Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-08-01
Cobb's Island.

Correspondence Alexandria Gazette
In deciding the momentous question
of summer resort-espccially a sea-
side one-one is embarrassed by the
conflicting claims of the numerous ap-
plicants for public favor 0But Cobbs
Island has the distinction of having
been forced into seaside resort by the
demands of sportsmen and, only by de-
grees, have ladies and children shared
the comforts and discomforts of the
anomalous place.
Many years ago a sailor from Cape
Cod, by the name of Nathan Cobb,
landed on this sand-bar--seven miles
long and not half mile broad-that
stretches out 10 miles from the eastern
shore of Virginia along with numerous
other larger and smaller islands. Here
ne decided to live, and having received
grant from the proper authorities,
brought down from his former home
dwelling, which still stands near the
hotel under the euphonious name of
rammany Hall. The island was, after
his death, divided between his three
sons, Albert, Nathan and Warren,
two of whom still live with their fam
lilies on their respective domains, and
the son of the third one keeps the ho-
tel. Besides these families there are no
less than seven or eight other house
holds, more or less connected with the
Cobbs by the bonds of relationship
and friendship, who form an in
teresting and anomalous class OF
people. The heads of these families
serve as fishermen, oystermen and life
saving men, according to the season,
and combine characteristics of honesty,
kindnegs, good manners and heroism
that make them worthy of all regard.
Under the careful and skillful hand Of
George Reynolds or Arthur Cobb or
Joe Saturn or any one of them, we can
trust ourselves to the tiny boats which
hy before the wind bound for the hap
pv fishing grounds Of ''Rome's Hole"
tNew Inlet or even to deep sea fish
ing places dd infnitum. But when, -
casionally, breezes die out and calm
CLASSY seas follow, each plain cottage,
the old fashioned hotel, the life saving
station, even the sands Of the shore be-
come objects of special loveliness and
desire. Then, indeed, distance and
sunshine ''lend enchantment TO the
view. But do these experiences
initiate against longing to renew
the joys of Neptune's kingdom
OF the morrow? Nay But when sail
ing is fine and fishing-either for pam
fish or the game shark-gOod, who can
describe the pleasures Of the deep?
Experience alone will show them. But,
after all, the bathing at Cobb's Island
is the amusement which-par excellence
is unexcellcd. A beach that is bless
cd with seven-mile bar, and combines
safety surf and temperature can not else
where be found. One might have that
beach for ,cdlking and be filled with
gratitude; but think of the same for
rathing and enjoying with all the five
senses
1t must be owned that Cobb's Island
makes a better show from the main
land than its own wharf, and, further,
that the first impressions of the archi-
lecture of hotel and cottages are not
agreeable or stunning. But one hours
inhalation of its ocean breeZcs is sutii
cient to bring about a reaction in the
feelings, and soon ensues an indescrib-
ablc content that never leaves you on
the island, and the memory of which
acts like magnet to draw you thither
again and again. 1t may be granted.
then, that the pure sea air which de-
votee of the place has called ''divine"
or Wordsworth would term
"Ampler cthera diviner air.
is the secret of the attraction of Cobb's
Island year after year to the same visi-
tors. AT present there is an haJitae of
forty years at the hotel and many fam
lies have been coming for twenty or
| less years.
An interesting feature of the present
season is the preaching every Sunday
in the small church of Rev. Thomas
Dixon, D. d., pastor of 23d street Bap-
tist Church, New York, and the great
crowds from the mainland focking to
hear him. Last Saturday and Sunday
about sixty came over in sailboats and
epioyed both the material and spiritual
comforts of our ocean paradise. And
as Judges of material comforts, it gives
US pleasure to testify to the nice fare
and comforts provided by our present
hosts-Cobb & Spady-who have, We
learn, leased the property for five years
and thus insure for some time to come
continuation of present blessings.
In conclusion we would wish all seek
ers after true rest and healthful recrea-
ton the privilege of visit to Cobb's
Island. JULIAN CARR.
A GoD-sESD is Ely's Cream Balm. l had
catarrh for three years Two or three times