The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-03-26
rak aAPPlEsT MAa n THs woRLD
BY THoMAs HOOD,


"A charming morning, sir" remarked nv
only fellow passenger in the Comet, as soon 20 |
had settled myself il the oPpOsite corner Of
the coach.
Asa matter Of course and courtesy asssated;
but thought had certainly sern better days.
II did not rain; but the weather was gloomy
and the air felt raw. as it might with pale dim
sun overhead, that seemed to Lave lost all power
Of roasting.
Quite an Italisn Sky," added the stranger,
looking up at . sort of French gray cOvsrlet
that would have given NssPolitan fancy the
ague.
However | acquiesed again, but was obliged
to protest against the letting doWn Of both win-
dows in order to admit what was called the
''tresh inVigoratiug bretz from the TORY Hills"
To atone Tor this objection, however, sgreed
that the coach was the best, easivst, safest aud
fastest in England, aud ths road the most pic
teresque out Of London. Complaisance ap4rt,
we were passing between two vegetable screens,
Of color converted by dust to a really 'iuvis-
lbe green, aud SO high that it excluded all
prospects aa effectualy as i they had been veni.
tian blinds The stranger, nevertheless, watch
ed the mOnotonous fence with evident Satisfac.
tiOn.
"NO such hedges, sir, ont Of England"
81 believe not, sir II
ono cir, quite a natural feature They are
peculiar to the inelOsurs Of our highly cultvat-
ed island, You may travel from Calais to Con-
stntinople without the eye repOsing on q SINH
lar spectacle"
80 have understood, sir"
"Fact sir, they are unique. And yonder iS
anther rural picture unparalleled, may say,
in Continental Europe--a meadow Of rich Tas.
trus, enamelled with the indigenous daisy and
a multiplicity Of buttercupsl"
The Oddity Of the phraseology made me look
curiously at thespeaker. Apastoral poet thought
I-but no be was too plump and florid to
belong to that tamishing fraternity, and in his
dress, as we'll % his person, had every appear.
anee Of man well TO do in the world. He Was
NOR proably gentleman farmer, snd admirer Of
fine grazing land, and perhaps delighted in a
we'll. dressed paddock and geBteel hsystack Of
his own. Bat did him injustice, or rather to
bis tasts--Which was far less eXclusivs--for the
next scene to which he invited my attention,
was Of totally different character vast
bleak, survey looking common, too barren to
afford even picking for any living creatures
except few crOwS. The view, however, elicit
ed a note Of admiration from my companion.
"What an extensive prospect Genuine, un-
cultivated natuFe--and studded with rOaks |"
The stranger had now furnished me a clue to
his character, which he afterwards more anus
ingly unravelled. He was an Optimist; one Of
those blessed beings (for they are blessed) who
think that whatever is, is beautiful as we'll as
right; practical philosophers who make the best
Of everything, imaginative painters, who Draw
each object zen beau and deal plentifully in
couleur de rose"
In the meantime, the coach stopped-and
opposite to what many person, it seated on one
OF its right hand corners, would have consider.
ed q very bad look out,-a muddy square space
bounded on three sides By plain brick stablings
and wooden barns, with dwarf wall and a
gate for foreground to the picture, in fact
strawyard but unteDanted BY any living stock,
as If an 0Wenite plan amongst the brute erea.
ton, for living in social parallelOgNm, had
been abandoned. There seemed no peg here on
which to hang any elogium; but the eye Of the
OptimiSt detected one 10 moment:
"What desirable pond for ducksl !"
He then shifted his position to the opposite
window and with equal clerity discovered "a
capital pumpl with oceans Of excellent spring
water, and CommOdious handle within reach
Of the smallest child -
wondered to myself how he would have de-.
scribed the foreign fountains, where the spark
| ling fluid gnshes from groups Of sculpture into
marble basins and without the trouble Of pump
ing ct all, ministers to the thirst aud cleanliness
Of half the city. And vet had seen some Of
scarcely glance, aud eerlsinly without a syl.
liable Of notice II isSuch beadless tonri.'S, BY
the way, who thFong to the German Baths and
consider themselves bubbled beconse; without
any minds eye at ell they do not see ell the
things which we're So graphically described by
the old man Of the Brnnners. For my own part
could not telp thinkint that must have lost
some pleasure in my own progress through life
BY being difficult to please.
From these reflections was sudenIy ronsed
by the Optimist, who begged me TO look ont Of
the window at prospect which thought pleas.
ing was far from fine one, either for variety
or extent.
There, sir,--thsrs'S Panorama A per.
feet circle Of suchantmentl realizing the Ara.
bia Felix Of Fairy Land in the county Of Kent!"
every pretty, indeed"
"Itss gem, sir, even in onr land Of oaks, and
may chall nge comparison, with the most
luxnriant specimens Of what the great Gllpin
calls forest scenery /"
IL think III may"
"By the bye, did yOu ever see Scrublauds cir
In Sussex7"
"Never, sir,"
Then, sir, you have yet to enjoy romantic
scene Of the sylvan character, not to be PARALLEL
within the limits Of geography. To describe Il
Wonld inquire one 20 soar ia the regions Of
poetry, bot i 90 not hesitate to say. that il the
celebrated Robinson Crusoe were placed within
eight of II, be would excIaim in q transport,
Juan Fsrnandez Z,
= do not doubt, sir.
Perhaps, siE Jon have been il Derbyshirss''
'sNo iir.
Then Dir you have auothor aplendid treat
= {ntzrs-~h ~hngginRs--a delielods smaIasms.
tion Of art and naiurs--a perfect saen siF.-
and the very sPoss u thsrs IS oas % tie Tsr.