Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-04-21
oi houses within the stone inclosure 1t
forms a village OF itself.

OF houses within the stone inclosure it
forms a village OF itself.
About Ihree-Quarters OF mile TO the
left OF Old Point is a small island, artl-
fetal make up, aud called Fort Wool.
Visitors 70 the island can, by drawing
slightly on their Imagination, easily
feel much like Robinson Crusoe on his
lonely island, and II, as Milton says,
solitude is some times best society,
one can, II he is disposed, have 1t here
10 his complete satisfaction, for on this
ISLAND there is but one human being,
and that a watchman, who receives from
the government 5000 year for his SER
vices. Just what those services COM
prise it s difficult TO imagine, as there
are no guns 10 care for, nor any NOV
ables 70 attract poachers. But, at any
rate. 1.-The laborer is worthy OF his
hire;" he obeys instructions, sticks TO
his post, and 5y his extreme isolation
earns all he gets irsm Uncle Sam.
The city Of Norfolk, where most OF
the land celebrations occur, is place
OF some $1,000 inhabitants, two-hiths
OF whom are OF cimmerian hue. II the
iostle OF the crowd about the city the
darkies seem to sandwich in about half
and half with the naughty Caucasians.
Sitting around on the wharves, hung
upin doarways, or astride barrel In the
market place are many OF the typleai
Cncle Toms and Uncle RemuseS OF tue
story and the stage
The water front Of Norfolk Is pic
TUE; there are miles OF docks and hun
dreds OF craft here at all times. II Is
suggestive sight TO see the numerous
ships OF various rig and nationallties
stringinE its wharves with schooners,
tug boats, pungieS and river boats, and
people wonder where all the produce
comes from, out when IL is knoSn that
Norfolk Is the terminus OF six railroads,
connecting with all the great systems
of the country, drawing most heavily
on the South and West, the bulk or
which goes 10 foreign countries, the
wonder ceases. Near here is the lake
OF the Dismal swamp, about which the
poet Moore wrote in that mourntul yet
beautiful strain.
Norfolk now is crowded with visitors,
people pouring Ia on every train. The
civ in all It's ramifcations is decked
with bunting and flags OF all nations;
passlng along the business streets you
move under a floating mass OF emolems,
and from the top OF the thousand and
one masts in the hsrbor there bespeaks
the gala week. Three bands stationed
at different parts Of the city play all
through the day, and there Is a surglng
throng pushing and jostling along the
streets.
There are nearly one hundred OF the
New York, Philadelphia, Brooklyn and
Boston society ladies Quartered at the
HvVeia, and the styles represented are
veritable pictures, actually living po-
ems. symphonies, and, at times, satires.
Some OF those deftly constructed putfed
sleeves speak volumes, and are a study
10 themselves. The evening toilets are
beautiful and enhancing, and TO move
about the parlors in the height OF the
festivities means more than nightWith
Kiralfy.
AN the girls seem fairly crazy over
the naval officers. and the plain, every
day civilian, however much he may pull
the social strings al home, is as little
''iu it" at Old Point as the natives OF
the Canary Isles. 1t is amusing 10 OBJ
serve the schemes and innuendoes OF
the darlings as each strives TO outdo the
other in pretty attire, picturesque pos
ing and vivacious conversation. Some
OF the Russian officers are handicapped
as the only other language they con-
verse in is French, but there are many
bright, sparkling, highly educated Ia
dies, these clever lingulsts, who can
cope with sll corners.
An amusing incident happened the
other night when the ladies undertook
10 give a brilliant german, exclusively
for the naval officers, it being under
stood that no civilian should pass the
portals. But they were somewhat cha
grined when they found the officers IN
sophisticated in the may and had TO
send 20 Richmond 70 get some one 10
lead the german, and also TO invite sew
eral civilians in after all TO help con-
duct the affair 1t has formed one OF
the most amusing social incidents Of
the season. FREDERIC MASON.