The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1906-10-25
IDLE CHAT ABOUT OCEAN RESORTS.
PART v. OLD POINT COMFORT.

~ ITUATED at Hampton Roads, |
at the very mouth of Chesapeake
4 Bay, on the edge of very mar
row peninsula, Old Point Com
fort, called shortway "The Point" is
as idealistic an ocean resort, as can be
found anywhere in the world. 1t is
best reached by boat from Norfolk;
but Baltimore and Washington boats,
as we'll as the regular Old Dominion
liners, stop there every day on their
way to and from Norfolk; the Mer-
chant and Miners, and several other
lines stop there on all trips to Norfolk.
AS Newport is the most aristocratic,
so is the Point the most select of all
sea resorts. Tho it enjoys but a very
small patronage compared to Atlantic
City, etc.; what there is of it is some OF
the best the country affords. The old
families of Richmond, of other South
ern towns, of Baltimore and even some
of Boston and New York, delight in
spending a part-of the summer there,
and many families of army and navy
officers, as we'll as those of Washing
tons bureaucratic officialdom, can al
ways be found there during the season.
The hotels, especially the largest, are
very good; but they charge very high.
In the vicinity of thessPOint are several
other beaches, where families with
smaller means can be accommodated
at more reasonable prices.
"First comes the. e.Southerners, and
again come the SOutherners; then the
Southerners come some twenty times
more; and finally. the Northerners-do
not come by long shot!" That is
something we do we'll to bear in mind.
when we install ourselves in hotel
largely frequented by our cousins Of
the South; and it is of these that shall
write in this chapter. The men shall
pass over entirely. They are but little
in evidence in those resorts, do not
distinguish themselves greatly from
their Northern fellows, and are, with
all-uninteresting for my purpose.
But the women! ,..In no country can
one find women more generously, en-
dowed by Mother Mature in point OF
physique, good looks and brightness OF
mind, than in our South. They are
quick atrepartee and are good converse
tionalists on light topics, fashion, etc
There, unfortunately, my praise mus
cease. What nature has done for then
has been followed up by self-effort onl!
in rare cases. Perhaps, the climate il
partly to blame for that. An extension
of general views, and knowledge o
art, belle lettres, affairs of the world
etc., has been practiced and acquired
in a shockingly superficial way. Tha
there are exceptions, only proves tn
rule.
The Southern women you meet il
seaside resorts, bring there with ther
all the prejudice, peculiarities and nal
rowmindedness they have been accus
toned to at home; only you will motto
it more in those resorts, where you sc
so very much of them, than you woul
in their home towns, where you onl
meet them occasionally, and then onl
when they show to best advantag
In those resorts, like at home, they d
not make their public appearance ii
dinner, after which they will retil
again. From about three p m. onwar
they are in their glory. Dressed st
KILL" they will appear in the parlor, Q
the verandas, on the promenade and
places Of amusements. Every lit
while they will retire to their rooms;
come out again later on-in anoth
dress. This process will be repeats
Just as often as they lave changes
dresses. At all events, they will she
off all their finery in one afternoon al
evening. In their conversation WI
you, every blessed one of them will t
to impress on your mind what gre
people they were, and what wealt
plantations, slaves, etc., they did posse
before the war. They may not ha
been born at that time-perhaps n
even their mothers-but that makes
difference to them; they fairly glut