Middletown transcript., 1870-08-27

cloudy, sombre hue, striking to the heart
of the wayfarer chilly and depressing
feeling. But in those -besmeared
houses, the door once passed, are to be
found home comforts unsurpassed by any
country in the world. England and Eng
lishmen always impress the stranger un-
favorably. To be appreciated, they must
be known. Without the glitter and glare
of Paris, and without the lip-courtesy and
hat-civility of the Frenchman, in both
may be found the solid happiness and
sturdy sincerity rarely experienced in
warmer climes, or in a more enthusiastic
people.
Owing to the great scarcity of stone in
the island, brick buildings largely pre-
dominate, although in all the public edi-
fees the Continental marbles, &c. are
largely used. The visitor from the more
modern cities will also be struck with the
large proportion of small houses, many of
them of the most limited dimensions.
Arising from the nature of the coal
used, structures of every hue and material
soon assume the same discolored condi-
ton, presenting an appearance of antiqui-
ty even in the most modern portions of
the town, from which the eye turns with
grateful relief to the evergreen covering
of the innumerable parks and squares.
The streets of this great emporium are
invariably clean and well kept; they are
also remarkably well lighted.
There is much complexity, however. in
the naming and numbering of them, the
same thoroughfarc frequently rejoicing in
three different designations. As crooked
as rams horn, they offer to the uninitiated
seemingly inextricable maze, from which
nothing but policeman or a cabman can
rescue him. And, by strange perversity
of reasoning, the various names are gen
orally SO placed as to render telescope a
not unnecessary addendum to the strang-
cr's equipment
In American cities, this feature at least
in an undoubted Improvement on the sys-
TEN pursued there for here the names of
the streets are conspicuously painted on
very nearly every gas-lamp. Fortunately
for the Transatlantic visitor, fare is so
cheap that shilling or two will rescue
him from the most perplexing muddle, es-
pecially if he puts on knowing air, and
states his destination in the curtest
phrase-a wise precaution for any Ameri-
can or European city.
Another source of complication in the
mind of stranger is the frequent occur
renee of the same name for streets in
widely separated districts To remedy
this, postal division has been effected,
which, when understood, greatly removes
the liability to mistakes.
By this system the metropolis is divided
into ten districts as follows:
North. NlSouth Western S. w
South. SINorth Eastern N. Il
East. Z South Eastern S. +
West. w Eastern Central E. G
North Western N. w Western Central w G
The initial letter thus rendering clear
what would otherwise be chaos. In some
cases, however, a still more minute subdi-
vision is required as, for instance, King
Street, of which there are no less than
thirty-fve. In such instances the nearest
square, or most prominent highway, or
most noted locale, is added, as thus:
King Street, St. James Square, S. w.
g " Snowhill, City, Il. G.
=" Covent Garden, w. G.
" Camden-town, N. w.
In numbering the houses also a very
mixed system prevails, some streets being
numbered continuously up one side and
down the others others again, as in A
merica, with the odd numbers on the right
and the even on the left.
The Postal System is very perfect, re-
quiring very small modicum of attention
on the part of the writer to ensure the GER
tain delivery of his correspondence. Elev-
en- hundred offices and pillars throughout
the ten districts serve to receive all COM
muncations, which are distributed from
three to eleven times day but of such
material Importance is the initial letter of
the district, that with it letter is deliv-
cred in two hours, whereas, without that
advantage, it would hardly reach its des-
tination in six.
Among the most noticeable of the many
differences between European and Ameri-
can cities, none attracts the attention Of
the transatlantic visitor more gratefully
than the system of Cabs. For sixpence,
one or two persons are conveyed mile
quickly and safely; but be it understood
that every cabman would disdain " to
move on under shilling" a sixpenny
fare being simply a legal fiction known
only to magistrates and the statute-books
In London two styles of such public ve-
hicles only are known-the " Hanson F"
and the g four-wheeler )" the former be-
ing licensed to carry two and the driver,
and the latter four inside. In the one the
passenger finds nothing between him and
the horse but dasher, and is thus en-
abled to see with ease the various objects
of interest on his route. In the other he
is " cribbed, cabined, and confined" and
beholds everything through dirty medi-
um or under adverse circumstances. Of
both kinds some five thousand perambu-
late the streets or occupy the stands, which
are multitudinous and widespread, ena-
bling the weary pedestrian to avail him