Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-05-10
BOOK -OF.TRAVEL SKETCHES,
NUMBER Nv. E
doom A THE BRAE."
A TRUE STORY OF ENGLISH LIFE.
BY AlTCH.
PART FIRST.

1t seems strange now, in looking back
over it, what sort of a whim it was that
took Ruff Dallas and / to the country.
1t appeared reasonable enough at the
time, of course. London, usually the
gayest or the dullest place in christen-
dom, according as ones mood may turn,
seemed then wholly and only gloomy and
inhospitable in any light.
The lengthy season Of close applics-
ton to study, through the long winter
term at Medical College, had wearied us
exceedingly, and we longed for the free
dom of the countryside dullest, quietest
place in the world-anywhere, to be re-
moved from those scenes so suggestive of
painful mental occupation. 1t was right
in the first blush of springtime, too, and
the idea of remaining cooped up there in
Copley Square at such time, was
nothing less than intolerable. ~
"Confound il Jack, we've got to go
to the country-so there II said Ruff,
with more energy than he had displayed
in a fortnight
"The country be hanged p / replied,
more for the sake of arousing my friend
by little opposition. Why, there's as
much country in London as out of it, if
you've only the energy to find it. I'll
lay a wager, now, that | can lose you in
the woods tomorrow, anywhere in a
dozen places between here and Putney,
and for four miles and half on the
Wimbledon road, with six miles Of Lon
don outside of you, at that"
bah Talk sense, talk sense for once,
Jack said Ruff, persuasively. IF that
was all wanted of the country, I'd cut
the matter short, and satisfy myself and
save trouble by crawling into hollow
deal log, and imagine was in the woods
down at the Point
Well, the upshot Of the matter was,
Ruff would not be satisfied until we had
packed up few necessary traps and
cleared out to the seaside, leaving our
dull apartments on Copley Square in
charge of an accommodating neighbor.
We went down on the coast below
Chatham, about twenty-five miles from
the mouth of the Thames, and within
something like the same distance of Mar
gate. Ny friend had spent few weeks
there on a previous occasion, aud was so
well pleased with the locality that he
could not be induced to go elsewhere.
And, indeed, / found it delightful
spot. The Chatham Hills stretch along
nearly parallel with the channel fer sew
eral miles, producing pleasing variety
oflandscapes. A mile farther out, across
beautiful elevated plateau, breaks the
rugged coast line, presenting long
stretch Of bold, inaccessible cliff, broken
here and there by intervals Of gently
sloping, gravelly beach. Straight out
across the channel, mile and quarter
away, though it does not seem half that
distance, lies Sheppey Island, its wooded
eminences in plain view frsm the main
land.
The western extremity Of the island
terminates right opposite Tandouk POlrt,
and beyond stretches the restless expanse
of blue sea to the farthest extent Of vision.
Our quarters we're situated on the east.
ern or conesge side Of the Point, and
onlya dozen rods back from the edge Of
the clid. I say our quarters" for such
indeed they we're; three neat little cot
tage rooms, occupied solely by ourselves
"a regular bachelors den. This was
eaa Of Ruff notions, too we should be
so much more independent, and live so
easily, he thought.