Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-08-02
Letter from Old Point Comfort.

correspondence vi IL SAieAduuEi2 daZette, |
OLD POINT COMFORT, Va. July 81, 1876
At $3.50 p. M. Thursday, the staunch steamer
Lady of the Lake stopped long enough at our
city to take on some three or four passengers,
and then casting off the rope, she sped steadily
on her way. The Lady" since her recent
disaster, has much improved in appearance,
and like a Pheaix, has arisen from her ashes,
this remark, | believe, is not original, and I
don't know what a Phoenix is, but anyhow it
Is the fashion to say that and as | rested on
the bosom Of "Our Lady," and saw what q
floating palace had arisen from the original
boat, (she ls 200 teet from stem to stem,) /
could only wish every steamboat 90 the river
could be burned and be thus reconstructed,
When one looks back a few years and contrasts
the meagre travel from this section to Norfolk,
we cannot but admire the forethought and bust
ness enterprise of the men who started this
line. Only three or four years ago the sole
boat
RUNNING TO NORFOLK,
was New ork steamship, stopping, en- route,
at the Norfolk port, and the Guy Livingston,
running only once a week, nearly all of the
cltlzens OF both cities prefering to take the BAY
line, from Baltimore, on account Of the sunpri-
or accommodations. Now all is changed, and
we can leave either of our sister cities, for the
Atlantic, four times week, and STOPPING at
the regular landings, return the next day; and
the natural result of enterprise is seen, and
from a small company that weekly left Wash.
lngton, there are now hundreds who avail them
selves OF the cheap excursions to the several
watering places, in aud about the ocean, aud
many from Baltimore travel this line. These
are facts, and write them as such. I detest
puhery as the vilest humbugery, and
TO THOSE BoHEMIANs
who write about the g%euiality of the CAPTAIN
ana the politeness OF the purser, all [ will say,
Is they can see more than | can it is simply
twadde the Captains post is 90 the upper
deck. and he has 20 time to fool away, and the
only official whose face is wreathed i'm smiles,
on this boat, is the bar.keeper's, as be concocts
his beverages, which are taken merely as a pre-
Ventlve tor sea sickness you know" The
par Is well kept, and as people must drink, why
It IS some consolation to imblbe the best liquors.
That is not orthodox | know, but if | had a
son, | would, 10 all honesty, give him that
advice.
truly regret l cannot treat your readers to
a description OF a divine moonlight, and the
LIMPED WAVES,
but caDdor compels me to say that it is blowing
great guns, and the waves arc decidedly rough,
so much so indeed that p~Iaintive voices are
heard calling the steward, and "a life on the
ocean wave has lost Its charm for many on
board | weep.
The fare is good, and the price moderate, and
the ouly subject OF annoyance is that the steer
age passengers can roam at will in the upper
saloon, and 1t is decidedly unpleasant to have a
dozeu or so lmpecunious darkies and whites
making a sleeping place of the ladies' saloon.
H SCENERY
along the Potomac is neither stupendous nor
grand, but Is always changing SOU forty
miles DOVE the river, the banks are lined with
forests, aud are as wild and uucultivated as it
was when Captain John Smith sailed up with
MS wondering crew, who thought they we're on
an enchanted river, 10 an enchauted land.
Inc whole pleasure Of travelling is 10 the
night the salt air FROM the ocean CONES fresh
and cool, and every breath you take is ONE Of
pleasure. One Is affected strangely by the light
boats they are anchored 10 the bav, right in
the midst OF the waste oil waters, and the re.
volvlug lights cast a crimson glare on the dane.
Ing waves. As the steamer passes there rings
out a clang Of a bell that floats across the
heaVlng pillows with a solemn sound that is un.
like anything we ever hear on land. One can.
not help wondering
WHAT / OF PEOPLE
lnhablt those boats; the solitude must be dread
tul 90 change absolute silence, save the
dash of the waves; 20 new faces. TO an iumag-
NATIVE person it would be unbearable. rbe
keepers OF those lights are absolutely more
cut OF from the world than any hermit, and
lead as isolated an existence as ever the Monks
of LA Irappe.
All night the steamers PROV was pointed
south, and at dawn she was moored to the
wharf at Old Point Comfort. Ia my next |
will tell You about this once famous resort.
CHAssEUR.