Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-05-02
OLD POINT.
rHx ROUND or PLEASURE AT THE
HYGEIA HOTEL.
The German Men-of- war-Interchange Of
Courtesies-Drill Of the Ger
man Sailors. &C.


man Sailors, &C.
CORRESPONDENTS of the Rich mond Dispatch.l
OLD POINT COMFORT,
Fort MONROE, VA,
April 80, 1886.
Asa faithful chronicler Of passing
events / am free TO confess that the
Lsnten season was not so carefully OBJ
served by the young people sojourning
here as wo.ld have been the case had
they been at their own homes; but
last week being Holy Week. but few Of
the young ladies were dsncisg, and the
ballroom presented rather q deserted
appearance. The morning hours were de-
voted to impromptu musicales held in the
banquet. hall, where anumber Of rich and
biehly.cultivated voices were heard
TO great advantage. The mild and
genial weather and the beautiful moon
light lured the young people to stroll
on the beach in the evening. The pres
ence of the German scholarships Luise
and Mosquito in the Roads, with
number Of distinguished young officers
ON board, had strong tendency to di-
vert the minds Of the young ladies from
religious affairs to secular concerns.
Numerous sailingparties were arranged,
the objective point being either one or
the other Of the ships, where they were
always most cordially welcomed and
handsomely entertained.
An invitation was extended by Gene
raj Armstrong to the German officers to
visit the Normal School, which was &C.
cepted, and the visit arranged for last
Saturday afternoon. Half dozen boats
in tow of q steam-launch, with the
band, a company Of sailors, and all the
officers not on duty, came to the wharf
at2P. NJ, and after taking on party
of young ladies, properly chaperoned,
the fiotila sailed up tho Roads, the
band play ing some popular German AR.
Quite a number of visitors from the
hotel took carriages and Joined their
friends at the school.
The officers were escorted to the
stage of the assembly-room in Viz
einia Hotel, and were welcomed in
short address by General Armstrong,
when the students sang 1.-The Watch
on the Rhine" The band Of the Luise
returned the compliment by playing
The American anthem. The students
then gave some Of their plantation melo-
dies, and thus an hour was most plea
sanity employed. The sailors were
then formed on the lawn and gave an
exhibition drill, which elected the
hearty applause of the spectators. The
precision of their movements was really
wonderful, and illustrates the admlra-
bic discipline which obtains throughout
the entire military and naval establish
ment Of the German empire.
An informal reception at the officers
club-room in the garrison was given
to the German officers on Saturday eve
pirg, and on Monday General Tidball
and staff were invited to dejeuner on
the Luise.
On Monday evening the ladies ar
ranged handsome german for their
foreign friends, which was the social
event of the season. 1t was chape-
roned by Mrs. Cooper of Pittsburgh,
Mrs. Kelly of Chicago, and Mrs. Cap
tain Charles A. Booth of the garrison.
The German officers attended in full
dress uniform lit is probable that Solo
mon in all his glory was not arrayed
like one Of these), and were the
cynosure Of all eyes; for baron and
half dozen counts are not found in an
ordinary everyday german. About
thirty couples were dancing, and ample
refreshments were provided for the &C.
casion.
As the Luise was to sail on Wednes-
day, her officers gave farewell recep-
ton and dance on board that vessel
on Tuesday afternoon. The officers OF
the garrison were present in full-dress
uniform, and half dozen boats were
kept busy for an hour conveying the in
yited guests to the ship. The Luise
was put in holiday attire to receive her
visitors. The deck was covered in with
canvas, and lighted wax candles were
placed about, giving it the appearance
of ballroom of the olden time. There
was a profusion of flags, those of Ger
many and America being artistically
intertwined, and an abundance oil
flowers and evergreens everywhere.
The visitors were shown all over the
ship, and the why's and wherefores fdl'
ly explained to the ladies', many oil
whom had never before visited foreign
man. of.war. The officers Of the garri
son were specially interested in the
handsome krupp guns with which the
Luise is armed, and no doubt wondered
when the fort would be armed with
weapon so effective. In the mean time
the band, which was hidden away IT
some convenient nook, struck up
waltz. and the young people &" had the
deck" for the rest Of the afternoon
Refreshments, consisting Of chocolate
cake, and different kinds of wine
we're served in abundance, together
with a new kind of punch composed
Of Rhine wine and champagne. Coun
Won Hankwiltz, the commander OF the
Luise, is q genial host, and certainly
understands the art of entertaining
his friends. Among the curios HI
displayed a handsomely-carved chat
over two hundred years old, and tn
curious silver spoons out of which the
ladies slipped their chocolate wer
some of the Counts family plate, am
bore the date of manufacture-l6Ol
The reception terminated at sunset
and the guests babe a reluctant fare
well to their gallant friends. Many 0
the young ladies bore away numbe
, of brass buttons of German mauuiac
r ture as souvenirs of an event whlc'
/ | will long be remembered by both tn
hosts and their guests.
, On Wednesday at 2 P. NJ. the Luis
, | got under way and slowly steamed GU
, | Of the Roads, bound to Bermuda. Tn
piazzas were crowded with young ladie
. waving their adieus, which were vigo
rously returned from the vessel
decks.
The Mosquito will remain here un