The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-08-12
Tho Coming "Long Branch" Of tho
South.


VISIT TO VIRGINIA BEACH. NORFOLK, AMI
PORTSMOUTH - "wHAT ARE THE WILD
WAVES sAYINGY"
VIRGINIA BEACH, August II, 1888.
To the Editor Of the Dispatch;
| am n most diligent reader OF the Dis
patch, but confess knew little till to-day
OF "Virginia Beach," lately called "Tbe
! Hollies" from some holly-trees near by.
| came down this afternoon from Norfolk
by boat three miles up the South branch,
and by rail some seventeen miles. The
road will be completed TO Norfolk before
the next season. About 200 people came
| by this train upon nice, open summer
coaches, and in good time.
! am not unfamiliar with the " sea-" hav-
/ INK crossed the Atlantic several times, but
never lose interest in il. The beach here
is very fine. | walked on its hard pave
ment three miles towards Cape Henry. and
would have walked much forther but for
the IateneSs Of the hour and the desire Of
my companions to return TO the pavilion.
now almost completed. II will be worthy
OF the place when finished. also visited
the life-saving station near by, but at this
season it is uuoccupicd.
The bathing here cannot be surpassed.
There is no undertow. For fifty miles
south and TO Cape Henry, six miles north.
/ there is q splendid drive over a hard road
twenty TO thirty feet wide. The inclina-
ton Of the beach is gradual, so there Is no
danger OF any one going beyond his depth.
| looked for hours upon the great pillows
as they chased each other and dashed their
/ broken fragments upon the "soun ding
shore" All, "what were the wild waves
saving" TO meY II would take column
or more OF your excellent paper to tell.
/ The stories were thousand-yea, ten
| thouSand-years old. / strained my eyes
70 see the distant shores beyond The
beautiful bat unhappy Emerald Isle and
the great gates OF the Mediterranean, the
towering rocks OF Gibraltar, rose to my
Imagination, but the everlasting OF the
angry waters at my feet brought me back
from the other shore.
There are three trains from Norfolk
daily 10 this new resort, showing its pOpu-
larity even among a people who see no.
thing but water scarcely from morning till
night. TO our Richmond people it would
be ga JOY forever"
In my visit TO Portsmouth Yesterday /
was sorry TO see good deal OF filth in the
streets, especially near the Gosport navy
yard. Old watermelon rinds and decaying
fish in the public streets Portsmouth
should remember 30.
never visit Norfolk without making
visit to q sort OF Mecca to me in the home
OF the sainted Mrs. George VI. Balm. who
was for three or four years of the war a
refugee in Richmond. / saw to-day the
Bible OF Rev. George NJ. Balm. her late
husband. and father OF the Balm u Brothers
OF Portsmouth. IL was the one he used
when sent by Beast Butler, the incompara-
bic Governor of the great and intellectual
State OF Massachusetts,, 10 Fort IIatteras
because he would not hand over to the
greedy b. b. the funds OF the Savings
Bank. In note on the fly-leaf Mr.. Balm
states that in the twelve months spent ut
IIatteras he read this Bible through thir-
teen times. He was n true man, and the
citizens OF Portsmouth will long remember
his fidelity to Their trust. ellis children
rise up and call him blessed, and his works
do praise him." Yours, L.