The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-05-27


When next Stanhope King saw Fort
ress Monroe il was in the first days of
Juse. The summer which he had left
in the interior of the Hygeia was now
out-ofdoors. The winter birds had
gone north; the summer birds had not
vet come. IL was the interregnum, for
the Hygeia, like Venice, mas two sea-
sons. one for the inhabitants of colder
cliraes, and the other for natives of the
country. No spot, thought our tray-
eler, could be more lovely. Perhaps
certain memories gave it charm. not
well defined, but still gracious. If the
house had been empty, which it was far
from being, it would still have been
peopled for him. Were they all such
agreeable people whom he had seen
there in March, or has one girl the
power to throw charm over whole
watering-place? AT any rate, the place
was full of delightful repose. There
was movement enough upon the water
to satisfy ones lazy longing for life, the
waves Tapped soothingly along the
shore, and the broad bay, sparkling in
the sun, was animated with boats,
which all had holiday air. Was it not
enough to come down to breakfast and
sit at the low, broad windows and
watch the shifting panorama? All
about the harbor slanted the white
sails; at intervals steamer was landing
at the wharf or backing away from it I; On
the wharf itself there was always little
hustle, but no noise, some pretense of
business, and much actual transaction
in the way of idle attitudinizing, the
colored man III cast-of clothes, and the
colored sister in bonnet or turban,
lending themselves readily to the pic
turesque; the scene changed every
minute, the sail of tiny boat was
hoisted or lowered under the window, a
dashing cutter with its uniformed crew
was pulling oil to the German man-of-
war, putting little tug dragged along
a line of barges in the distance, and on
the horizon a feet of coasters was
working out between the capes to sea.
In the open window came the fresh
morning breeze, and only the softened
sounds of the life outside. The ladies
came down in cool muslin dresses. and
added the needed grace to the picture
as they sat breakfasting by the windows,
their figures in silhouette against the
blue water.
No wonder our traveller fingered
there little! Humanity called him,
for one thing, TO drive often with hui
namely disposed young ladies found
the beautiful shore curve to visit the
schools for various colors at Hampton.
Then there was the evening promenad-
ing on the broad verandas and out upon
the miniature pier, or at su set by the
water-batteries of the old fort
such peaceful old fortress as it
is. All the morning there wee "in-
spections" to be attended, and no.
where could there be seen more
agreeable mingllng of war and love
than the spacious, tree planted interior
of the fort presented on such occasions.
The shifting figures of the troops on
parade; the martial and daring man IL
vres OF the regimental band; the
groups of ladies seated on benches I'M
der the trees, attended by gallants in
uniform, momentarily off duty and full
of information, and by gallants not in
uniform and never off duty and desir-
Gus to learn; the ancient guns with
French arms and English arms, remin-
isceuses of Yorktown, on one of which
pretty girl was apt to be perched in
the act of being photographed-all this
was enough to inspire any man to be a
countryman and n lover. 1t is beauti-
full to see how fearless the gentle sex is
i'll the presence of actual war; the
prettiest girls occupied the front and
most exposed seats, and never fiinched
when the determined columns marched
down on them with drums beating and
colors flying, nor showed much relief
when they suddenly wheeled and
marched TO another part of the parade
in search OF glory. And the officers
quarters in the casemates--what will
not women endure to serve their
country! These quarters are mere tun-
Lels under dozen feet of earth with
door on the parade side and case
nent window on the outside-a damp
cellar, said TO be cool in the height of
summer. The only excuse for such
quarters is that the women and chil-
'.ren will be comparatively safe in case
the fortress is bombarded. Charles
Dudiey Warner, M Hdrpey''s Maya
cine