The National tribune., 1888-05-10

cellent sport fishing and bathing yet l must
confess that / came away with second inn
preston that | would far rather be buried at
once than be compelled to live that life. | OBJ
served that a majority of the inmates were
foreigners, the preponderauce seeming to be
with the German element, who smoked their
pipes of peace while they lounged on the grass
or occupied lounges on the broad verandas.
On inquiry / learned that 19-20ths were of
foreign BIRTH
They average a funeral day at Hampton.
Comrade McAlpin, the Superintendent of the
cemetery, informed me that he viii have to
secure more ground to accommodate the inter
ments.
l learned incidentally that it is the desire of
the authorities to increase the
CAPACITY OF THE HAMPTON HOME,
and plans are now being considered to con-
centrate, in time, all of the Soldiers Homes
at this one place because in the course of ma
ture the inmates will decrease and there will
be but few TO look after. The remnants may
be better cared for here, where the climate
and surroundings are so well adapted to the
comfort of the old and iufrm. Adjoining
Hampton is the Colored Normal Institute;
also the Indian School. The coIored boys mix
with the Indian boys here, and on the drills
aud parades it is difficult to distinguish them
day may be thus agreeably spent on Old
Point, at an expense Of so cents for dinner.
In the evening nice little steamer will con-
Vey you from Hampton over the water on
which the Merrimac and Monitor fought land
ing at Norfolk in time for supper at the hotels,
which, in point Of solid comfort and good table
are equal to the Hygoia, at one-half the rates
charged by this fashionable resort
Much might be written of Norfolk and Ports
mouth the twin cities by the sea- They are
quiet old places that have been there for so
long that they present an aged appearance.
They had the advantage Of New York and
Brooklyn in an early start and in the water
front, as we'll as being nearest by rail to the
Mississippi or Ohio Valley, bat Just why they
stopped growing hundred years ago is left to
the surmise Of the visitor. II may truly be
said of these two cities that they observe too
well the prcCept, Emulation without Envy"
The guide-books tell of their ancient history;
Of tho great occurrences; of the visits Of Colo
NAL Governors; also of Washington, Lafayette
and others. They have also been visited by
tile yellow fever and cholera, that are not men
toned in the books, as we'll as by Confederate
and Federal soldiers. To my mind the most
interesting visitor Of all was that Of the poet
Tom Moore. 1t was on the occasion Of his stay
in this place, and while stopping in the town,
he penned the beautiful poem,
THE LAKE OF THE DISMAL SWAMP"
It was my privilege to go into part of this
terribly misunderstanding canal country below
Norfolk | would I'D wise the reader to procure
Moore's poem and read the beautiful verses
which so strkiugly describes the country as it
is to-day. l can only give one verse from
memory:
They made her grave too cold and damp
For soul 20 tender aud true,
And she has gone TO the Lake Of the Dismal Swamp
Where all night long by freely lamp
She paddles her white canoe"
The nice little steamer Ariel leaves Norfolk
on alternate days at Il. IN. for Richmond, via
the James River. The fare for an entire day
lra rfy.f, - 10
one dollar, good meals being served aboard the
boat at so cents. could write book about
what | saw and thought about on this trip up
the James. One Hlay take the history of the
United States for guide-book on this trip and
follow along IN their imagination the feelings
and thoughts of those tempest-tossed mariners
I, of the 18th century, Capt John Smith aud his
party, as they sailed up this river in 1905
Whatever the New England writers, who make
our histories, as well as cur school books may
say about the Pilgrim Fathers and leave unsad
about the cayaliersin Virginia, the facts are
THE FIRST SETTLEMENT
was made at jamestown, so miles up the James
River. That it was not more successful re-
suited from the simple fact that the early
co0nists comprised four mechanics, II laborers
so gentlemen, ard no ladies. Just exactly
how Mr.. Smith expected to build up and popu-
late the new country il one Of the things the
I" Boy Spy" failed to discern.
/ wouldn't like to spoil that pretty POca-
hontas story Of Smiths that we have all studied
as school children, but | am compelled to say
that | gathered from tradition that 'Poky"
was great fraud. She is talked Of by the old
people around there as q pretty fast young
Indian firt. That she subsequently reformed
and married Mr. Rolfe is undoubtedly true
aud as preliminary to this ceremony was
baptized into the Church Of England |
handled the large stone font from which
Pocahontas was baptized. 1t may be seen in
the old Parish church at Williamsburg, Va.
mally OF the pTOudest families Of Virginia trace
their ancestry TO Pocahontas 4 few years
after 20 young women Of humble birth but
pure life, were imported by Dutch vessel aud
sold To the planters for wives, the pay being
made in tobacco did not learn Of any of the
Virginia families who traced their ancestry to
this prolific source Here also were landed the
FIRST slaves, along with that other tWin-relic of
barbarism, tobacco both Of which have been
curse to Virginia. As a striking historical CO.
incidence, it may be mentioned that on this
same historic peninsula almost within sight of
their first landing, the slaves were made free
by Gen. Buffers famous contraband-O I-war"
order. On this narrow neck of land, only
about II miles in width, occurred the
BEGIENING AND ENDING
of the colonial and Revolutionary history of
the country which closed with the surrender
Of the English at York town.
1 Very much may be said about Williams
burg's ancient as well as more recent history.
/ Here, on It's main street, MeClelian's army of
i 10000 marched in glorious array after the bat
/ tie of Williamsburg on May ), 1862. Here was
/ the birthplace and deathbed not only Of slavery,
1 but of BOarb0Hsm, and here the Indian was
! first taught the white mans way. But we
! shall have to hurry "On to Richmond" 20. x.
| TO be continued
/