The New York herald., 1878-08-08
OLD POINT.
gHE LONG BRANCH OF vIRGiNIA--FAMs OF
THE HYGEIA BorEL-A SPLENDID RETREAT

OLD Porsr COMFORT, Va, August g. 1878,
sold Poiut' is the Long Branch OF Virginia II was
the seaside or the aacient rege OF hs Jack.
son democracy. Huher Old Hickory came from tho
rage of tho dog days and pitched his tent amid the
unfinished smbrasures ana casenatss OF Fort Col.
burr, then christenci ana known the Rip Rnps
Here Chief Justice Tsney charming auto
biography, and in tho cooling breeaes OF the Poiut,
under the shady pazzis OF tho old Hygeia Hotel,
Father Tom Richie and tho Soutbern leaders devised
ana organ lied the movements for the annexation o
Texas, which cuninatcd In The election OF Polk,
the acquisition OF California, the discovery o;
goi snd ch Dge in the current Of the trade Of the
world. The beauty and ehivary oil tho Old Dominion
mado those wavc-wasted beaches gay with their
nirations and erst whilo tneir quarrels and their
ducls But tho changed all that. The HyScia waa
torn down to uncover the range OF thc guns OF
Fortress Monroe and for years Old Pcint the
point OF comfort and base OF supplies Tor military
operations against the confcderacy. In Hampton
Roads in front OF the present Hygeia Hotel, tbat
famous combat tctwcsn the ron-cad Virginia and the
Union Navy, In which she sank two nrst class mcnof
war, and only checked by tho timely arrival Of
the Monitor, under worden. so the whole course OF
naval warfare became changed by this iacidcnt on
these historical waters Afterwafd Mr.. Jefferson
Davis imprisoned here for t~o years In n case.
mate, TO which was attracted tho sympathics and
prayers OF ali the Coniederacy.
REGIME
Now hat the place has ceased DO a point Of in
terest for military operations II is gradually resunins
its old position centre OF political resort, consa
tation aud intrigue. For II is a PECULIARLY OF tns
great Virginia summer resorts that thoro tho poIti-
clans from Texas to "My Maryland" yearly congre-
gate exchange IDEAS TO consult and TO arrange for
future campaigns For the last few years the HygeIa
has been sing into an importance Tar beyond tho
dreams OF the old Virginia tavern. Instead OF the
simple and contracted building which accommodated
the guests In the od,n time there has arisen i'm
posing commodous structure, which /, uuique In
Its location aud appointments do reco!lcct any.
thing like 1t in this country. The hotel building
facade fronting over six hundred ceI the beach,
with wide plazzls extending all around each Of the
three stories. The food tide washes within a few
fee. of Tho pazs, steps aad the gaes.s array them
selves Tor the bath their apartments and 20 d.
rccliy from them into the water.
SOCIAL CHARMS.
Tho particular feature OF me piaoe the Pavilion,
large null open on inc sta rs 10 tbe sea brs ~
which visitors congrcgate during the Tor
sation ana assemble al night 10 look 1T the young
people they wnirl IN the giddy Of dance
IL brings rybody together and inc Dnty,
which It seems Impossible 10 get AZ many moro pro.
tentous watering places ClQuos and cannot
exist IN such society," and all The people move about
witn each other Win grac.lui courtesy which IS
very refreshing Everybody knows every body and
VINO everybody Is, anu They talk anu chat
acqunptanoss with or without introduction, ms tne
danger any body's gentity. Iney quite saus
fed Win Their own, ana ore not AFRAID oI oeng
txminated by speaking 10 stranger aud the social
Law Is very sire, wnIe tho uimest freedom
and interchange oil ctviliues aud poiiie ateD
is allowed and encouraged any conduct approaching
"iastness" Is crushed by men and women with
power. momentum and velocity absolutely anainilat.
ing So they go from day Today. The arniery school
at tho Iort supplies abundance oil litho aud polite
besux 10 tho young Southern bellies ana 10 look
dancIag any nigni one would be assured that wsrs
ruinors OF had ever lniervened between tnt
courteses which tho soldiers SO glad pay
.hs darnscis 20 receive. Tho place has been full,
avcrakns aoout seven hundred guests since the mid.
OF June II doubtful whether any single cslab.
hshment At any oil your Norhorn watering places can
make better exhibit Than that, and whstner any Of
them viii reaizs more handsomely. financially thaa
Will Mr. PnGbus, the proprietor. PnGous, ny The
way, Is a pattern Boniface. His soft
haasble ms shoe pshsad never A,liug his sports
are ABUNDANT and his good humor inoxtinguishanle.
aen,es them anything. He always promises them
every thing tnoy uak.
.'Mr rnnbus, eau have this rooms"
"Yss, Miss, certainly" says PnGbus, 'as soon 80
"Mr. rhpOus, can't we have that tablet"
'iOi course you eau. Mss" cries he sbut you soc
the Governor ssAis incre new, ana soon as Ne
leaves you can hsvo ~, and so It goes. Phebus
Tor II Is humanity impossioIs TO keep thom. Thon
they 70 after him.
But the broad faoe ei the hotel proprietor beams
win . large smile as he says. ''You know do tns
.But, Mr. Ph~,us, where do you cxpoc. to as
when you 20 toy'
'Ahl Mis.," say. ne, laying his poaderoas hand
over region OF HE heart, "Ah Misc, l do my
duty; 1 do the best can tor you an l eau
more, and Then lay me IN nv islo bed and allow
wave OF trouble 10 reIi across my psaosfu heart"
And every ono Is happy. Soft crabs and sheeps-
head and hoshsh atouud. Just now hognsh arc BE-
POLITICAL GOSSIP.
Postmaster General hey vas down hero some time
ago nsnlng and it Is suspected consulting with some
Of the POLITICIANS best way Of arraying shs
republican vote against The ropudiators, US tue mop.
to reorganzs the republican party The
AAs.fh hA Mt falsafn and
ing lhe mater very much discussed and hopes
held out that any final test Issue on she ques.
oil reputation the black vote will BIZ cast soiid
against that ''high way robbery" policy. tho d,s.
tinguished Lieutenant Governor Of Virginia once
termed IT, The average Virginia politician does not
derstaod this, Tor leaders look
black their strcngtn. Nevertheless,
BY heavy lights Of The republican party to inform
negroes OF their duty 10 the party ana ~ rally
them solid against any attack on the national or stass
credit The plan submitted to The Postmaster Gen.
cra, l am Informed, cmbracct an attack on Mr..
Goode, Representative oil tbis District and an Gu
dcsvor to defeat him by an independent candidafe.
but idea has fallen through ana Goode VIII DO rs-
elected with nttlc opposition.
MARITIME PLEASURES.
This s q marvellous place Tor doing ss you
please. Loose coatr, broad Drmmcd hats, sundowns,
gloves or gloves bathing psrtes, sailing parties.
TO band prsctics-al Iurnish ample opportunity Tor
those little meeunss % ana ,ee'aIaes wnlcn .ns m
and the ntlcss maidens so rosdy to grant They al
nave gooa time, and they enjoy II
SCENES IN HAMPTON ROADS.
The variety OF The Roads 10 infinite. Every day
some scene ~ presented some half dozen boats
come and 60 TO Norfolk, BALTIMORE, Richmond,
PhiIads sphia, New YORK and the Eastern shores,
ana some foreign snip, witn hcr gay lsga
and strange scamsp is continually gong coming.
A storm tho coast VIII hundred sAi IN nero
during the night Tor shelter anu ships constantly
com ng IN here seeking" as the marine vcrnacular
hath IL A vessel seeking freight or orders comes
into tne Roads. Her master tcegrAphs to Baltimore
New York Boston to ask n he eau engage freight
there. Tho engagement is made and OH he goes.
Tho other day BRUSH steamer from Brazli came
She was built by the Lards the inoaei Of the Ala
baIna. Yesterday au Austrian spread ner csnvns be-
fore my uindow aud LETT this morning. A Frencn-
man and Norwegian are anchored In tue Roads, evil
IDENTIFY waiting Tor orders Thus ~ goes from day 10
day. and every n,g that ncs floats In over these
placid waters.
SOUTH AMERICA.