New Orleans daily crescent., 1866-10-01
LETTER FROM ENGLAND.
alto the New Orleans crescent.l
eAMBRlpaE, sept, 5. ls66.


back, and if thatw give a man a taste Of educa
ton, sure and what willg' Nov Ihaye been through
several Of the celebrated seats of learning, both
here and in Oxford, but unlike Paddy, don't
ieel have improved; in fact, / think one feels
his ignorance mere palpably, as he passes
through these halls, and remembers what master
minds have Come forth to do their mission IN the
world Of course, all the ways of God are Just,
yeti often wish He had permitted those men to
will their great research, as well as their pro
perty; SO they do if we choose to seek for it as
they did; yet how pleasant to go the royal road,
to learning.
To go back a little, My last letter was all
about that Sodem and Gomorrah, Liverpool.
Since then have been amongst the primitive
Welshs that is primitive in costumes and customs,
but shrewder, nearer and more stubborn than
Seotchman. went direct to Swansea, much to
my delight. / did not visit Wales when visited
this country before, tho had strong desire to
do so, and feared Ishould arrive too late for
this autumn. intend this time to visit as many
objects OF interesta as possible--f;9r doubt when
get home that / shall ever cross the
Atlantic again The country through which
passed. is picturesquely beautiGul-alternate hills,
wales and plains-with here and there a noun
tain. Wales is celebrated for its "copper" as well as
coal mine. OF course the face of the country
where the shafts are, is destroyed, but they are
not close enough together to take away the plea
sure Of the traveller. Ilonged to stop at Ludlow,
to see the old palace that speaks 50 loudly
of the younger days Of Elizabeth, the virgin queen
andHereford and Shrewsberry for their old cathe
drals. Perhaps I shall some day. but I was then
too anxious to see somebody at the end Of my
journey to linger by the way. At village called
Crumlin, is the highest bridge in England, two
hundred and thirteen feet. You felt, going over it
literally suspended in the air. At its foot is the
little village, built in ravine, and 50 disressingy
bright by the use Of lime on cottages and fences,
thatit made ones eyes ache; finding relief, how
ever, by the bright green surrounding it. Halt
way up the mountain side is plot Of land, !
should think about three acres where is builtsuch
. cosy mansion BY Mr.. Kinnaird, the builder Of
the bridge. Mr.. K. had good eye for the pic
turesque, when he chose that spot, whereon he
has expended much wealth, creating a home a
prince might envy. By the way, the English have
good taste in selecting their home spots in the
country-always some cosy, comfortable spot
whilst we are apt to build q barn of house,
square of course, and in some bold spot, without
reference to shade, that all passers by may say,
there lives Mr.. -, the millionaire.
Meath Abbey, situated only a few miles from
Swansea, Is grand old ruin, and as visited it
often will describe it here. The ruin ranges
ever six acres, completely covered with ivy
Why can't old age look as beautiful as ruin?
We have young green branches that twine us
round, yet the very contrast shows us up more
readily All well a day. should think the Abbey |
had been built at two periods of time. The archi-
lecture differs, besides some portions are in better
preservation. There is but one hall to enter; / /
think itmust have been the refeotory. 1t has two
huge fire places capable of roasting an OK whole.
One could fancy long tables down the
center, groaning beneath the weight Of huge
pastry, meats, boars head and those large
leathern bottles Of wine with which they refreshed
the inner man. Those same men, jolly friars, for
getting the world and by the world forgot, whose
round bellies with good capon lined'' bespoke
their content to lead life of celhacy. Wandering
around, came to small court, where were
marks Of fresh lined walls, showing some thrifty
was near. In an inner angle, l found a
abin, made from the ruins, and Welsh dame
ontentedly knitting. BY the by, Welsh women
re always knitting, walking or sitting. thought
iere was aigooa chance for chat. reckoned
without my host; she could not speak English.
What queer sounding language it is On going
nut, however, met an old woman who told me
he was fourscore and ten, and that she walks
laily to the village Of Meath, two miles from the
Abby. I asked her many questions, but her
amounted to the fact Of walking there
With her Goldman before she was married, seventy
i've years gone z and it looked the same. tried
o picture some fair lady looking from her bower
window for the approach Of her sworn knight, but
instead was regaled with the melliauous gin-voioe
i canal boatman, swearing at his horse-a canal
eing built at the foot of the walls. OF all the !
anny objects to look at, ID the way of costume,
ae Welsh take the jack-knife-the women partic,
lary They wear short stiff petticoats, bright
ressi looped back as our farmers wives are rep y
esented IN revolutionary days; dark woolen
tockings, well gartered; thick leather highbows,
With large brass buckles, always tidy, I have .
eVer seen woman here with slattern feet. La !
les at home take pattern. A bright red shawl !
1ost curiously arranged, leaving the right arm !
are, and II they have baby, that is most mystic
iously disposed of in the shawl on the left hip
7hite cap with large futed frill, surmonn- t
ID by Mother Hubbard hat of conical form, '
lade Of felt, shiny like a gentlemau's I
tove pipe. broad brim, running almost to point,
cotn l2 to l5 inches high. IN their hands, as / t
efofe remarked, the eternal stocking. There is b
title else in Swansea to speak of, save the fish a
oTnen--the Lord forgive me for calling them
omen; nondescripts would better describe them,
'rif ven did not knew they were mothers you T
.ould suppose from their language and bearing, c
lat they were wearing habiliments not their own,
very pretty drive through green lanes, takes
gu to fashionable watering place, called the 81
,umbles; the aforesaid MumbIes meaning in En-
hsh, rocks, and there is literally nothing but fl
,cks and sea shore to see. A fleet of oyster tt
hacks was being made ready to go forth the 81
sxt day, lst of September dredging. Iwish "
~ could eat an English oyster, you would fancy
u had swallowed and imperfectly digested, D
'ur mother supper boiler4 Ugh! how can they s
i them sheeld not mind having at this present N
riting, plate of blue pointers "
Sunday enroute for Oxford, where arrived in Y
ne for dinner Think it the prettiest city in Eng n
nd far as1 have seem streets broad and clean 70
d such grand cd edifices. High street.-The TO
,eet-is q constant succession Of magnificent eff
colleges churches and stately man. OF
ms. An are worthy Of more than passing com
mt, bat the limit Of letter writing forailg but ca
y. Christ ehureh-tae aristoeratic college il SO
] finest and daservpa fha nInra oe hs "a