The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-06-26
Managed by a Popular
North CaroIinian.
PLEASURE AND REST
famous Summer Resort Has This Com.
bination to a Rare Degree--Pen
Picture OF a Beautiful Water
Scene at Virginia
Beach.
BY EDWARD e. BRITTON.


Virginia Beach, Va. June 24.-No
one can really afford to miss a trip
10 Virginia Beach this summer
Trains and trolley cars running to and
from Norfolk at all hours of the day
ana night and connecting with the
outside world by steamer lines and
rails all offering season tickets, week
END trips and excursions, causes one to
wonder upon his arrival at this great
summer resort, how it has happened
that he has postponed his trip so long.
There is plenty of grass on all
SIDES TO prevent that fierce glare so
common to such places. On one side
the distance abounds in lofty pines
and long leafy trees, stretching forth
their limbs to meet the cool refresh
ing breeze, while on the other stretch
es the mighty Atlantic for
miles and miles. Here and there
an old hulk has washed ashore, and
little children with their pretty bon
nets, more often worn on the ground,
are running race on the sand bars, or
throwing sealed bottles into the wa
ter to see them wash ashore again,
or with little spades and buckets are
making pancakes in the sand, or die~
glng for shells, while the grown-up
children (for there are no old ones
at Virginia Beach, the breeze makes
all young again) are riding the
breakers, while the atmosphere is
alive with the merry peals of laugh
ter; some go further out for swimming
and diving, while others, with boats
have the hook and line fascination,
and away out upon the horizon are
steam lauches, sail-boats and yachts.
sailing about over the sea, as gentle
as peaceably, as if the very waves too
were under mans control.
How fast sight travels, one takes
in the entire picture as he walks from
the depot along the granolithic and
plank walks, past blocks of cottages
where families and friends are sum-
mering, and he walks on until he meets
what seems to be the Goddess of the
| Sea, pointing out a place of refuge to
the tired traveller, a place of rest for
mind and body 1t is a Norwegian
| head piece which was washed up from
a wreck, and we pause to admire a
| masters work before we do her bid
| ding, and as she seems TO point the
way, we go little further to a. cheer
| full. home-looking place, pretty and
elaborate stretching it's long veran-
das out, as if with oustretched arms
| she welcomed the newcomer to her
| bosom.
| 1t is the Princess Ann Hotel to
which it ushers. the place so many
people love, the home for hundreds
| summer after summer; the place for
pretty women, good music inviting
| meals and comfort; a beautiful hotel
| thoroughly equipped in all the mod
ern convenienceS. One feels at home
| and among friends here from the very
| first, for Mr.. j. S. Groves, the man
| ager, is one who possesses that spe-
| cial gift of being sociable and enter
tanning. He tells you how long he
lived in the Old North State who
his friends are, "Glad to see you, be
seated, have a cigar" and as the weed
! begins to burn, you feel how comfort
able are those big leather-cushioned
arm chairs; you feel the salty sea-
| breeze upon your brow, you feel
| stronger and younger already, but
| more-you feel that you must have
| known Mr.. Groves before, there is
so much found in common, and your
| heart gladdens at the meeting. Mr..
| Groves came from Wilmington. He
| is native Tar Heel and loyal one
| Mr.. Groves could make almost any re-
| sort popular.
He takes you down into the lobby
| to meet the boys. The walls are pa
| pered, not vile, ugly color that sug-
gests chills and fevers, but one sooth-
| ing 10 your eyes, your Ieel welcome
the soft carpet after plowing through
| the sand upon the shore, and above
all you can't help but notice how
every part of this great house sug-
gests cleanliness and rest. The men
are sociable, and all seem to be here
with the same motive-to enjoy ones
! self, there is no loud talking or rowdi-
ness, but an air of gentleneSs and
| refinement is prevalent everywhere.
TIL cigar finished, we go down to
| the bath-houSe in front of the hotel,
| clean, nice suits are waiting, and for
a while we try to out do the fishes
| in the sea, but evening approaches and
| by the time we are made presentable
| once more, we rejoice at the appear
ance of fresh fish and crabs and are
ready to do justice to the meals. And
one can't help but enjoy it too, in the
| long and pretty dining hail. And the
board here is really no higher than
| in Norfolk, both men and women who
work in the city find it just as cheap
to live here and go In and out from
their work on the cars.
Supper is over, the porches are wait
| ing with enough big chairs for all, no
| matter how many there are, and by
the time you feel really at home, and
as one stretches himself in the cool
night air and feels the breeze from
the roaring ocean, he rejoices over and
over again that he is at the Princess
Anne. The band is playing-he lis.
/ tens to the sweet soft notes as the,
Continued on Page Two.)