Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-21

our friends the Baptists had q big gather
ing tnere, which quite relieved the pre-
vious sitl alton. The Baptist gathering
to that event buggy driving and fishing
seemed to be carrying everything before
them. On the whole, matters went peace
FULLY on Chincoteague, and the only row
we mad was the universal unceasing war
with that persistent enemy Of man known
as the mosquito. The result Of that war I
leave to some optimistic historian Of the
future.
Ocean City.
If you come to natural advantages, do
not know better place than Ocean City.
The climate is delightful; there are no vio-
lent transitions in temperature between
day and night, as in some mountain re-
sorts; there are a pleasant surf and a safe
beach, with no dangerous undertow; the
mosquito pest is practically unknown
There is easy access to the cities of Wash
ington and Baltimore. 1t is a pleasan,
trip-albeit, not as short a one as 1t ough1
to be. The market supplies are good. Put
ting everything together it is safe to pre-
dict for Ocean City that it will ere long
be one OF the most popular OF our water
ing places. l have seen hotels at the north
thronged with fashionable and wealthy
people where the quarters, comforts ano
prices could not compare with those Of
Ocean City. What Ocean City needs Is 8
quicker and more frequent route to Wash
ington city and Philadelphia, and this vii
surely come.
1t is hard to imagine a well-establishet
watering place handing in its checks ane
going out of business, but have now one
before my mind. One of the most interest
ing and unique seaside places l have evel
known was Cobb's Island, situated apou
nine or ten miles from the mainland OF
Northampton county, Virginia, and abou
fifteen miles northeast of the true cape
Charles. l knew the island long ago. wher
hoo oct on
Cobb, an old New England whale fisher
man. who had taken fancy to this bar
rem strand. He built plain house: plantet
his fig trees. and probably would nave
out of the question. 1 didn't think any
thing would grow there but old Cobb''
sons, the salt water trout, crabs sharks
spots and hog fish, the wild fowl ane
such like. But Cobb persevered. and thf:
sand strip with a matter >of fifty to ont
hundred acres became a watering place
plain. coy, jolly, for half a hundred or 81
of good people. who went there from yea,
to year, fished, hunted. bathed, laughed
danced and had a good time. Ihere wa:
no style, no extravaganza, but the best Of
sea air and lots of fun.
Cobb's Island Disappearing.
And SO in this happy, unconventlona
style life flowed en- until some years age
Old Ocean determined to clean us all out
Year by year he began clipping on piece
of our little happy island. We didn't have
much land to spare, but no regard was paid
to that circumstance. For a while l OBJ
stinately refused to believe the evidence oil
my own eyes. but last October incredulity
was no longer possible. The very Balti'
more" cottage where 1 used to tabernacle
and sally forth by the early dawn to pur-
sue the fish in bay or on the sea was car
RED off bodily by the wrathful Atlantic
ana the very site of the cottage was ap.
propriated by sad sea waves. And thus the
glory of Cobbs has departed. The place is
closed for aye. 1t will know us no more
To say 1 am sorry does not half meet the
case. The emotions of a genuine lover OF
old Cobb's over this catastrophe are far toe
deep for utterance. I can see no justice
In this dispensation of the forces of nature
The prince said of poor dead Falstaff, he
could better have spared a better man. -
and l am sure 1 would have traded of
Newport or Bar Harbor to the sea rather
than lose that quaint old resort of health
full, natural life, with its boats, BIRDS song
dance and wine of life coursing through
our veins. l did not suppose the ocean
could be SO mean robber as this.
T.. O w