Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1854-12-13
Alisrcila III oll5.
From proof sheet Of Bdrnum's autobiography.
DAY WITH ALBERT SMITH.

A DAY WITH ALBERT SMITH.
While in London, my fisnd Albert Smith
who is jelly eompuuion as well as witty
and sensible author, promised that when
reached birmingham he wonld come aud spend
q day with me in sight seeing" including a
visit to the house in which Shakespeare was
born.
Early one morning in the month Of Sep
tember, 1874, the sun rose in unusual splen-
dor for that country, finding my friend Smith
and myself on the tox-seat Of an English
mail coach, vhirling at the rate of twelve
luiles DIN hour over the ma guifceot road lead
ing from Birmingham to Stratfrd. The dis
tanee is thirty miles AT little village four
miles before reaching Stratford. We found that
the genius OF the bard Of Avon had travelled
thus far, for we noticed a sign over misera
bic BARRIERS shop, Shakespeare hair dressing
"a good shave for penny" In ten min
u.es more we were set down at the door of
the Red Horse Hotel 10 Stratford. The
goodman and guard were each paid half a
crown as their perquisitcs.
While breakfast was preparing we called
for guide book TO the town. and the waiter
brought in book, saying that We should find
in it the best description extaut OF the birth
and burial place Of Shakespeare. was not a
little proud to fad this voume to be no 9TH
err than the Sketch Book Of our ii,ustrious
countryman, Washington Irving and in
glaneiug over his humorous description of the
place, ! discovered that be had stopped at the
same hotel where we we're then awaiting
breakfast
After examining the Shakespeare House. as
well as the tomb and the church in which all
that is mortal Of the great poet rests, we or
dered c post cbaise for Warwick Castle -
While the horses were being harnessed, a
stage coach stopped at the hotel. and two gen
tlemen aiighted, Que Was sedate. seusi-
BILE looking man; the otter an addle beaded
! fop The former was mild aud uuassuming
in his manners, the latter was all talk, with
out sense or meaning-in fact, a regular
Charles C6atterbox. He evidently had a
high opinion Of himself and was determined
that all within hearing should understand
that he was-somebody. Presently the Sc
date gentleman said:
Edward this is Stratfovd Let US 20 aud
see the house where Shakespeare was born"
Who the devil is Shakspeare?' asked the
sensible young gentleman,
! Our post-chsise was at the door, We leap
ed into it and were Of. leaving the mice
young man" to enjoy visit to the birth
place Of an Individual Of whom he had never
before heard. The distance to Warwick is
fourteen miles. We went TO the Castle, and
approaching the door Of the Great Hall, we're
informed by well dressed porter that the
Earl Of Warwick and family were absent, and
that he was permitted to show the apartments
to visitors, lie introduced US successfully
into the "Red Drawing Room" The Cedar
Drawing Room, 'rhe Gilt Room" "The
State Bed Room Lady Warwick s Bou
dor, The Compass Room The Chapel"
and "lhe Great Dining Room" AS we
passed out Of the Castle. the polite porter
touched his head Che Of course bad no bat on
10 Ia style which spike palmer than words
"Holf crown each, if you please, gentle
men, We responded to the call. and were
then placed in charge Of another guide who
took US to the top Of Guys Tower" at the
bottom of Itch he touched his hat shillng's
worth and placing ourselves in charge of a
third conductor, an old man Of seventy, we
proceeded to the Greenhouse to see the War.
wick Vase. The cd gentleman mounted a
rostrnm at the side of the vase, and com
meuced set speech, which we began to fear
was loterminable; 50 tossing him the usual
Ice we left him in the middle Of bis orati3u
Passing through the porters lodge on our
way out, under the impression that We had
seen all that was interesting, tie old porter