Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-04-05
FROM DIXIE LAND.s

PrettAest Garb.
 CHARLESTON, s. O., April 2, 1895.
 After a long and cold winter spent in Waterbury the one who is fortunate enough to reach locality where doors and windows are left wide open. and where one can see peach trees in bloom and hear the sweet notes of the bobolink, experi- ences joy which it is almost impossible to describe. When we left home there was plenty of snow and ice, and warm fires night and day were very necessary. We need summer clothing in it's ightest form to-day.
 Our first stop of any note. except al New York, which of course is always worth seeing. was at Old Point Comfort. Va. We left New York by the celebrated Old Do minian line at o'clock Thursday after noon, and the wind was then blowing fu- riously the water dashing against the sides of the vessel and the wharf in a manner which made the more timid ones shudder. The trip down the harbor and past all the places of note was enjoyable. About sup per time the boat began to roll and heave in a manner which made it decidedly uu- comfortable, and the state rooms were oc- cupied while the decks and saloons were nearly deserted., During the night we ex-
 perienced one of the biggest blows and the heaviest sea known in nineteen years.
 All were glad when morning came And
 what beautiful morning! The sun shone
 in all its splendor as it rose. apparently
 right out of the ocean. It was grand sight
 and one worth witnessing. Wesoon passed
 the St Charles light, away out there on the
 sea where the light ship tenders live the
 year round. Six or eight of the sailors from the light ship put of in q small boat as
 we passed and picked up a large tin can
 filled with papers and books which was thrown from our vessel. We reached Old Point Comfort at exactly nine o'clock, and then there was a scramble for the famous Hygeia hotel, for report had been sent out that it was full to ovarhowing, but for tunatelY for us large party had left the hotel the night before so there was room enough for all.
 The Hygeis accommodates ,000 guests and is one of the sights at the Point. There are concerts afternoon and evening by the military post band, in the large pa- vilion, and if one cares to trip the light fantastic there is opportunity to do so here. The style and dress of the ladies and the manners of the gentlemen are per- lection. The ladies especially seem to be
 vieing one with the other to see which eau dress in the most elegant manner, ..
 A visit to Fortress Monroe, two minutes
 walk from the Hygeia. will repay one, and
 is sight worth going miles to witness.
 There are more than 300 officers and soldiers stationed here. and much of the
 esiety and life of Old Point is due to the
 proximity of the fort and it's gallant and
 courteous officers. We witnessed dress
 parade Friday evening, and it was quite a
 treat. Next morning while passing through
 the fort on our way to the beach we saw
 several awkward squads" being put
 through the initial exercises which lead up
 to an ideal soldier. We really pitied one
 poor fellow, whom the corporal for a long
 time tired to put some soldier ideas into
 without success. Later the sergeant took
 him in charge and asked, "What do you
 know any way, do you know anything? You
 don't know how to stand right, and he gave the recruit jab in the stomach and a
 slap on the back that made him straighten
 up like A sapling A soldiers life may be
 all right for the man who welrS the ep3U7
 lets or stripes. but unless the private is uh-
 usually bright and likes the service it must
 be tedious way to speud several years of ones life.
 Directly opposite Fortress Monroe is an old and unfurnished fort called Fort Wool or the Rip Raps, which derived its name from the sound made by the ripple of the water upon the recks. Hampton roads,
 the scene of the great naval battle between the Monitor and Merrimac, is always point ed out to the visitor as the scene of one of the most notable events of the civil war. The lapidary is an interesting place to while away an hour or two, especially for thoso who like to look at rare stones and gems. At the lapidary you can have the moonstone or topaz cut and polished in Sh wi the way, you can pick up these gems on the beach al Old Point Comfort.
 Other points of interest are the National Soldiers home, with its 3, 300 veterans, and the school for Indian and negro boys. The students were exercising in the park as we passed in. The buildings of the sol diers' home were formerly used by the Chesapeake female college and during the war were used as hospital and ptison There is reading room with a large library | attached, billiard room, game room and smoking room, and the old soldiers seem to be quite happy and coutented. The con- | ervatory, filled with the choicest palms and ferns and most beautiful flowers was a | sight which we thoroughly enjoyed. On C | would have no idea of the amount of food required to feed this small army without paying a visit to the kitchen and dining room, the latter seating 1.200. The man. ner of entering and leaving the dining
 room and taking seats st the table IS very systematic and soldierly, and at each stroke | of the bell the movements of the men are made with clock like precision. Each man | must take his turn in waiting on the table. | There is a theatre also connected with the home, which seats .406 people. and enter | tainments are given here quite often. al- though not as frequently during lent as al | other times. As we passed out we met an
 old soldier who gazed lovingly and fondly on the 2 year old boy who accompanied us. After we had gone on. and when the sol \ dier thought he was unobserved, he ran | and tapped the boy on the shoulder and | filled both of his little hands with candies | and sweetmeats. We do not know what | that old soldiers thoughts or recollections
 were. but they probably were of happier | days and happy home when he too had a
 boy or girl. the joy of his home. While | passing out of the home grounds we caught | glimpse of the base ball ground in the
 distance. where the Philadelphia club was having practice game. The club is stop ping at the soldiers home, giving its mem- bers the necessary preliminary exercises before commencing the regular games. Our next stop was at St Johns Episcopal | church, erected in 1860, and the third old | est in the United States. It is amusing | and instructive to hear the old colored sex
 ton relate the history of the old land mark
 Even if there are only two ID your party he will seat them in pew and address them as Ladies and Gentlemen" with as much ceremony as if the church were full
 He says: "This old church saw three wars-1776. then 1872 and 1861. The first two they told me about, the last one wit messed. On the 18th of August 1861. as
 stood in General Tyler's yard saw this old church totally destroyed; nothing left | but the bare walls. It was rebuilt after tDe
 war as near the original as it was possible
 to make 1t. You pass the old home oI | General Tyler oD the way to this church
 The National cemetery in the vicinity of ! A. .ll:..=sI Ls..s.s L. hislaEin amt In