Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-07-01
LETTER FROM OLD POINT COMFORT
Life at Old P9int-What the Bathing
Dress DiSCIOseS.

Special Correspondence of THE EVENING STAR.
HYGEIA HOTEL, OLD POINT COMFORT, June29, 80
Old Point Comfort is a very paradise for what
the witty Country Parson' calls "veal'-
ing very young people. The training ship Dale,
from Annapolis, is lying just of shore. and the
Hygiea is thronged with smooth-faced, blue
jacketed boys, ranging from fourteen to twenty
one. cruel joke was told of the little mid
dies to-day. They all had permission to come
ashore; but Paymaster -, who was very
obliviOus OF his own not distant youth and it's
fTivolities, gave each man 81 for necessary ex-
penses. This cruel treatment cast a gloom over
the whole party. as dinner itself cost just that
sum. But fortunately the services of a powerful
friend We're engaged. and the allowance was
changed to So, instead, which magnificent dona-
ton they recklesSy invested in the tleeting
pleasures of this unSatisfyng world
The hot weather has brought great crowd
OF city people here the southern element pre-
ValilnE. There are good many Washingtonians
including the floating population of Congress-
men and department people; for Congressman
are after ALL men with infirmities like as our
selves, and subject to them. Senator ingalls,
was sitting on the pier the other night looking
with his near-sghted eyes into the ripping
water and descantng on the change between this
mOOn-it scene and hot and busy city life us
it possible" said somebody. with keen recolIec-
ever anything but COOP Yes" said the Sena-
tor. overhearing the remark. sometimes |
am like negro [ heard preaching a sermon on
the Judgment Day He described the final con-
f1agratiOn. all the terrOrs of Judgment and
finally exclaimed, Yes. brethren, heaven will
pass away, and earth viii pass away, and sea
and air. and, brethern, Gas climax, will pass
away too. )"
Everybody bathes here all day long, though.
as the Frenchman says this thing of button
iS lrhf 70 1al-.
body commit suicide. 1t is a searching ipyesti-
cation and a fiery crucible from which few of us
come out pure gold. The process is a great dis
illusionizer. Many an ordinary-ooking woman,
in an ii-fitting dress, flashes into very dimped
creature. with limbs tit for a sculptors mould
ing, and full, fair throat and bust that startle
one into admiration. Another stylish creature
whose clothes are the very poetry of dressing and
the agony and envy Of her sex. sinks into col
orless shapeless ti@urehead, with an absence of
feminine characteristics which is quite alarming
But no woman. however frightful, ever equaled
the degree of hideOusnesS attained by the
average male bather. His additions should be
performed in private. if he does not wish to be
the object of scOrn and dersion of the other sex
For the moral of the thing, there are bathers
and bathers; but one listens In mute admiration
to the calm consistency of young girl who
will denounce round dancing as improper and
swim. float and dive with an acquaintance of a
morning. But, as Emerson says-and he is
utdtt. anu HIS WUTuS uOuDiE precious. since he
will say no more-"COnsistency is the hobgob-
lin of small mind" The young lady may have
the best of it. after all.
There are several pretty and two or three
beautiful women here. Miss McCay of Balti-
more, is charming-lOOking girl, with bewil-
dering variety of exquisite toilets. which adds
something to her pretty face Miss Scott. of
Richmond, is a lily-ike blonde, with tawny gold
locks and a distracting smile. Miss Lane, of
Carlisle. Pa, is also pre-emnently stylish and
ora fn1 ionic low
This game is, by the way, one of the favorite
amusements of the place. and much affected by
the young officers of the fort, who play it on
the campus. Mrs. Carley, of Louisville is a
beautiful woman. too, with young daughter,
whose budding beauty predicts a brilliant young
ladyhoOd.
General and Miss Sherman and Secretary and
Miss Sherman were all here the first q the week.
Mr.. VIM. Daniel, the president of the Temperance
Union, is guest at the Hygea F.O. II.