The Cecil Whig., 1874-01-31
EXTRACTS FROM PRIVATE LETTERS
OF A YOUNG AMERICAN GIRL.
No, 9. 7
LONDON, July %, 1878.

No. 9.
LONDON, July 90, 1878.
I must tell you about our delightful
visit to Rev Gardens. 1t is next to i'm
possible to get any information here about
routes, etc., and if a person does by some
mistake let little bit of information
escape his lips he expects to be well paid
for it. By persistence we did finally dis
cover that the Thames boaGs would carry US
to Rev, so we embarked on one about
noon. The tide was going out, the sun
was fiery, the river was dirty, and as we
went farther up the smell became dreadful.
We went on, and on, and on, nobody was
willing to tell US how far it was until final
ly man condescended to say that it was
three miles further. 1t was now nearly
three O'Clock, and we had supposed the
gardens were only five or six miles off
when we started. Finally at half-past
three we arrived at Rev pier, tired, hot,
hungry and thirsty. There were no gar
dens in sight, and when we politely request
ed the man at the pier to tell us the way;
he said GROSSLY, "better follow the crowd"
So we followed the crowd for half mile
when we arrived at the Gardens, which are
perfectly magnificent. Such collection of
flowers I never saw, even in dreamland,
before, but we were SO tired we could only
drag ourselves around to "a few places
We went of course to see the Victoria
Regin, the wonderful South American
water lilly with leaves as large round as
large wash tub. The blossom is pink
We had had nothing to eat since break
fast, but as we were invited to dine with
the 5 we wouldn't eat any lunch for
fear Of spelling our dinner. However, we
bought some ice water and thus refreshed
rode home in buss, which we found
much shorter and more comfortable way
than by the boat.
At last we reached home and found
delicious dinner on the table to which we
did ample justice. The IS are widow
and her daughter-a girl about my age
her son and his wife. The sons wife is
somewhat crazy and they came here to
have her under celebrated doctors care,
who says she will get we'll. She is only
twenty, and looks scarcely so old. The
-s are very rich, SO everything is done
for her that money can do. She has mel
ancholy fits, when she says that her soul
has gone out of her body and that she
knew when it went.
The English spoken here is almost a
different language from that spoken at
home, and we really have great difficulty
in understanding what the people mean.
If we ask the chambermaid for water,
soap, towels, newspaper, or, in fact any
thing, she invariably answers, "I'll put
you in some," whereupon she disappears
and the thing asked for is brought. Soda
water, here goes by the name of American
drink, and they give you straws to suck it
through. They use butter without salt,
and meat and vegetables are slightly salted.
The loaf of bread is put uncut upon the
table and cut as required. The beef and
lamb are delicious and the "'am - also very
nice. We have to pay for ice water and
then we don't get much ice. l am getting
SO 1 can reckon English money very we'll,
but you would laugh to see Mrs. P; she
takes quantity in her hand and asks the
one she owes to take their pay out of it.
The streets here have the queerest names
We are staying in Halfmoon street, near
us is Bread and Butter street, and not far
away Thread Needle street. This last is
great bankers street and near it is the firm
of Domby & Son. They say that Dickens
got his queer names from the signs in Lon
don, and he easily might if he didn't. I
constantly see such queer names as Peekat,
B-oadshoel, Pigg, Wiggits, Glump, Squib-
BILE and saw this sign the other day
Longjrmp, formerly Strongetharm."
p didn't look bit pretty coming
over: her face burned, the curl wouldn't
stay in her hair and her red hood was not
in the least becoming. She didn't make a
single conquest on shipboard and was con-
seauenAy in i'll humor. We are to stay
here an indefinite time, and in Paris an
indefiniter. Well it doesn't much matter
as it is too warm for me to settle down to
study.
PARIS, July 81.
We are in Paris, as you will see by the
date. We are at No. 80, Rue Luxen
D, urge. We have four very nicely furnish
od ho aroems with an elegant parlor, having
n;.n, etG We have delicious fare, and
everything alb, 'ut the house is nice and
comfortable, and We pay two dollars and
ahalf cash per day. Rolls and coffee are
brought to our rooms at a Wy noui ~ 'ne
morning we please, and at half tf''s' eie'on
comes the regular breakfast of meat ees'',
ables, ETC., always ending with a slice OF
bread and butter spread with some kind OF
preserves. At six we have dinner, when
consists of soup, several kinds of meat, two
or three fowls, one kind of vegetables,
(Which is never potato) and pastries, end
ing with dessert Of fruit, and green
almonds, which are very nice.