The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-07-19

gina FresS ASSOCIATION that adjourned
last Saturday was, in some respects,
one of the most remarkable bodies that
ever convened in the Old Dominion.
The delegates composing it hailed from
every quarter OF the State, from the
flats Of the Potomac to che pines of
Carolina, and from the hills of West
Virginia and Tennessee. to the blue
waves of the Atlantic, and numbered
altogether about one hundred and fifty.
The first meeting of the session was
held at noon on Tuesday in the city of
Portsmouth, and just previous to the ar
rival OF that hour and If utter disregard
OF the constitutional ,-ntipathy of edi-
tors to water, the very heavens seemed
to open and for two hours it rained as
only 1t can rain on an occasion of this
Kind or on picnic when no one is pre-
pared for it. However, an editor, a goat.
and cyclone possess flew points in
common, and one OF those points is
never to swerve from the ACCOMPLISH
mont OF an object once resolved upon.
So one by one the moulders of public
opininion strolled in looking, as though
they had just finished mornings ride
down the Elizabeth river on a dolphin's
back, until the large hall was we'll nigh
filled to overlooking.
Promptly at 1881 o'clock President
Pugh stepped forward with his usual
dignihed bearing, but bland and smiling
as though he had never experienced
tho chilling influences of a rain or
weathered a rougher gale than that
which is sufficient to rustic the curls of
beauty or sway the gentle foliage of an
infant mint bed, and ANNOUNCED that the
convention wac then in session.
Editor Wilcox, of the Progress, deliv-
cred an informal address, in which he
stated to the convention the programme
mapped out for the entertainments of the
association, and on behalf of the citizens
OF Portsmouth babe them welcome and
extended to them, in so far as possible,
the liberty of the city. The remainder
OF tho mornings session was devoted to
routine business, among which was the
election OF large number of new mem
bers.
AT $3.50 o'clock p. m. a reception was
rendered the association by the citizens
OF Portsmouth at the halls of the Young
Mems Christian Association, which was
In every sense of the word a grand sue
cess. In the absence of the mayor the
formal address of welcome was delivered
by the city solicitor and was appro.
priately responded to by bers of the
press.
The morning of Wednesday was de-
voted to sail around the harbor in q
magnificent steamer provided by the
board of trade of Portsmouth. On this
trip the mammoth basket works, and
the great navy yard. with all Of its
wonders OF ship building and arming,
together with many other points of
Interest, were visited.
Wednesday afternoon the entire dele
CATION took special train over the
rapid transit, which had been provided
by the citizens of Portsmouth, to Vir-
ginia Beach. There the sight was one
to do the heart good, as the Virginia
editors en- masse disported themselves
in the rolling pillows, with the gentle
and irresistible grace OF a porpoise after
a school of young mullet. A descrip.
ton of the handsome bathing apparel
OF the various memb ers would be inap-
propriate but interesting. However.
space will not permit full enumera-
ton. But as two of them were very at
tractive it is not deemed out of place to
describe them.
Heading the delegation as they ad-
vanced into the water came President
Pugh arrayed in stylish Jersey six
sizes too small, every button strained
to its utmost tension, while the legs, "a
though frightened by the waves, had beat
retreat so far up in the distance as to
be scarcely perceptlble to the beholder.
l5y his side marched the gallant editor
OF the Cape Charles Progress. Upon his
sinewy limbs hung the folds of his
bathing toga, swayed by the gentle
breeZes of the Atlantic. presenting to
the beholder picture OF that nameless
grace which has doubtless burst upon
the raptured vision of the reader as he
traversed the highway in the gentle
springtime by newly seeded fields whore
crows do mostly congregate.
With the many incidents OF this IA
nous bath party, none of them were of
a tragic nature, but with one exception.
Every man in the Association remem-
bers the gallant editor of the Clifton
Forge Review. Now this gentleman is
remarkable for his fastidious taste and
handsome personal appearance as he is
ior ms modesty and native ability. 1t
transpired that in his eagerness to lux.
uriate in the tempting waves he entirely
forgot to disrobe himself OF the peculiar
garments that are usually known as
SOCKS. There are few things that can
resist the disrobing tendency of the
breakers that dash upon Virginia
Beach, and socks are not classed in that
category. So the logical conseque nee
was that when the aforesaid gentleman
came ashore he found himself in that
condition which is said by naughty
newspapers to be habitual to another
great man.
This condition never having been
habitual with him and his grip sack be-
ing eighteen miles away, his dilemma
was, indeed, sad one, but as it had
hut fo = ho.
force, to take 1t. To pile Pelion on
OSSa and to add insult 70 In inru fn 70 a.