The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-07-23
OLD POINT.
Editorial correspondence Of the DSspatchJ
ORR potST COMFORT. July 20, 1878.

opDreSSeS so many G3ties, esticSif.ss enose v!
the Mississippi Valley and the lakes, put u
must be confessed that the news OF TINS tor-
rid affection rather enhances our sat'siac.
tion. since hot as the season Is we arc al
WAYS famed by the delicious sea-oreeze.
|; we keep out OF the sun we are never
uncomfortable. have never seen so much
animation and gaiety at Old Poiht. IL Is
bv far the most successful season ever
known here. The company is nearly dol-
ble that at any former season.
almost every day there are large plea
snrc narties from either Baltimore, Washing
ION Sorfo)k. or Richmond, with occasional
GOV excursions from Smithfeld and Suffolk
ssmJ tho waters that enter the Chesapeake.
IN Wednesday we had nultitudinous eX-
cursion from Suffolk and Nansemond, which
was apparently led by Judge Rldd'ck. VINO
in brighter and better times represented ola
Nansemond IN the .sGeneral Assembly OF
Virginia "a name once held in Veneratlon
&c the title OF body unstained by dlshonor,
,,nta;nfed BY corruption. ] never meet
man whose name was enrolled upon the
lie, Of representatives OF Virginia in those
h,upy times without feeling OF satlsfac-
ton unusual in ordinary social intercourse.
Wbat q ialling-ofi in the public character OF
virginia has there been since that graDd
time. Since through northern vindictIveness
the constituent body Of the State has SUI
frred that terrible degradation which has
increased itself upon the representative
body.
repeat WAS happy to meet the Judge
the peer OF the men who maintained the
honor and glory OF Virginia in palmy days.
He is admirably preserved, and is as 1.-the
and animated in his physical energies as
was some twenty years ago. We mutually
renewed the assurances OF our high consid-
Grafton, not impairing our elevated posi-
tons by any such commonplace as passed
between the Governors OF the Carollnas.
Yesterday afternoon Governor Holiday,
accompanied By his aid, Colonel Taylor, ar
rived from Richmond. His intercourse
with the guests has been very agreeable,
and marked by the exhibition on the part
OF the public Of the consideration due to
the man and the office he fills, and by the
Governor Of that ciyillty and atiablllty
which he practices with such discretion and
ease.
To-day the Governor accepted the invita-
ton OF General TidbaIl, who, in the absence
OF General Getty (who Is upon the court
martial for the trial of E'itz John Porter,
commands Fort Monroe, to visit the fort,
and was honored by salute. He was treat
ed with marked respect by General Tidball
and his aids, and was much gratitied by his
visit. In the evening he visited the fort, by
invitation. to witness the target-practice
with the heavy guns. The target was an
chored in the Chesapeake bay, 4 mile or two
east OF the Rip-I;aps. The shells fired from
these guns weigh 450 pounds, and the guns
are charged with only fifty pounds OF pow
dcr-half the proper charge. The target
one mile and three quarters diStant-has
been the object for some four or five days in
the afternoon firing. This evening there
was some fine shooting, especially excel
lent ricochet shots, by which the
missiles were planted all about the target,
but it escaped wonderfully without scar.
1t is certainly 4 distinguished target. 1t
has survived unframed an amount Of skill
and force directed upon it that its escape
would seem almost miraculous. After days
OF firing / supposed that the presence OF
Governor Holiday would inspire the gun
ners with fresh ambition that would result
in slathering the target; but although they
showed the Governor craftsmanship that
elected his praise, when the smoke OF the
guns cleared off there still was the target
calm and unframed by the big guns. 1t IS
rising in the estimation of the hundreds OF
rucStS Vi GuC uOttl WIZ uaIg hlthSoS CuC
Wrathful shots which the bafiled guns have
hurled at it. The affair reminds me OF the
trial OF a handsome rat-terrer in a dog-fan-
cier's establishment. The terrier was frus-
trated by the rat, and the man who hsd fam
cied the dog asked his friend whether he
should buy him. "Oh, no." said he; "buy
the rat" | shall bid for the target
1t is astonishing to see the popularity Of
the Hygeid Hotel. There are over seven
hundred guests here now, and numbers
waiting to till up the rooms as rapidly as
they are vacated. l look upon this growing
popularity OF this position upon the roads
that connect James river with the Chesa-
pcake Bay with peculiar interest. The bay
and the roads present the highway OF CON-
mcrce to the ocean from the centre OF the
Union upon the latitude OF greatest pro-
duction and OF greatest commercial energy
and prosperity. That there must be an i'm
mence concentration OF commerce, great
gathering OF men and means about these
capacious waters and the brave rivers that
pour their watery and commercial tributes
into them, there should not be doubt; and
that Ola Point, with its accommodations and
comforts, will facilitate the commercial evo-
luton that is to be witnessed at this
Virginia coast, have no doubt. We should
Ill be glad to see the growing popularity OF
this resort, and should count as valuable to
the prosperity Of the State every steamboat
and ship that is added to the transporting
power and animation Of the exporting and
importing trade that glidcS along these
waters.
The life here is bright and varied. To the
gaiety OF young people, and music, and the
dance, there is added the merry laugh Of
healthy children, who are iubilant in the
bath and redolent OF increasing brightness
and activity. The weak and restless ones
who are teething or suffering from summer
feebleneSs are evidently improving.
The sail upon the broad roads in superb
yacht is popular diversion for young peo-
pie. To-day we have had brisk breeze,
with iovial, driving waves, and the yachts
with gay companies have been sweeping
over the waters as deity as those Skilful
aeronauts, the martins, in summer.Storm.
The men chiefly seek the pleasures OF fish
ing. observe that the legal profession is
much inclined to angling, and its members
are especially ambitious to hook Sleeps
head. Webster got some Of his best ideas
while angling, and have no doubt some Of
my legal friends fancy that every sheepshead
they hook is 4 fat client in legal entangle-
mcnt that promises fruitful results to conn
sci. You should see pne prominent barris-
ter; how he expoits himself upon Sleeps
head. His satisfaction is so great that one
imagines it could not be greater were he to
get hold OF a Miller estate. am peculiarly
situated, and have no time for sporting; but
should manage to steal off I apprehend
that +, too, will be proud of sheepshead.
despite any "sarkasms" that my kind
friends may play off upon me. I might
compare aleaping, galaeiy, struggling, and
illustrious inhabitant OF the deep to com-
prehensiYe and broad.gauged advertisement
at twenty cents line-that would offset a