Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-08-13
A TRIP TO THE SEASIDE.

woMAN's VIEW OF OCEAN vIEw-sCENEs AND
INCIDENTS EN- ROUTE AND THERE.
Special Correspondence of THE EVENING STAR.
OCEAN VIEW, Va. August 10.
am woman. As people hardly expect a
lucid and connected letter from one of my sex
who is not accustomed to writing for the public
prints that fact will be sufficient explanation of
the rather dsjointed character Of this epistle.
We are too much given to italics and exclama-
tion points, YOU know.
was one of a very small party who came here
on Somes vacation excursion Monday evening.
The manager of the party looked though he
would like to make some remarks more forcible
than polite: but he was restrained by the prOX-
unity of the petticoats. probably. 1t would
appear that there was some misunderstanding
with the steamboat company, and that people
received wrong impressions on that account.
The boss of the excursion said he never post
pOned," and so at exactly half-past five the Lady
Of the Lake pulled out from her wharf. This
was rather remarkable, considering the
general tendency of Washington steamers
to wait half an hour for zone more passenger"
The night was clear as-as-well, We women
would say, as a bell. The moon shone brightly
on smooth surface Of water, and made an
evening just too enchanting. Very few of the
passengers retired to their stateroOms until
after midnight, it was so delightful. Capt.
Baldwin and the handsome purser-I didn't
learn his name, although made several hints
to find 1t out ,-entertaned we girls with sew
eral amusing stories and "reminiscences: but it
was really too bad of the captain to tell us SO
many shark stories. think of them every time
/ go into the water.
We got breakfast at good hotel in Norfolk on
the excursion ticket, and Immediately came to
this place. railroad-narrOw gauge--runs
from Norfolk out here, ten miles. The cars are
open and made exactly like those that went
''arOund the world" in the centennial grounds.
a Ocean We
prised. Please understand that by ''we" re-
fer to the eXcursOnsts. The place is much
better fitted up than L expected. The hotel is
large three-story building, and has ninety
odd rooms. These are all furnished with
black walnut chamber suites and carpeted,-luX-
uries that are generally scarce at the seashore.
Would you believe it? | actually slept on hair
mattress over woven wire last night. But these
things have to he paid for. The prices are 50 SO
day and S14 week-which don't trouble u.s.;
our tickets cover all that.
There is a large ballroom just opposite the
hotel. and q band plays from $50 to 10 every
evening. Last night there was big party on
the floor, and the way the girls here dance the
racquet would make some Washington ladies
turn green with envy. The dear creatures
that's what the men call us-play billiards,
too, and push the balls around at
very lively rate. After all, though, the
bathing is the most fun. You can wade out
almost half q mile on hard, level beach with
ouI Sct1iuS over your aTm-pitS there Is as
much variety in the costumes and the figures as
in any place where 200 people can be seen at
once in the water.
Norfolk seems to do all her LAYING here. do
not feel equal to the task of giving graphic
pen-picture of the gay scenes here, and there
fore will not attempt it.
Among the Washington party here are: Dr.
Smith TOwnshend, Rev. B. Peyton Brown, C. H.
Bliss, C. H. Evans. ThOs. w. Smith, George r.
kOOntz, John r. Miner and family, j. H. Clarke
and wife, E. Hugeshemer and family, Benjamin
Swain, VIM. B. Robson, 7. F. Mcguire, A. L.
Morcell, John B. Lippold, Jacob Xander, r. c.
Somes, Frank Elwell, L. 8. Emery, w. Spangler,
DR.. G. 7. Fenwick, Mrs. C. ID. Willard and fam
lily, Horace KirkwoOd, Victor Strasberger and
lady, John R. Miner and family. Hoping that
Mr.. SOmes may not be too much discouraged to
attempt another trip, / will close. SUE.