Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-08-29
OF MODERN NYMPHS.
DISPATCH CORRESPONDENT TELLS
OF THE BEAUTIES OF THE SEA.
OCEAN And The OTHER SMELLS"
The Costumes of the Bnthers Dis
ousscd-DIue Fishing ana other
Snort, Only Excuses for Opportuni-
ties for Flirting.

BY-LAND-AND-sEA, August %-Spe-
cial.)-"Ahap' says Perseus. Here you
are, safely on board ct lastP'
This is not the Perseus tabled OF old,
nor am / the beauteous maiden OF the
waye-washed rock. This Perseus de-
posits my scant luggage and HES away
The steamer Pooahontas, after a pre-
monitory whistle and the customary bus
tie in starting. backs gently out OF the
slip at Rockets, swings into mldstream,
and steams noislly down the river The
eolored society of -Four and Twenty
Elders" had about four times as many
delegates on board, and l settled my
self for happy voyage TO the tune OF
"All Coons Look Alike to Me-" played
In melting strains by the orchestra.
A little tug lodges out OF our way,
and we pass lots OF queer-looking craft
with mutton-leg sails. that carry deal
more leg than mutton. on board every
thing is ship-shape. our gallant skipper,
Captain Graves, shows mo the boats fine
points from the compass TO tho big wheel,
and the picture Of Pocahontas In the
John Smith act. suspended as
mascot in the cabin, TO In
woke for US favorable winds and
waves. The "noble Jeems" is not famed
for the purity OF its waters, but to-day,
In the morning sunlight, it shows an
unusual wash OF classic Virginia soil In
It's opaque depths.
On the deck Of our staunch vessel the
traveller is famed by soft water breezes,
and looks on either river side across a
vast cyclorama Of peace and plenty and
beauty,
THE TYPES OF TRAVELLERS.
The usual conglomeratiop OF tourists
are also aboard. There are the business
men going down to join their other halves
at Old Point or Virginia Beach; some
sight-seers who-afraid, perhaps, OF the
raging main-carry Bibles, and the ineVl-
table fat woman, with the bird-cage.
The loquaclous traveller who knows
everything and does not hide u under a
busheL Is also In evidence. lie stands
well-braced. with his hat pushed back,
and gestioulates impartially toward
either shore.
"That. sir, is Dutch Gap; right there
, the Yankees made a big mistake! That
is Bermuda Hundred. This Is Turkey
Island. Did you ever hear that story or
General Pickett?' etc, etc.
Gently we glide along enjoying the
sunshine, the fresh greanness OF the
hanks, the lazy ripple of the water the
pulsa lions Of the engine Our garrulOus
Aa subsidies SOmG
where about Hog Island. and nobody
weeps but /.
The impression first made upon an up
land man AT Newport News Is damp
and shaky. The water gives one a rest
less. uncertain feeling as OF big BASIN
with the bottom knocked out, ana there
IS no longer wonder that our early
navigators, when they discovered water
invariably had prayers then and there,
Like Tom and Jerry" the land ana
sea Is best well mixed. IT 10 only "heN
| reach the sandy, pine-eoyercd' rest
assuring, health-giying place To Nhieh
| am bound that sense OF security re-
turns Washed by waves that glisten
with priekly spilnters iroin the AL tlI
iceberes this is, theoretically, an ideai
summer resort. Here the shining land
scane Of sand and sea happily blends'
and auite often the seward horizon IS
ahmed by a wall OF fog that SHUTS out
the ocean. and the landsman Is nome
again" -, A. ann
what with heat and cold, the sun
and fog existence at this time or the
wear is a long. lazy, lovely dream a
few days of sleeping and bathing, with
an occasional crab roast or clam pake-
ANYTHING. so II Is OF the saltwater KIND
do wonders for a mindTweary, Dpdy-
worn pilgrim. They say in weeks time
one crews positively beautiful, ana
nerhans most OF the girls have been
here FOR a longer period. Loneliness Is
the only word 10 describe them. such
comnlexions are never seen OUTSIDE OF
the nursery or beauty-pox.
ocEAN-MADE COMPLEXioNs.
No, a few will tell you that they get
their rosy cheeks. scarlet Ups, a
bright eyes from the ocean vapor ia.'
hath. cannot say as much inf lhs
clothes. The sea has yexins hanit .,
taking the dressing out of fabrics anu
the curl out of tresses ana piuhes
while nothing short OF steam-coh WIZ
prevent ones toilet ciinging ike the
shirt OF Nessus- nv
Any hour is bathing time ana any
costume goes. Like cages flied WIN
eorgeous-hued and chatterins psv
duets. the wooden pavilions glow WIN
luxurious coloring and Fesonnd WIN
shrleks Of laughter. l find out tnete
are other "swells" than ocean s"ehs'
handsome, brawny young fellows with