Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-18
THE FREcCH JEAN Rant

mysteries of the seductive cock ail Brandy
and sodas were of no avail and comparison Of
kentucky and Scotch whlskies still failed to
have any appreciate effect-on the Russians.
that is.
An UNEQUAL CONTEST
Some Of the American youth began to drop
out from this unequal contest, and it was soon
seen that. in the vulgar psrlance Of the west.
'they had bitten off more than they could
chaw. Those Russians were stavers and they
stayed on until tho end. When il was all over
and the hosts realized to the full the hopeless
ness of their task their guests calmly and
se-enely escorted them down to their launches,
and when they had seen them off to their ships
they went off to the Rynda and the General
Admiral and proceeded to make a night Of it
on vodka.
f.l up party OF foreign officers the chances are
they will avoid the men who are accustomed to
drink that Is more potent than whisky, even
as whisky is more potent than ginger ale.
sunday morning young hopeful in the
junior officers mess in one OF the ships OF the
white squadron rolled out Of his berth and
called to the japanese steward of the mess TO r
some settler and lemon. As he drank it dow n
thirstily he was heard to remark in a voice that
contained a world OF sadness: I'VE were not in
1t at any stage of the game. As long as live
l shall never again drink with vodka drinker.
L
II dynamite cocktail would worry them any?"
THE ENGLISH on SHORE.
This afternoon many Of the sailors on board
the English ships were given shore leave. and
the few quiet streets of this government reser-
walton were gay with their uniforms. The
relocated marines, with their little caps
cooked over on one ear precisely as Tommy
Atklns is painted by Rudyard Kipling, pleased
the darby section Of the populace immensely
and they were followed about wherever they
went by an admirirg crowd OF spectators.
These Engiishmen. sailors and marines. are a
wiry, beefy looking lot of men and make the
sailors from the other foreign ships seem small
and inconsiderable by comparison. Next to
them. perhaps. come the men from the French
ship, the Jean Bart, but their uniforms are not
SO snowy and the palm Of popularity must
needs be awarded to the boys who handle the
muskets on board the five representatives of
England's navy.
For the time being this usually quiet and
rather sleepy old place has put Oh a sort Of cos
mopoiitan air and in the crowds that are every
where you now hear many and varied languages.
There has been striking departure from the
traditions of the place and for the fortnight
there is radical change in the very character
OF Fort Monroe and the Hygeia Hotel. Old
time visitors would hardly recognize this pop-
ular resort under its changed conditions. Not
only is the character Of the crowds at the hotel
altogether different from what it usually is, but
all day long excursion boats from neighboring
towns land their loads of sightseers on the dock
until instead of being quiet and aristocratic
old place it has become a noisy, busting
crowded and dusty commingling OF people, many
OF whom are here for the day only. As one old
timer expressed it this afternoon, "This is more
like Atlantic City in the middle Of summer than
Fort Monroe as know it"
The dock is crowded at all times with people
who are watching the ships and the coming
and going Of the launches and small boats that
bring over the officers and take back the visit
ors to the ships. Tugs and sailboats ply Q
lively trade from morning to night taking par
ties Of passengers around and through the long
line of the ships lying at anchor. Excursion
boats lie at anchor off shore where their passen-
gers may have good view Of all that goes on
about them or travel up and down along the
big men-of-war. The time has long since
passed when one can get any sort Of accommo-
dations on shore for love or money. For
weeks the hotels have packed until 1t seemed as
though they could not take in another guest
No one is willing to go away before the fun is
all over and yet one sees new faces in the
crowd all the time. They manage to stow
themselves away somewhere for they all realize
that they will probably never have Q chance to
nee such another sight again. The boats from
Washington bring down big loads Of well-known
people on every trip. and at least they have .
good long day down here and manage to see
about all there Is to see.
THE UNDESIRABLE HANGERS on.
This sudden influx OF crowds into small
place has naturally brought in its train plenty
Of people Of q class who would be much more
popular if they stayed away. The old town of
Hampton and the surrounding villages and
country are infested Just now with the light
fingered gentry, who are willing to try every
dodge to get the money Of the unsuspectine
granger from Virginia. They are equally
greedy for the shilling Of the Englishmen, the
franc of the French sailor or the Ira OF the
Italians. Shell game workers, three card monte
men and fakirs Of all sorts are here in profu-
sion. Fortunately they are kept well Of the
reservation, but tales Of thievery and petty
swindltng are common among the rustic
visitors,