The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-07-13

| ARD-BEAUrY AND wAR--ATTESTIoNS OF
| g THE tE.ARp-RooM 0FF1CERs7-ss|o OFF lcERs
| sWIYIs;--THE AND. THE
fauDIsT ILLATIoN s--HGKNEss From BAD
HATER--c CAUTION OF THE URGeoEs-aEEE-
RAE GRTTY-THE END. T. = e
90 ~ OLD iPo1ST COMFORT, July 0, 1877.
!Sojourning here for few, days, ana
profoundly impressed with the advantages
Old Point affords 80 the people OF Virginia,
beautifully, socially, and politically; and i
beg space In the Dispatch TO say a few
words on these matters. .'''t,''s5.s.s
THE OLD HOTEL AND TIE NEW.
Virginia is more blessed than any of the
States in her excellent and various foun-
tains of health. !, and their fine location
amidst loveliest mountain scenes and most
GENIAL and salubrious temp raIuret and at
mosphere. Now abe has, the adyantageto Of
saltwater bathing -plaee developed by p
spacious and, fayerabI tuated hotel Old
Point Comfort i The. early settlers who
sailed into Chesapeake bay after afperito!1s
and tardy voyage, and anchored their chips
| for: the reasons which still decide 1T to be
one OF the most safe and agreeable positions
upon salt water: The name they gave it
showed this. The hotel and offices that
stood under Fort Monroe before the war
deprived the visitors; Of the chief delights
OF the locality j. That old hotel was re-
moved at the beginning OF the war, and the
Government would not consent to it's " re-
construction !" upon the old site. The pri-
vilege, however, to constructs hotel upon
the water in front OF Hampton Roads was
granted, and thus the present ibotel secures
10 the guest; the constantly changing and
lively scene upon one Of the grandest roads
on the globe, together with the purest and
| finest sea-breezes. Before the hotel IL spread
ouuit a scene Of wealth and brightness that
must make any American, and more espe-
cially any .Yirginian, proud. In front OF
| the hotel, stepping from the grand piazza
Of the principal story, the guest enters
d bathing-ground with a iserf quite
sufficient for all practical purposes,
with safe; depth, excellent bed, no
upder-tow, and a width OF several hum
dred feet. Take these noble adYan-
tages, with the opportunity of daily COM
| munication by fine steamers with Richmond,
Petersburg, Norfolk, and Baltimore, and by
telegraph with all cities, and we have salt
bathing place that stands in the very, front,
| and affords as much OF comfort and plea
sure as any other; preferable to the hurly-
burly, the glare, and roar, the gaud and as
surance of fashion, and thervulgar obtru-
siyeness OF the unrefned wealthy at Long
| Branch and other meccas OF snobbery.
The advantages Of sailing, fishing, &C., can
be enjoyed as tally as they can at any ether
place - f@ai.T u<r %.<iA : F: l., =
;ia..'T2,a,'9. J Federal, SHIPS. ,-.i .ittj.,,,
l,,TAnart from the scene OF commercial ac-
tivirsLthe sails and the steamers OF all
erades-the naval vessels make grand dis
play when employed in their. discipline and
on 'gala-days. The late, Fourth OF, July
spread to the breeze in the Roads the finest
show OF flags that ever saw, Then the
parades and general proceedings in Fort
Monroe cannot fail to afford great interest
to all persons sojourning at the Point.
r, ITHs BATHING. 80:
This saltwater bsthing-plac therefore,
Virginia may well. be proud Of, 1t cannot
fail to exert q salutary effect upon the Nir-
sinia publicimind, We,are there brought
nearer in feeling to the American Union.
We behold, what we have peculiar share
in; andwe are reminded all the time OF the
dignifed, relation Virginia bears towards
the Government and the nation She holds
the !" eminent domain" over the golden
gate Of the Atlantic eoast.t.
-.ra!'. OFFICERS AND CIVILIANS. - =
Another interesting feature in the scenes
Of Old .Pointfno'w is e2evident increase OF
genial intercourse between the civilians and
the military. The older citizens know the
nature OF that intercourse in former days.
Since the war it has been a little cold,
though gradually; thawing, and now it has
melted entirely. The intercourse between
the uniform and the plain, fashion is corr
dial; and the fraternity is so complete that
even :" the good old rebel" is now talking
involuntarily, if you will, OF "our ,, army
and "our" navy. Certainly, these kindly
relations in the grand central position of
Virginia cannot fail to exert good effect
on national peace and harmony. ~, :.
, isI HOP ON THE HARTFORD. =.
The large ballroom of the hotel often
shows this courtly amity. With a large
company Of guests I partook Of the generous
hospitality Of the officers Of the ward
room OF the flagship Hartford "a few eve
nings since. That fine ship was anchored
in the Roads before. the hotel. - large
mum Der Of accomplished ladies and many
gentlemen We're present ~ / !, ,.:. .'9 J!,r
- - + ! ADMIRAL AND OFFICERS. @ az y
Admiral Stephen ID. ,Tfenchard,,G,oi the
Home squadron. figured in the socialties OF
the evening" Time passed most pleasantly
in examining the ship and listening to the
patient answers Of the officers to the IN
uuir1es made by the guests, to whom all the
economy of the ship was so strange..nThe
Admiralis remarkably, quiet but sterling
gentleman. A brief interview !. with him
will satisfy any one that with him may be
trusted the honor as well as defence tsl OF the
country. T.. .,.,ty..Ist:ir, !, !.e :,l&- u:
There:Yas scene OF communion between
war and peace-War SO rude, and peace with
its gentleness and refinement. The light
drapery of beauty t1oated BY the lannon's
mouth, and that monster, whose rude throat
"the immortal joye's dread thunders coun-
terfeit.o was as subdued as lamb. To
very good music the round-dance, with,its
waving, ;zephyrs, dispelled all thought OF
war, and FOR, the nonce the Hartford. was, q
bower Of loVeand gallantry. l,1i e-,,1.; ~
500. THE. LADIEs-7THE: BUTTONS ft.1.;e,
lido not intend to descend to. the busi-
ness OF catalogue in a hurried reference
to an occasion SO soeiai;;t!. but 7 cannot Tor
bear, to refer to Lieut. tenants Thomas, Har-
rington,. Paul, Shaw and Surgeons Hern
don and ,Deane, and officer Bishop, for their
kindness to me, as well as theirgenial atten-.
tions to their elegant, gguests.E'I know the:
ladies will thank me for this, While they:
will probably censure me for not mentions
ing other officers. But am sure they will
pardon ME for not seeing With their bright
eyes as well az with l my dull ones. am
obliged to, confess. that 7 see stiH, .asin for
inner years, the admiratio that bFiightens the
,glances of dear creatures at gilt button
or an epaulettei Tits d, trait OF Nbmans;