The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-07-13
OLD POINT.
Editorial Correspondence of The Dispatch.l

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system. =. Il.
OLD POINT.
Editorial Correspondence OF The Dispatch.l
OLD PoINT COMFORT, july II, 1878.
No wonder that our weary forefathers, az
ter their long voyage across the ocean in their
little vessels, tossed about at the mercy OF
the winds and thewayes, should, upon their
arrival in the Roads inside Of this indented
shore, give the name OF "Comfort" to the
| place. Comfort indeed it was to them, as
they rested, freed from the perils and dis
comforts OF their voyage IN their poor little
boats. One can easily understand that they
must have experienced q comfort and Joy
few people have known. They entered one
| OF the safest and most capacious waters in
side OF 40 ocean coast known in the world.
They entered the golden gate OF the Chesa-
neake, traversed that magnificent bay, and
anchored in The harbor upon Hampton
Roads, where, relaxing their nervous sys-
TENS, so long tensfied, they disposed them"
selves to eysian rest.
Here we are to-day upon the scene so de-
| lightiul to these ancestors, lmD!Dln@ the
qualifications that so refreshed their weary
souls, together with all those wonderful ad-
ditions to the comfort and reireshment OF
man which time and ingenuity and wealth
have conceived and completed. And vet l
doubt whether any such felicity is known
to anv of us who now bask and Dathe and
riot in the things we have, now know such
zest. such exquisite Joy as was experienced
BY those forefathers, who named the place
after their long, uncomfortable, and peril
GUS voyage.
Old Point is now Il grand place. 1t Is
grown so popular, and access to 1t Is so con-
renient, that, as great as is its capacity, IL Is
often oyertaXcd. Yesterday there were $50
rucsls in the house, and tic steamers have
brought additions since. The improve
ments OF buildings and the means OF COM
fort have been extensive, and there must be
additions as wants and means OF promoting
comfort are suggested by time. The great
hotel fronts the grand Roads, which the
exhausted colonists hailed with such dc.
light, for the great length OF nine hundred
and forty feet. It is supplied with
balconies and wide halls, eminently cool
and shady. The brisk and refreshing
sea- breezcs sweep through the porches and
halls, and the guest is never at loss for a
retreat from heat and the bright sun. whose
rays ditfuse Il golden light that envelopes
the scene, inspiring the mind with some
thing ike ecstaSy-a feeling that would he
soon enough dispersed By exposure to those
rays; but seated in the spacious corridors
and passages the guest enjoys both sunlight
and brisk winds with undmlnished Joy.
The management OF the establishment
must he good when such il company Of
Guests is provided for and entertained with
such order and general satisfaction Mr..
Phoebus has most difficult task in satisfy
in- so many and must be the object OF COM
Dlaint; vet It is more wonderful that the
comD1aints should be so limited than that
fhey should be made. General Lindsay
Walker generally aids and co0peratcs, and
the manner III which he knuckles to his
business is creditabIc. 1t is not so wonder
full to see high military officer come down
to small employment, but when he does so
earnestly and faithfully it is honorable to
him that so does it and shows him capable
Of high trust. The Generals new command
is not thoroughly orderly. Pretty girls are
not the best material for discipline, and Il
they were, their presence IS demorallZlns
upon the remainder Of the garrison. But
the Generals suavitv keeps ell smooth and
merry.
The bath is better than ever; for the bot
tom of the bathing waters is improved, being
hard and formed OF fine sand, and so grad
ualy deepening to the waters that are too
deep that there is sea-room for the most am
bilious exploits of batherS. Ii we consider
humanity here and elsewhere, we will come
TO the conclusion that there are twenatures-
human nature and bathing nature. ltwould
be an interesting sight 10 one who never
saw promlscuous bathing to behold from
the wharf Of the hotel the multitude OF fam
tastically-dressed bathers who are jumping
and dipping and diving in the water. Fash
ion loses her reign here; indeed, she is
drowned in the wafer. We see no plaits
and 1ounccs and furbclows. and better than
all, no "pin.backs." There are no skirt
lfters either; nobody needs to lift them.
The trouble is to keep them down. The
water dispenscs with the want OF that sort
OF attire. sinca it keeps Grapery clinglnS
about the form very faithfully. Fashion
has no means OF getting in her authority.
No rnle is respected. Neither length nor
breadth, nor even style OF dress, is consid-
cred. Even that exquisite part OF the fair
est OF forms, the ankle, is exposed, and a
man NAV see more dcar, pretty ankles in a
dav here than he has seen in life
time before. And why is it? Why is
if that the fair creatures, in their jealousy
OF impertinent eyes, should with their long
trails condemn the eyes Of impertinent men
to enduring ignorance Of what is so ad-
mired in the halls, in the gardens, and in
the streets; but as soon as they come to the
salt water they lift up the ban and no long
or hesitate to put both feet and ankle for
ward in the most enchanting manner? So,
indeed, there Is bathing nature distn-
cuished from other phases OF life. y pleas
ant gentleman converSing with some inter-
estine ladies expressed 4 desire to see the
bathers in their bathing-dresses dancing III
the ballroom; which elected most tanta-
liking exclamation Of opposition. Pretty
hands were reversed i'll the sweet
est afrectation of horror, and no one
could have witnessed the scene with
out feeling an ardent desire to wit
ness that anomaly OF social festivity-
q dance OF bathers. oh, the flying "ard-
robe OF such Il multitude following the
mazes OF "tiying feet" That would, NJ
least temporarily, unseat the reason OF pam,
antiouated lockers on, like myself. II there
ever shall be u dance like that, if have
means to pay my way tbther, "count me
in.o
Really l cannot say that multitude OF
batbcrs is eXteriory commendable for beau
ty and attractiveness. There is apparently
no attempt to hide defects, unless it be that
the bathers hope to escape observation py
tue impossibility OF recognizing them; nor
is there any sign Of attempt at ornament.
And yet, I'll bet that lovers are sure to look
upon the forms they worship as lnhnltely
more lovely in their bathing drapery. Never
i lover that did not think blemish or fea-