The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1894-08-02
;sit TO the sea shore, which probably

visit to the sea shore, which probabl,
will ,nteraat acme of you.
/ had the pleasure of having With mc
the genial and always happy Mr. John 81
Goodloe.
We left the Gap Sunday the 22nd inst,
and spent the night in Bristol. At
O'Clock mex. NOR ring Ne boarded the
train and renewed our journey. We had
with us from this. point Nr. E. III. and
Miss Julien Slack, Of tho Courier. At
Glade Spring, other valu.sle acquisitions
to our party was made, who were Messrs.
Graham Potsrield and his sister, Miss
Jennie, and H. Price. When we ar.
rived at Wytheyille Judge Holbrook and
tho celebrated Banner man joined US
These two gentlemen were very interest
ling and we enjoyed the long ride on to
Norfolk in company with them. Away down
in the eastern portion Of the State, about
Petersburg. the Judge informed us that
ne had recently visited Big Stone Gap and
given our town "write-up," but that
there was no harm meant by tit WAS
"jnst for fun" This statement ut once
aroused our curiosity to know what the
journal man" had written about us
"just for fun" and we hardly believed it
was "just for fun" until We returned and
found the rich production in the Bristol
Comr;er-then we believed it was "just
for fun
But We are leaving our subject. We
soon arrived at Roanoke,-a very prosper
Gus city on the Norfolk and Western. Az
ter stopping hers few minutes We cross
cd the Blue Ridge into the eastern portion
Of tho State, where the country ia level
and where no mountains are in sight.
There ara many beautiful little towns out
there, and the Indications are that the
people are fairly prosperous. But out in
the extreme eastern part OF the State,
within 30 or 40 miles of the sea cost, the
land is very poor, and the only tim
Der that We noticed was white pine. Out
in this section. az YOU all know, the chief
product is tobacco. We noticed aeveral
large fields oft, rs we passed along. We
arrived at Norfolk about 10 o'clock Mon
day evening, where We stopped at the
Gladstone House, and where NO we're
shown the usual courtesy extended to
newspaper men. We enjoyed ourselves
very much while in Norfolk that night by
going around to Smiths theater.
After spending one night mathis city,
We took tho Now York and Philadelphia
steamer for Old Poiut Comfort at O'Clock
and arrived there about s O'Clock. We
passed through Hampton Roads on our
route, where the International Naval
Rendezvous WAS displayed in April and
May. 1899.
At Old Point Comfort.we stopped at the
Hvgsis Hotel, which 10 probably the most
modern hotel in the United States, and
where tho Virginia Press Association hold
their annual meeting.
Alta o'clock on thc24th theAssociation
assembled in the large hall Of the hotel
and WAS called to order by the president,
J. H. Lindsey, editor of the Cape Charles
Pioneer. The attendance was rather email
this year, there being only about seventy
ave members present. At 1890 P. m: the
Association adjourned or-dinnor, and;af-
ter dinner and surf-bathing hours were
over, we vent, by an invitation, out to
Fortress Monroe aud the naval yards. DR..
Carney was our chaperono and took great
pleasure in showing and explaining the
different obiects as he took US through
the naval yards, After ws had aeen the
large gattling guRa and oannens balls
by tue Thousands, NE wore thoroughly
convinced that tho United States was
prepared to fight victorious battle with
any nation in the world, and to protect us
in any hour of emergency.
On Wednesday, we took hack ride Up
to Hampton to visit the soldiers homo.
This was something immense to see, as
There are now 5000 soldiers stationed at
this place. There arc many largo build
ings, Of course, to accommodate 5000 SOL
ders. 1t seems TO us that The govern
ment officials could not have chosen a
more beautiful paradise at which to To-
cate home for retired soldiers, The
soldiers home occupies about 20 acrea Of
ground, eoyersa With lovely shade trees,
and where cool breeze from the sea is
always blowing, giving comfort and plsss-
ure to the warriors. who have been retired
from, actual service: Though. there Is no
doubt, but that there ara many soldiers
here who do not deserve the support they
are receiving from the government.
We were at the Hygeia Hotel two days
aud nights, and must SAY the accommo.
datons there are immense. Surf bath
iug is delightful and very Aealthfa!. IN
the evening is the most APPROPRIATE time
to 20 in. Then you have about two hun
dred in with you, and this number does
not consist of the masculine gender alone,
but largely of the other, fairer aex. 1t
seemed rather odd to US, with the e1eep-
ton Of John Goodlce, to have the South