The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-11-21
Sov1uAMprox, Eng, Now, 1857.

much attraction; having seen a part OF the
elephant" have no objection to relating
some of my experience. 1t was my intcn-
ton to write to you as l journeyed, but my
time has been so fully taken up by my irlehds'
and looking at that extraordinary animal,
that have not had an opportunity until
now am sorry for this, rs my memory Will
not furnish me with the minute particulars OF
many things that l should have written
about. had recorded them as they transpir-
ed.
| shall not attempt to give you an account
of nv trip across the Atlantic, for the very
name of Sea almost brings my dinner up in
nv mouth. l took passage and arrived at
Southampton in the Steamship Arago. On
our arrival at that port all the passengers
baggage was removed to the Custom House
TO be examined in doing this they are very
particular. noticed that some of the pas
sengers had Books, Tobacco and Cigars de-
tanned and on nquirng, / found the former
were works of English Authors that had
been reprinted in the United States. Tobac-
co pays duty of IS cents per pound. Pas
sengers are allowed to take half pound, and
few Cigars for their own use, if they wis h;
at the time my baggage was returned to me,
l was presented with bill at the rate of 80
cents for each trunk, l thought at first that
the Custom House was getting generous, and
was going to pay me that sum for having the
pleasure of turning my trunk inside out,
however l soon found the boot was On the
wrong foot, it was that had to pay that
sum for wharfage.
Southampton is not much of port for
sailing vessels, although there is quite num-
Der Of steamships there. One thing that !
noticed particularly, is the evident Servillty
Of the working classes, compared to the same
classes in the United States. On entering
the town, it has quite different appearance
to towns in America. There are few fine
and wide streets, but the greater part are very
narrow and the houses have prson-like APP
pearance. The reason Of this is, l guess,
owing to the fact that previous 10 about 10
years ago, there existed in England window
tax, every house having more than eight
windows was taxed for every one above
that number, and owing to this, most of the
large houses did not have half enough WIN
dows, and although that tax has been abol
ished some years, they still build on nearly
the same plan. The buildings are not
very high generally, but have much more
substantial, look than buildings have with us
in the U. S.; great part Of this town is of
modern growth.
do not like the hotels in England as we'll
as the American plan, although to a person
that wishes to be secluded, or to party that
has plenty of money it will, perhaps, be bet
ter suited. The first hotel / stopped at, I
arrived about o'clock l was shown into
an elegantly furnished room with carpet, So
ia, &C.; asked if it was about dinner time,
the waiter, young lady said ''you can have
dinner when you WISH" l told her would
like to have it fright off, she replied-''what
will you have ?" told her "beef steak she
asked with potatoes, &C.; replied, certainly.
After waiting nearly an hour, she came in
and spread the table cloth on the table, in
this the best room-brought IN all the 'fix
ms the same as if fifty people were going to
set down to dinner; and this I have since
found to be quite usual The charges for
this are very moderate, for the trouble that
is taken. After this when stopping at an
hotel, always ordered my dinner at supper
time so as to have it ready without waiting
The dining room, | have since found, are call
ed coffee rooms the term dining room only
applies to dinner room meals are always
served up separately to each guest, unless Or
dered by party; each person or party pay
ing for just what they ordered you will see
that person cannot get that variety for his
meals at the same cost, that he can at an ho-
tel in our American cities. In making out
the bills, every thing is charged separately,
like this: Dinner, Tea, Supper, Bed Lights,
Att ndance the last is charged from 12aa to
37b cents per day. TO one unaccustomed to
hotel living here, the charges are higher than
with us, and accommodation generally much
inferior, although the bed room acc)moda-
tons are full as good if not better.
Not having anything to detain me here,
went to the Railway Station to 60 to Bristol,
went to the Clerk at the ticket office and
asked for ticket to Bristol, he replied that
he could not Sell me one for Bristol, but that
he could sell me one for Salisbury. | asked
him if that train connected with one at that
place for Bristol, he said he did not know
| soon found it did, and that the Clerk knew
it, but this is but sample of the politenesS
and accommodation about these railroad Off
Gals. do believe they think it beneath
their dignity to answer any questions address,
ed to them for affirmation. Oh; going to the
cars. found them divided into three classes,
LIST, I'd and Sd, the people 1 find ar, also
classed in the same way, but of them sh al
speak of in my last letters Each car is di-
vlded into about six comp rtments, each hav
ing room to seat ten passengers, who set face
to face in siding. The door of each compart-
rnent is at the side, the first class is fitted up
just like the inside of plain carriage; the %
class has no cushions of any sort, and often
times the space is so narrow that passengers
have to lnterlock their legs to ride comforta-
ble; the Sd class is little worse than the I'd
ii possible. The cost of travelling varies, but
Is generally about 4c lst class, Sc I'd class,
and &c Sd class, per mile. Baggage is termed
luggage, and is not checked as with us, but
! naner Label Is naStad or, oaol - Al -