Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-03-05

THE CLUB HOUSE
spray. Leaping forward from the prov of the
gallant ship the protecting goddess like the
tabled fairy that Ulysses placed in front of the
Arago when the arganauts started on their
wanderings, seems TO be endowed with life.
One cannot help thinking if the closed lips
would only open what tales it could tell Of
strange countries Of monsters of the deep,
final dash upon the sands, when
many good mariner went down.
The region lying southwark Of Virginia Beach
Is a most fascinating one for the tourist. The
marked characteristics Of the natives. the wild
scenery and nature in an ever changing mood
makes a visitor all eyes and ears. To get to
Ragged Islands one must ride along the ocean
beach for fifteen miles. There is a narrow strip
OF land that lies between the Atlantic ocean
and q strip OF water known as Back bay This
piece Of land is about half mile to three
quarters in width. 1t is composed of floating
sand and sea meadows, the latter so called be-
cause species OF tough grass about six inches
high gives stability to the soil The sand
dunes that border the shore are continually
shifting. Standing on the beach the scene is an
indescribably wild, barren and desolate one In
front Is the hmltless sarging ocean; on the
right and left aud in the rear is the wide waste
OF Land, whose surface even in the slightest
breath Of wind rises In an impalpable dust and
causes every object to appear as half hidden
by veil Along the route on the
beach are immense mounds Of pure
white sand. some of them as
large as the Capitol in Washington
In the sand are planted telegraph poles run
ming from Virginia Beach to the various life
saving stations scattered few miles apart
clear down 10 the dread Hatteras. This line is
under control Of the War Department and is of
tncalculable benefit to the maritime service
AT every hfe-ssying station at least one Of the
crew 10 taught enough telegraphy to receive or
send message Or If there is no operator there ia
telephone communication between the stations
and the message Is repeated until an operator
h found Thus as soon as q vessel il in distress
or driven ashore the fact il wired to Norfolk
and tugs and wreckers are dispatched at once
TO the scene This is . dreadful coast Last
summer In ride Of thirty miles along the
beach counted nineteen wrecks two of Them
full-riggsd vessels without q timber fractured.
driven high and dry on the sand during Q high
tide.
TEE SAND pwHLLrRs
Hardy men can exist anywhere on this earth.
and even this bleak forbidden abominstion of
dssolation 10 the abiding place of whole fami-
lies. who face the binding sand Of winter and
the pestiferous mosquito Of summer with
calmnsss and squanimity that is simply won
derful These sand jewellers a common
wealth and community in themselves. The
men are hardy, brave and resolute as the old
Norsemen OF old, as is natural to those who
nave to night the elements TO gain q livelihood.
The men, as . general rule, can read and write
s1' sAey Hs'o Asue uso lor sucn accomplish
ments and rarely practice it A few Of them
even take . weekly newspaper. They are as
lazy - Indiana, and hate work or steady labor
They don't mind violent exercise when shoot
ing or fshing. but 81 home generally lie around
Idle, while their wives work in the garden and
mend their nets and do household chores;
cook, sew, knit, drive the cows home attend to
the poultry, wash clothes and do all the work
that colored help elsewhere attend to. An
African II rarely seen in tins section. These
bleak shores do not suit the tropical man and
brother who ..nt. ms ohr Tsn ms mule III:
native h sharp at . bargain and will charge
ths Last cent he thinks his victim will pay. They
are inscriptions and greedy - . Neopolitan
heggar or . Greek brigand- Travellers having
dealings with them should always make con-
tracts beforehand or else they viii be mulctsd