Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-08-15


buckets and mattresses, which, by cour-
tesy. we carried on our way.
The first change TO strike tho approach
! ing traveller is the life-saylng station
/ in its new position; then. the absence Of
the church and the fewness Of craft I'm
the bay. The ruined dock does not in
Vite. and our keel CRATES in the sand.
While a hand-cart Gnstead Of the horse
awaits our bags and trunks, and a hearty
, welcome is ours from the surfmen gath
| cred around. About a dozen souls lex
| elusive of the life-sayers) remain 10 call
the island home. Most Of them are stand
ing with one foot on the "main," so TO
speak, their plans for new homes ma
turing and their faith in the old ones
waxing feebler with each tide. We have
been here week, and a lifetime will
not efface the memory Of the scenes wit
messed in that time.
Sunday afternoon, under clear sky
and with a bright sun shining, the tide
Numbered in. and the old hotel, whose
sea end had already lost it's brick sup
ports, began TO yield before each wave
On the waves came, and amid groaning
tlmbers. cracking window-frames, and
showers of broken glass. the building
settled on the sand, since which time
the end wall has fallen out, and every
and withdrawing. which once shell
tered you and me and many another
indlfferently grateful guest.
That bump of destructiveness in us /
ALL whose promptings have been per-
haps discouraged since our childish days.
asserts itself curiously in the onlookers /
at such scene. A fascination holds
them. and the desire IS well-nigh ire
sistible 10 push a plank seward here. /
rd
shake this rafter and that partition to .
see IL its day has come The saddest
thing l have seen is the ruin Of the
Nathan Cobb place. Not a trace OF the
cosey house, which was I'm the best
sense home, and the figs OF pleasant
memory. the grape treliises, and the
gourd-vines. form a tangled mass OF
neglected vegetation. Each tide now
spiashes its highest waves up 70 the
'harbor where the gentlemen used to
Set and the eccentric billiard-table and
crazy bowling alley tell tale Of con-
tact with the sea. You would miss the
Giovanni OF many professions, especial
ly In his character OF paterfamilias,
when he used TO take his dago baby
out in a toy eSpress-wagon on Sunday
afternoons. Many another kindly face
would be missing were you here.
The life OF the place now centres
ABOUT Mr.. Thomas Smiths. His house
well back from the eternal bite-bite OF
he hungry Atlantic-opens its doors to a
lew guests, and there they are made
more than comfortable, and will.
rust, be harbored for many successive
seasons. From this place the old life
goes on for the few. as 1t once did for
he many. A plunge and swim before
breakfast, the services OF a perfect !
'oatman to let you fish the low tide {
md sail away TO shoot the high; the
unch in the bateau or the blind, tho :
'asket Of trout. the string OF curlew, !
nd Heaven knows what store OF health I
nd pleasant memories. are still for j
hose who believe In my counsel and r
ONE TO Cobb's. B
With happy recollection OF my first '
all IN these waters on board the Razzie- '
)azzle, Just one year ago, l send you
Ieeting from the spot you love 50 well. I