The age-herald., 1898-05-14
WAR GESTURES THE
 SUMMER GIRL
BY ANNIE KENDRIcK WALKER.

Norfolk, Va, May 12-The fashion and | the gaiety that have held sway in the past l at Old Point Comfort, have been frightened l away by the formidable fleet now anchored l in Hampton Roads. The great hotels are empty. The balconies are no longer a-flut- 1 ter with gay promenades. The bathrooms, the walks, the drives, the beach, that were
 wont in other days to make life as light as the foam that caresses the shore no longer present the brilliant scenes that made Old
 Point Comfort the popular resort of fash
 ionable throngs in days of peace. There is not much probability that the situation
 will change. The flying squadron has the right of way. Armed launches patrol the
 harbor night and day. The sailors are rest Monroe the guards stand ready to prevent
 any invasion by land. The steamship lines that speed over the blue waters of Chesa-
 peake bay have been ordered to be in har- i bor by sunset. After that hour they are
 not allowed to pass the fort. The steamers passing the flying squadron break upon
 the monotony of the life on board the mem of-war. As they leave the harbor and pass outward to sea the waters echo with patri- otic cheers. The men who man the battle ships send an answering cry far across the harbor. Interpreted it means Here! And Ready!
 Commodore Schley, of the flying squad
 ron became a familiar figure during the stay of the Endeavor here on the pier at Old Point Comfort Strikingly tall, erect, with princely bearing, he is superb rep resentative of valor and patriotism The
 men in official capacity are seen daily on the pier. Small launches at sunset carry provisions to the sailors. The lights from the squadron begin to flash over the har- bor. The beautiful white squadron that came so promptly into harbor so short a time ago has not one trace of its former
 beauty. It has taken hn a vicious look. The darkest cloud that ever settled over Asiatic waters could not be more formida- ble or more fearless than the appearance of the battleships when the gloom begins to envelop them. The lead color which has taken the place of pure white is as near as possible the shade of the waters in which they are anchored. The blue of the sail-- ors coats has the appearance of a dense line of black which adds to the gloomi- ness of the fleet. If there is a white speck against the sky it is the white stars in the American flag. It is the stars and stripes alone that penetrate the gathering dark ness.
 It is the flag of the country that longing eyes behold when the harbor lights flash outward. The starry ensigns and the grim spectacle of war! This Is the situat on that the summer days have brought to Old Point Comfort. The summer girl with her bewildering array of summer frocks, her gaily-colored sun shades, her f1ower-be- decked hats! In o her days it was the sum-
 mer girl who was drawn up in battle ar- too, was out for conquest There were no other pebbles on the beach. The ships passed in the night as they used to do for Beatrice Haradden. The band played on
 and the summer girl was the supreme idol of the hour. It was this idol who was the conspicuous figure on the beach.
 It was this summers idol who was the drawing card. No one dared cross her path Everybody followed in her train. The hotels with their miles of balcony were a-whirl with the gay crowds that worship ed her. This was the situation that the summer days gone by brought to Old Point Comfort.
 When the tide comes in these days it touches a lorn and loveless shore. The flying squadron lying in Hampton Roads means the passing of the summer girl at Old Point Comfort.