Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-17

end Of couple Of old wharf stringers were pic
turesque objects in the landscape on the return
trip between Lodge Landing and Munday's
Point. They did not however, attract as much
attention a. did boatload Of colored girls who
were evidently endeayoring. to delude them-
selves into the belief that they were enjoying
themselves in one Of those slim sailing craft
with which these waters abound. Munday's
Point was soon passed, but instead of making
out toward the river Capt Geoghegan turned
ne sues nose inland again, and ms little while
naked eye. Seated peacefully in an old punt,
intent on their fishing lines, were two colored
folks, one male 'tother female. By and by the
steemer's swell insinuated itself under the
shailops quarter-or rather under one corner
OF the thing-and then the scene became sud-
denly animated No lives were lost, but there
came floating on the breeze objurgatory sounds
that were probably profane in their origin and
supplementary in their tenor.
THE WONDERFUL KrNsALE HosTKLnY.
The boat stopped at Kinsale for nearly an
hour, 30 lots Of the passengers got of and
tramped around to enjoy the scenery and to
spy out the land generally. The arst object
which enlists the attention of the tourist Is 0
big sign in front Of a little frame shanty, and
on the sign 10 that fateful combination of
words, bar room" There is nothing tempt
ing in the appearance Of the interior, 90
don't think II capturedea single passenger. The
greater portion Of Kinsale stands upon high
hill, and in the center of the settlement are
several dozen cords Of frewood and Hardwick's
hotel. The hotel is the curiosity Of the place,
and whoever visits the neighborhood without
looking at that hostelry will miss much. How
old the building is no one knows. The memory
OF the Oldest inhabitant reaches back for sew
eral generations, but the hotel was one Of the
first things on which his fond recollection fast
ened itself. Judged by the curled shingles on its
roof 1t Is at least one hundred years old, and an
addition which was tackled on to it during the
Mexican war looks comparatively young. When
we called the premises were guarded on the
other side by blind old dog
who was tied up in the yard. No
one disputed our right to enter, 80 we
went into what had once been the hotel bar
room, and my first impression was that some
deirious and whisky-soaked scene painter had
transferred his awful visions to the walls of the
apartment. Staring at US from the wall oppo-
site the front doorway was George Washington,
looking extremely ungraceful and uncomforta-
BILE on horse who was standing on one hind
leg while the other described an odd-looking
gesture In the imaginary air. The combat be-
tween the monitor and the Merrimac was de-
picted on another side wall; the boiler-plate
rocks, riyets and all complete we're admirably
done in all sorts OF impossible hues. Then there
was a beautifully green landscape alongside the
kitchen door in which everything was as far re-
pressionist school. In the only dark corner in
the room was another life-size picture of q man
on horseback. The mans features were cross
between those carried around by Tom Ochil-
tree and the we'll known trade mark on league
baseball. The horse was evidently modelled
after one of the wonderful specimens
to be found in this benighted region.
/ noticed that the host remained in
the kitchen while the members Of our
party were criticizing the productions from
an artistic standpoint, and supposed that some
of our opinions did not coincide with his.
THE ARTISTIC TRAMP.
The truth came out later, and in the follow
ing legend we found the reason for his persist
ent absence. Once upon time, as the story
books say, tramp painter-a painter by trade
made his appearance at Kinsale and secured
a room and consumed board at Mr. Hardwick's,
which is the only inn in the village. The tramp
was well clad and was oily of tongue, 30 he
did not have much difficulty in persuadng his
host that his object in coming to Kinsale was
OF a toy factory. One thing alone prevented
him from starting the enterprise Immediately
and that was lack of funds. He was a Col Null
berry Sellers, this fellow, and into the
open ears of the populace he poured
tales OF the great prosperity which
should come to Kinsale when the toy factory
was at work; there was millions in it," For
three weeks the preparations (Which consisted
principally in borrowing various sums OF money
from the natives) went steadily on. and to
while away the hours and show his ability the
alleged artist decorated the room as we saw it.
Then matters were SO far advanced that he de-
cided to go to Washington to bring therefrom
his wife and children. To make this trip
money was needed, and the kindly hearted
Hardwick advanced him a sufficient sum. and
then, in order that he might reap some benefit
from the excursion. Hardwick proposed to the
painter that he take with him valuable young
horse to sell in Washington. To this PROPOSE
ton the tramp quietly agreed. Neither he nor
the horse, snor the money have been seen by
any one from Kinsale since the day of his de-
parture for the capital city. Can any one
wonder at Mr.. Hardwick's sadness of express
sion or at his preference for staying away while
we we're in the room.
AFoRLoRN ANIMAL.
Going back to the boat Mr.. Wheeler discov-
cred one of the most misunderstanding speci-
mems of horsefesh it was ever my lot to
behold, hitched to a two-wheeled vehicle of
genus not known. The harness which aided
the shafts in supporting the horse was COM
posed of all the materials (save and except
leather) that human ingenuity could seek out.
We looked for the man or boy whose conscience
would allow him to ask that horse to ''get up"
but he was missng-probably drinking whisky
down at the wharf, while his starving steed was
tearing the Straw stufing out OF its collar in a
Ndib ChuCdNOH W sdtisIN appetite tudt WAS
large enough to accommodate two bushels of
oats and Al pounds OF hay; to say nothing of
corn and chopped feed.
DINNER AND CoAN RIVER
came at about the same time, but what we lost
in scenery (for we were on the sunny side Of
the boat and the blinds Of the dining saloon
were closed) was more than compensated for in
victuals. At Coan wharf number of passen-
gers got on, some of them Washingtonians, and
there were many boxes OF peaches and lots Of
other freight slowed away on the lower deck
Cowart's wharf added a little to the load and
then the boat was headed for Lewis wharf.
Just as she approached within two or
three hundred yards of it there were two
boys on the wharf; one large, one small, There
was brief struggle, splash, aud then the big
boy was alone; the little one, clothes and all
was in the water. He did not seem to mind
the ducking, but swan easily and swiftly to a
boat which was near and climbed in. Some
body said he was Washington youngster,
whose folks are summering in the vicinity.
Lewis, who owns the wharf, is a busy man.
He controls 5000 acres OF oyster beds leased to
him by the Virginia Legislature He pays $500
annually as rent and his taxes amount to 500
more, SO it is no wonder that he objects to the
oyster pirates dredging over his property. He
had several warm fights with them last spring
and has secured number of indictments
against the pirate kings.
I'D