The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-01-27

vacation Ramble of London Clerk. By the
Author OF "Iom Browns School Days" Illus
trated by RICHARD DOYLE. limo, PIP. 1874
Boston TIcENoR * FrRLns. 1859 For sale hy
CUSHINGs BAILEY.
1t is proper that We should explain to our read
ers, that this book has connection with Jockeys
grooms, or stable management "The White
Horse" has had an existence in England, for time
altogether beyond the authenticated years of steeds
IN this country, not exceeding the veteran cold
Whitley himself-who, we believe is now no
more. "The White Horse" has stood upon the
Berkshire Downs for time beyond the record of
history or the memory of man. 1t is not horse
OF flesh and blood, but of turf and chalk-being a
curious effigy formed upon the side of steep de-
clivity, by cutting through and removing the shall
low soil down to the formation beneath, which is
thus laid bare in the shape Judging by an ilustra-
tion-of an extremely lean and fast racer The
popular belief attributes the work to Alfred the
Great, who, after victory over the Danes at Ash
down, in the year ST., carved this figure on the
battle field, or near it, as trophy. Since that
time, so tradition runs, at irregular intervals-as
often as the jacent soil and turf NAV have en-
croached upon its proportions-the whole country
side assemblies to 'scour," restore "The White
Horse" On these occasions there have ALWAYS
been celebrated a number of good old English
games-such as cudgel- playing, wrestling, juggling
matches, foot races, hurdle races climbing poles,
donkey and cart-horse races, &C.; and we are
agreeably surprised to find on the authority of
this little volume, that-in defiance of Mr. Bright,
and all other reformers-all these old time absurd
tiles and nonsense have been practised in ''Merrie
England" so late as the year 1857, when the last
Securing of The White Horse" took place.
No man in England is better fitted to be the
chronicler of such an event than the author of
''Tom Browns School Days" To a most genial
and CHEEKY nature, he joins faculties of obser-
walton and description-with dramatic power and
quiet vis conaica-of very high order. He will
yet take his stand among the best of the English
Humorists. The history of the "Scouring" is given
by "Dick"-so called by his friends-a London
Clerk OF some twenty-on years, a quiet and pru-
dent young man, who has acquired the stenographic
art secured the good will of his employer, saved
little money, pays cash for every thing-and luck
lily for him and the world receives very timely
invitation from his old school friend, farmer Joe
Hurst, to visit Elm Close, to witness the "Scouring
of The White Horse" just "Our Governor" had
given him two weeks leave of absence and he,
amid the manifold inducements held out BY "Brad-
shaws" to excursionists, was nearly in the condi-
ton of the ass among the several bundles of hay.
vi course Joe's invitation is accepted, and Dick
packs his bag takes place in second class carri-
age, arrives at the minute at Farringdonroad sta
ton, and finds Joe waiting for him in his strap"
Thence they ride together to Joe's farm-Elm
Close-Dick, somewhat nervous as to the way in
which Joe's mare "steps out" but delighted with
the famous rich fields and the high hedges full of
clematis,' and shifting up all the country smells
as they whirl along-whe Joe "was going grind
m hnu hsdlv {ha ,sb 4,
kept up,"&c.
Arrived at the cottage, Dick is in regular clover
makes great dinner, knocks about the farm till
milking time follows the cows into the sheds, makes
friends with the Glass;" (not young lady mind,
who is milking them, and, at her suggestion, goes
down on his knees, armed with straw, to take the
first suck of "real MILK since he was weaned
''But had hardly begun when heard a noise be-
''hind and looking round there stood Joe, laugh
cling all over; and by his side young woman mot
"young lady, mind again. in broad straw hat
"and gray jacket, and though, for good manners,
'she did not laugh out like Joe, could it was
call she could do to keep from going off too. Says
Joe, "This is my sister Lucy, Dick; there, shake
Glands over the pail, and then let's 60 in to
tea"
We observe here notable instance of love at first
sight; for, Gas for Miss Lucy, as we walked away to
the house to tea, felt if could have given her
"my skin, if she would only have had pair of
"shoes made out of it for her dear little feet
Here then, we have the materials of pleasant
romance, which relieves what, to some might be the
dry antiquarian details of the history of the White
Horse, and to others the not extremely attractive
descr iption of 'The Securing" of 1857, and the
not especially refined games celebrated at that time
To us, these things repete with delightful inter-
est, and we look with fond pride on the pluck and
strength of the grand old Anglo-Saxon race, ex-
hibited clearly in the games of 1857 and the fields
of the Crimea, in the sports of Robin Hoods
or the battle of Hastings. We would fain hope that,
though we seem, on this side to have degenerated
into mere race of voters, and have few men and
no 'Oomen among u.s. but gentlemen and ladies solely,
we have not altogether lost the "breed of noble
bloods," which, with language, we should in
herit from the brave old mother land.
1t is, after all, the glimpses which this work re-
veas or seems to reveal of certain aspects of con-
temporary social life in England, which make its
great interest. We know pretty much all about
Give and Ethel Newcome, and Major Pendennis and