The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-30

penteously,
As for electricity, the only CLEAN Of that
tire region from Alexandria to Point Look
out is the furtive searchlight cast by the Nor
folk steamer as she goes by in the night. .
solitary voyager that the awakened waves tell
about long ,atterwardns they come running IN
before; The Norfolk boats 80 b.. the Bati.
go bv most OF the time and the people get used
TO managing without them and TO making
y their homes with us much elaboration and
forestalling Of contingencies as would conduct
n party. ordinarily, six times the distance.
down either shore Of the Potomac must hestir
themselves hetimes in tho morning to set the
boat. literally the" boat. there being only ono
that IL warranted to stop at all the creeks apd
mounts: the points and beaches known in the
ofai t GTStSe0y Any other boat will either only
age pact their destination. showing them. Tan
taIus fashion. the place they may not reach.
river transit secure n stateroom on the boat
before starting. There are good many ropes
dream on seeing the boat start of so bll;he and
elear over to the opposite bank before turning
distant she would come to dead stop and lie
accom- rlshed half her journey Potomac
River dwell ers who are on TO this antlc get
ths IT,, morning sleen out md take ferry over
70 tine second starting place in time TO catch
the old deceiver. but the stranger who had no
manner OF walnlng Is taken absck.
there before night?". woman asked OF the
gravity that the time OF landing depends on
when they get away from Alexandria,
AR And how long do we stay at Alexandria"
two and half It's very seldom that we havo
70 walt three" was the cheering answer, and
ton that she might as we'll go and unpack the
children's niRhtRowns.
There is one person aboard the:boat whose
smile grows broader and broader. and whose
manner gets more and more suaye and ur-
bane the longer the boat waits at Alexandria.
skinned offcial charged with the serving OF
meals below waternark in the steamers ain
cure staterooms for the midday or midnight
eeatnaps that might be Inevitable from the
c4ns IT the
nothing to do operates likewise. and even II
knows. from long custom. that they won't be
able to resist visit TO his domains in search Of
all klnds-to wash down their eandwichss.
Here's whole wagon load Of salt coming
down to the dock now for US to take on" the
brides with salts faction.
There's some lumber and cotton waste and
Alter there had been a lapse OF ten minutes In
the loading operations, the Optimistic passenn;
gers were 4lhO persuaded tnat they would
get started soon. Uncle, Girls rubs his hands
and beams, as people will whom things are 60
ing their way. and disappears below to give out
cook and get ready some ,knlck-knacks and
ginger cookies ior the children.
River boat in her ,paIny days au up;to. date
boat, wont to ply back and forth in right -on-
the. marx sure as, sunrise accuracy. and to
on the minute was vital and daily necessity.
The fact Of her falling 80 gibly into these halt:
~ fnlA vlNnvx 4
brought down to Potomac waters Is a tribute
to the Dixie Land propensity for assimilation
and winning things for its own.
One would never dream. seeing tho steamer
now a. she meanders up and down and in and
out of.the, creeks and by paths OF the Potomac.
Veritable gossip carrying news and mes
sages around the country and assuming all
manner of cares, and little neighborly respon-
coldy calculating. and from stem to stern the
SOFT o, Of boat that nobody Hould dream Of ask.
kit Of herrfnS She Is much more h Sen ne
II less clock-like. IIer:patrons watch for he-
as for friendly face and her footing on the
70 hunt. il there is new baby.in one OF heI
knows 1t and gives word to the cousin or
grandmother or old NANNY who lives over on
the other f shore or at some creek Or tqIntnE
Goodluck Is getting more for his apples or
tomatoes this season than he got last. she
the Biz Bluff Popt:place T. Going Sehind iSa
she knows It, and II there Is some body dead In
town who must nesds go back to the old plan
tation to be buried she carries the solemn
freight and tells those people on the way who
are too FAR off to get to the funeral. but who
know the dead and his ancestors and their
doinRs, and interests years and years ago.
Now she brings down a dog for the dotiLR
sportsman whose crackalack Of q retriever is
old and played out just In woodcock time.
Again. II is mandolin or banjo for the vaca-
tioL visitor anxious to serenade his house.
mates with soulful sounds. or rev shoes for
the house servants. who want to 10 to meet
Ing. No matter how cross country or off the
route the place NAV be that passenger sets
put for. the boats CAPTAIN will engage to get
him there by reason OF the many OUTPOST
connections by land or water that no knows Of
m get you round by a skiff or carriage or
somsthlng." is tho Captains word. and the
Initiated know that they can depend on IL and
that II at the moment he can't put his minds
finger on the very place they are bound for.
he'll find 1t out by easy stages as they progress
toward the bay.
Potomac River locomoton is paradox in
Its accountahilty'an non-accountability its
Musings and back act ons and It's elastic ac-
commodations. but IL Is all an open secret to
those who know. lust as the cross tides are
plain sailing to the native pilots who chuckle
over their learned competitors and are them
selves able TO follow the right course as ua-
erringly In the dead OF night or In storm
swept confusion as though feeling were seeing.