Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1835-12-03
Brooks Letters.

'UfSpoHt"e ~ Wc TOfHHH .1uffTf'ST.
THINGS IN ENGLAND AND SCOT
LAND.
MELnosE, (Sco,and,) June 9th, 1895.
NO. XIV.
We turned "genileman" again this
day; for be it known that man who
goes on foot in England is no gentleman.
When he mounts a stage coach, he be-
gins TO be n gentleman. If he drives
in post chase, he is more of Il gentle
man still; but if he drives in his own car
riage, then he Is IA re al gentleman and
when he stops at public house, out
tumble at the door, master, mistress,
walters, ostlers, chambermaid, Shoots"
and porter-all in a furious furry, knock
ing trunks this way, and the horses that,
and making such fuss as il heaven aud
earth were coming together. Every
thing in England depends upon forms and
appearances,-and in such a world of
rank, many funny sights are seen by our
republican eyes.
You must pass over my account Of
Carlisle, for did not sec much of it, and
any body's book will tell you all about
it. 1t is on the regular route of all the
book-makers; and it grieves me, that
was there, though do wish now ] had
gone to see the castle where Mary
Queen of Scots was confined. Yes,
beginning to be gentleman again, and
weary Of walking adventures, we took
the coach once more, and tor Gretna
Green in Scotland. 1t would be an un-
pardonable sin, suppose, to be in this
part of the world, and yet not be silly e.
nough to go and see Gretna Green. We
were up ut % A. NJ. and yet it was
broad day, so very short are the mig hts
here now, AZ il is not dark till II u. NJ.
We rode nine miles over a superb road
very level, and-the very road for track
ed and prosecuted lovers to fly over,-
and at yet early morn, we were on Gret-
ma Green. All l have to say about it is,
81 have been to Gretna Green,"- it
looks like ten thousand other places in
the world. There is hotel here, where
lovers congregnte, and where the nuptial
knot is tied The Mr.. Sheridan who
ran off with an English heiress, was the
sary to be done at Gretna to make a le-
gal marriage, is a confession before wit
nesses that certain persons are man and
wiie-and tins constitutes marriage in
Scotland, binding in regard to property
and the legitimacy of children. An at
tempt has been made to suppress this
species Of marriage here, but all in vain,
tI,.,t "a
as u sort Of safety valve to the rigid sys-
tenn of the English church. Upon an
average, three hundred couple are mar
ried here Il year, and half IA guinea is the
lowest fec that is ever charged. A half
guinea, however, isShe fec Of the poor
est class. Two hundred, and two hun
dred and fifty dolla,s are often given, it
is said. The great priest who founded
the trade, died IN 1914, after leading n
long life OF drunkenness. Two rival
practitioners do the business now, and
both go through a little form, not so
much because It Is necessary, but to qui-
ct the scruples of the lady run-away.-
Many amusing anecdotes arc told of the
chase Cn the Carlisle roud, that the ia
ther makes TO catch his daughter in her
unfinished loves.
Finishing our view of Gretpa Green,
in about two minutes and halt by Shrews-
bury clock, we contracted with our legs
again for IA passage, and walked to Long
town, four miles of, over, large part
OF the way, al immense bog OF peat or
turf used for fuel, which was piled up in
masses all along to dry. | do not know
whether this is (but hereabouts is) the
celebrated So!wuv Moss, the crust OF
which in I'LL gave way from the i'm
prudence Of the peat diggers who were
constantly working Oh the low side, in
volving in the horrld eruption Of thick
black mud, people, cattle and dwellings,
and this too in late autumnal night
Longtown is a long town Gin Englan it
is)-and this is as much as one need say
of it, We met with nothing remark able
here, unless it were IA breaklast-and-
barber whose shop and dwelling room
was one, aud whose razors were worse
than scythcs. And here, by the way,
let me throw in hint, which will be oi
service to future travellers, and that Is
never to venture far in England trusting
to find BARRIERS; for "genllemen" here
always shave themselves, aud not as
with US, can barbe''s pole be found IN
every village. A shaving barber here
is rdra auis. Ours is the only country
where they flourish ihickly. Mhen the
Edinburgh coach came along, We took
seats on mot in) that, aud soon we were
on our way to langholm Lang all
pronounce j, and they say Gram lot Gra-
ham too, excellent speakers Of English!)
and Journcy ling too over one OF the
n,ost delightful rou,ps | ever was on