The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-05-04
OLD POINT ClioMr'oRT,'

] NORMAL AND AGRICULTURAL, SCHOOL q
/ Correspondence OF the Richmond Dispatchl
/ RICHMOND, May Q, 1873. i
4 Old Point Comfort will be this season. as
/ in years gone by, a haven OF rest for ternr,.
est-tossed mariners, tired-out business-ne
and ladies who aspire to have the comforts
OF home joined to the delights OF fashion,
able waterlng-place. Here VIII be music.
promenades, uniformed beauy. dances, and
flirtations for the bellies, and seaside fare.
suri-bathing, and the delicious lullaby OF
the waters as they rip-rap on the sandy
shore, for all.
The hotel has been enlarged by the aadi-
ton OF siXty-eight rooms, which gives sym-
metry to the building and increases the ca
pacity so that 1t will now be able to accom-
modate six hundred guests. A hydraulic
passenger elevator will hereafter save the
steps OF patrons and make quarters on the
uppermost floor as desirable, il not more
so, than on the lowest. Some Rich
mond ladies having desired that the
dressing-rooms for bathing purposes
should be improved SO as to afford
them greater privacy as they retired from
the water, Mr.. Phoebus has made changes
and additions which will doubtless be en-
tirely satisfactory. One great adyantage-a
decided one it is-the Hygeia has over other
seaside places is that you may step right out
| OF the hotel into the water. At high
tide the surf, which is sufficient for
all practical purposes, breaks within
few feet OF the hotel walls. Long
Branch, Cape May, Atlantic City, and Ocean
Grove, which may, perhaps, claim n little
holder serf, are far behind this place in the
| facilities for reaching the water. There, be-
meath the heat OF blazing suns and through
deep, hot sands, a long distance has to be
| travelled before the water is reached. Here,
you step from he hotel porch steps into it.
The fishermen find good market for the
| catches &" at Old Point during the season.
Thus the nobleSt representatives OF salt
water inhabitants early find their way to the
tables, while the truckers Of the neighbor-
hood pour into the kitchen their first fruits
and the finest and freshest vegetables.
Wonderful indeed will it be il Old Point,
with her delightful situation, where the
messengers Of commerce are always in
sight; with the pure airs OF the Atlantic
soitened and sweeteucd rs they course over
the Chesapeake; with great military post
at hand with its never-endlng attractions;
with the Soldiers Home and Hampton
School for its suburbs; with Superintend-
ent 1atum's steamboat line conducting pas
sengers from Richmond at a price that
seems merely nominal compared with rail-
road fare wonderful will it be il this
place, with all these attractions and many
untold, does not continue to grow in repu-
tation and prosperity, and finally outrival in
patronage, as it does in advantages, the At
lantic resorts.
THE FORT.
The garrison at the fort is q small one,
but there is tirst-rate band of music there,
and the families OF the artiilery-school men
and post officers within the Fort make a So
ciety OF considerable size and Importance.
I've heard from some of the "boys" that
the artillery course is q hard one. imagine
that it is for the unmarried men; for dancing
with the girls at the Hygeia at night, wait
ing on them in promenades and during pa
rades, added to the length Of time which is
required for the adjournment Of the person
OF military beau and the twisting Of an
average moustache, leaves very little time
for study. That's what makes the course
hard. Oh, it's fearful thing.
Its welcome tones are heard at guard
mounting in the morning, at dress-parade
in the evening, and occasionally IN con-
certs. The parade-grounds and the ram
parts are the very places for romantic spirits.
They have been the scenes OF numberless
courtships.
Fortress Monroe is the Artillery School
OF the country. After the cadet goes
through bis four years at the West Point
Academy, and is assigned to an artillery
regiment, he has in prospect two years
more OF study at this place. Many OF
the "boys" OF the Artillery School
bring their families with them here.
Generally speaking, the officers are very
agreeable set OF gentlemen. Many OF them
are from southern States. Owing to the
fact that nearly all OF these have been
graduated since the close OF the war, and
Since that date few officers have been killed
and not an astonishing number resigned,
the southerners have not had many oppor-
tunities for promotion. II the army is to
stand at its present strength many who are
now first Iieutenants will grow gray in the
service before they come to the rank OF cap
tain.
THE vETERANs-THE INDIANS.
Nobody who goes to Old Point ought to
come away without first seeing the Soldiers
Home. Tie grounds and buildings are
beautiful. Here 730 veterans OF the army
of the United States are passing their days
in comfort and peace. Ii they had not seea
| service in the regular army they would
nrobablv find the idleness of the Home in
tolerable. But as it is they get along
mighty well, and seem to enjoy themselves.
Your correspondent asked the venerable
colored Virginian who drove him in car
riare over to the Home what the inmates
did to amuse themselves. He said: "Nuthln
cepn plavin' kards and waikiki down the
road.' What happier existence could any
sodier-man crave?
The Hampton Normal and Agricultural
(colored) School is also pleasant place 70
visit. 1t has now $50 scholars. General
Armstrong, the principal, is laborlng with
might and main to polish the rough mate.
rial. Recently, Captain Henry Romeyn, OF
the United States army, was detailed TO IN
struct the boys in military tactics. 1t is not,
hoYever, proposed to crowd in distinctive
military course. The boys are not armed,
and are exercised only in marches and plain
eyolutions, which, 1t Is hoped, will add to
school discipline. Captain Romeyn's entire
army experience has been on the western
frontier, where he had frequent eonlllcts
with the noble red men and was by them
wounded.
Among the students at the Hampton
school are seventeen Indians ('not taNed").
One is a Ute, who has been thereIa year or
more. Sixteen were brought there few
weeks ago. They were OF the number
taken by the United States three years
ago as hostages for the good Dena'
yior Of their people and sent to st.
Augustine, where they were kept until
a short while ago, when all that &C.
sired were sent back to their homes. 1hese
. sixteen elected to remain east, anu DeneFo'
lent people are now paying their TUITION