives made here, but only long enough to enable
those wishing to 60 ashore to do 50, and to
afford those on the boat and friends on the pier
an opportunity to exchange greetings. For q
few minutes the air was filled with " What's
the news?" How are you, Bob?' " Why, how
dye do, jenny" - How long have you been
here?" "when'n you be back, Frank?"
"Good-bye, John!" etc.
After those wishing to test The attractions OF
this pleasant spot had gone ashore, and those
wishing to join the expedition had done so,
away he good boat sped in the dim twilight,
her bow cleavipg the rippliRg waters like an
arrow the blue air.
Five O'Clock in the morning" gave those
whose guilty consciences had murdered sleep
fne opportunity to view the impregna for
tifications Of Fortress Monroe, with the slowly
growing walls on the Rip-Raps beyond, and q
little while otter the sw.tl-revol, ing wheels
came to stand-still in the splendid he-bor of
Norfolk. At this point quite an addition WIS
made to the crowd Of pleasure seekers on board:
IN outside pilot WIS tsken on, and the steamer
was headed direct for the final point Of destina-
ton, which was reached by eleven O'Clock, with
out any incident OF general interest.
CoBB's ISLAND.
els Cobbs Island all you expected -
asks An interested reader. Well, honestly
speaking, THE STARS correspondent Oh, in
bis letter published on Wednesday last, did paint
his picture in pretty high colors, and with
father free brush. Few Of the visitors of satur-
day were able to fully realize the Roreeou.
visions which blessed bis poetic eyes. Some
said he gushed too much. Some thought he
stopped over in places. others said hehad never
been there, but wrote his description after a sup
per ofhasheesh. Ar enthusiastic Nimrod loaded
down with doubie-barrel shot gun, several
game bags and about hundred pounds of ammu.
milton, said she was an Internal feol." Twoor
three red-faced young fellows, who seemed to
be able to comprehend the effect Of that sort OF
thing, said IL was q clear case OF .suuare
drunk;" and . dyspeptic-looking, plain-spoken
old gent, who evidently had entirely forgotten
the ardor Of youth, gruffiy put it that "the fell
low He'd outright, to settle his beard bill at the
hotel, 30 thst he could get back to q civilized
country again."
The truth, as Is generally the case, lies be-
tween. While "H." could mt prove up his case
IN any court in christendom, the Island
Is nevertheless downright good, plain, COM
Portable spet, where a reasonable minded
being can get about - much solid comfort.
packed in - little space OF time and at
- Ooderaee - outlay Of money, q st any
one place, either In the country or along ita
extensive coast line. There isn't, to be sure,
much diseree work or fancy embroidery about
the place or its belongings. Those Who want
baubles and gew-gsvs can find better resorts.
But the table fare is abundant and good; the
fishing and shooting are first rate,-st times;
(whoever saw them alWays good, anywhere?)
the beach b bsth long and broad; TIE bathins is
Afs, and the surf 10 - strong and higA ct fun
ode = any ons can desire. There b certainly
ample material here for rational and healthy
ouf-deor ep5oyment al day, with pleasant eve
ming pasfines and deliciously cool breeze
blowing all the night long.
Thoee who were disappointed at first sieht
should understand that 1t is impossible to DE-
velop in single twenty-four hours visit the
capacities OF any rural pleasure resort, and par
ucularly where fishing, shooting, and other out
door sports enter largely into the account. To
succeed in the undertaking they should address
themselves to the task with patient spirit and
at lsest weeks time ct their command.
But the sensible party On TIE Lady OF the
Lake made the most and best OF their opportu-
mites, according to their different tastes IL