National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-08-14

the refined, rich and elegant old Virginans
Old Point Comfort was famous for before tho
late unplcasantness
What a Paradise of fools this world would
bo If 1t were peoped with fine old Virginia
ladies and gentlemen-genuine f. F. VS. A
number OF registering young noblemen onco
invited Pool, the famous London tailor, TO q
fox hunt. During one of their halts young
Lord Hamilton asked him (PooO what he
thought of the company. DO you know, my
lord, replied the loquacious tailor, az think 1t
is somewhat mixed" There was pause of
many minute. Pool, my dear boy" replied
Hamilton, factiously, "you must remember
We can't all be tailors."
We can't all be Virginians, sad to relate. AS
If to add to the lean mans melancholy, there
was neither hoe-cake nor fried chicken for
breakfast. And what landlord In his senses
would think of appeasing the hunger of n fine
old Virginia gentleman without hoe-cake and
fried chicken2 He picked his teeth in the
most approved style, and stepping up TO the
office counter, demanded to 500 mine host,
Ph Gbus.
Pm that porson-that's me-" said tho fos-
tive Phmbus, extending his hand and inqur-
ing what he could do for tho melancholy
stranger.
d" You can give NO." he replied, ponsivoly,
I" a large room where i can have an unob.
structed view of Hampton Roads, that grand
memories for me-"
Mine host shook his head dospondlngly. He
hadn't private room for even George Wash
ington himself were ho alive,
DO tho best We can for you," said mine
host
The melancholy mans countenance as.
sumed an air Of disappointment.
" You are familiar with the history Of my
illustrious ancestor ?" inquired tho stranger.
" You have me at n disadvantage" replied
Phebus, his face redding with confusion as he
ran the fingers of his right hand through his
crispy red hair.
Tho melancholy man expressed his disgust
at such want Of historical knowledge con-
cerning the father of his country. "Thore,
there-look thore," retorted the melancholy
man, as he pointed with the forefinger of his
right hand to the name on the registerL
Washington"
"Well, now, just think of itw responded the
rotund Phi pbus, with an air of mingled happi-
ness and surprise. "But there are SO many
Washingtons."
"No, sir, not of our stock" interrupted the
stranger, readjusting his eyeglasses, which he
had held in his fingers for some minutes. 81
am lineal descendant of the illustrious George
Washington"
"The ID you are" exclaimed the aston.
ished and gushing Pho bus; "the ID you
are! A relative of the man what never told q
lie, and the man what had famous little
hatchet Give us both your bands-the best
this house can afford Is at your service;" and
he extended both hands, and shook the
strangers violently, insisted on accompanying
| him to his room and seeing that he had what
ever he wanted. Still the stranger was not
happy. Hc was in room where ne could not
| look out aud SEQ the very spot where our
people sent the frigate Cumberland and all on
| board upon her to the bottom" Aud his sensi-
| tive nerves were shocked that landlord
| should make himselfso familiar with the name
| of his illustrious ancestor. How changed
| everything was, he thought. These YANKEES
| had not bit Of ref nement.
And now for the shark story. The descend
| ant of the illustrious Washington observed
great circumspection during the day, as was
becoming Of one of so much ancestry, and at
| three o'clock ate hearty dinner Now, there
sat next to him at tho table one Major Ran.
dolph, well-known at the Fort for his wit, hi.
gallantry, and for his practical joking. 1,
seems this wit and practical joker misled
the descendant Of the illustrious as to who Ger.
tain guests were, and where they came from
The stranger concluded to indulge in an af
| ternoon bath, and when the time came he go
himself into one of, the tightest- fitting AND
oddest-looking bathing-suits you ever saw. II
is needless to say he presented not only q conf
cal but sorry figure-so much so as tt
| attract general attention. Indeed, my
good friend suggested pocket edition
of Don Quixote. in his famous charge on thc
wind-mills. He plunged into brine manfully
| and with his eyeglasses on, and was dispOrtinl
himself like young porpoise, when the shril
cry Of SHARK Shark Shark !! resounded, Great
ing intense alarm. Tho bathers, old ant
young. male and female, made promiscuou
scramble for the shore. The spectators on tn,
piazza, on the wharf, and along the verandas
crowded down on the small wharf overlooking
| the exciting scene. There was Just one maj
who was not bit afraid of the shark, who no
only stood his ground, but faced about like
hero and u true Virginia gentleman, and CAV
Mr.. Shark look of defiance. Indeed, / an
not so sure that he had not made up his mint
to look the shark out of countenance. 1t /
due to the shark to say that he knew his busi
ness, and could distinguish between genuin
descendant of tho immortal Washington
and common, vulgar Yankee at glance.
say this because he paid not the slightest heet
to a number of common people in the water
but fixed his eyes on, and went directly for ou
hero with the illustrious ancestor. Not a me
ment was to be lost for the combatants wer
almost together. A kindly disposed negro, whit
had Just arrived in his canoe, threw our hero
as we shall now call him, his steering paddle
and with this he struck the shark o terribl
blow on the snout. His sharkship nov
hauled off to repair damages, and also to ma
nGuvre for position. Now he made u hall
the starboard, then he headed straight for ou
hero, and came on with desperate velocity
evidently intending to snatch voucher fron
his rear elevation. Our hero was equal to tn
emergency, and faced Mr.. Shark with genu
inc old Virginia pluck, dealing him anothe
terrible blow with the paddle right on til
small of the back. Again the shark haule
off and man@uvred for an advantage. Tht
shark kept his weather eyo on his antagonist
and again rushed at him with desperate fero
city. Again our hero got well-aimed bloN
in on the yarment's snout, which sent him
deep water amidst the encouraging cheers c
the lookers-on. These man@uvres and attack
were kept up for several minutes, and until
became apparent to all that there soon wOul
be desperate work at close quarters.
Among the anxious witnesses of the seen
was Chief Clerk Crosby, of the War Depart
. mont, He sent our hero, by the hand of
negro, an old-fashoned jaGk.knifo with
blade about five inches long, and with thi
wicked instrument our hero got in two thrust
that made the blood flow freely. Indeed, Ii
l began to founder in a manner which showe
that he was fatally struck Just at this me
ment Major Randolph appeared on the scene
: and with his usual gallantry, plunged into tn
water and rushed TO the assistance of our herr
Both now seized the wounded shark by th
tail (dorsal in), and ran ashore with him tr
1 umphantly, amidst the cheers Of the crow'
You will perhaps say, Mr.. Editor, that this wa
oh 1nn ln1 NNnfg