Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-07-01


Henry Ward Beecher at Nine. Tussauds."
While you are deeply interested in the
signs of the timcs-and surely great deal
Of the history Of the day might be gathered
from old Ads-the inevitable old lady in
the poke bonnet, brandishing in hand a
large, but decsyed umbrella, makes her ap-
pearance. She unfolds her doleful tale to
the effect that she came early to town and
now, when wishing to return, has forgotten
the name Of the station at which she must
disembark. Here is evidently a knotty
point to be solved, for she knows only that
she lives some distance of, Gin the western
parts somewheres.n If you are a pretty
smart youth for your age, you ask fish has
a ticket. Yes, sir, she has, and she pro-
duces it. On examination, you find it is
"To Edgeware Road and you inform her
Of the fact. Consequently the aged female
is delighted, says she remembers, and gra-
ciously showers blessings upon you as she
moves hurriedly down the platform.
AT this point stroDg-lunged employee of
the D. R. shouts out a confused mixture of
information concerning stations, etc; you
Immediately hear a rumbling, hollow
noise; then a soul-grieying screening, and
the train for "West Brompton" fills the
void. Behold the crowd, how it rushes,
pushes, and asks questions Now comes
tina tu0 Of war ac "a as oo,carvs fba s,a,
tie, but confident guardian of the train.
He incites the young ones into the car
riages, shouts the old women into fits, po-
litely hands in the charming female, proud
ly orders the third-elass folks, waves his
flag, sings out "Right for'ard, slams all the
doors with bang, and retires to. the seat
Of his van, evidently well pleased with
himself. A click and a whirr come from
the brakes, a whistle is heard from the
engine, and of goes the train into the dark
ness.
Upon this particular Saturday, however,
l preferred patronizing the boats, which run
at all hours up and Gown the Thames; so
/ rushed down to the wharf, stepped aboard
the "Nancy," obtained shady seat under
the cool white awning, Lit a cigar, and
fully enjoyed myself while the rapid little
steamer cut the water as she sped on her
way to Kew Gardens.
1t really seems a great pity that the in
habitsnts of London, with all these advan-
tags of transportation at command, do not
go, every afternoon, for a stroll in these
riverside parks and gardens. 1t is wonder
full how they can endure the city at all |
during the hot summer months. However |
it is the fashion to prefer "the row." the |
club, the levee and the opera, and Fashion |
being an exacting goddess, compells every
one to go as she goes and do as she does;
so all through the sweltering summer the
ball and reception rooms are crowded, and
the opera houses are, au fat, the places in
which to obtain some idea of the warmer
regions presided over by his friendship with
the pithfork. Society deprecates the Gus
tom Of excepting town" in July, but 1t is
obliged to observe it. If one speaks to the
of the beauties of Rich
mond, or the sweetness of Kew, he sighs
and wishes he'd been along; but, sadly
relate it, it is impossible for him. At a
certain hour he must be at his club, al
another he must dine, at a third he must
ride in the park, etc, and so, he has about
IS much leisure as one of Miss Betsey
TrotwoOd's donkeys.
One might venture to assert that the man.
abOut-tOwn of times gone by had better
time of it. Where arethe coffee-houses Of
St. James in which Steele and Addison
passed SO many hours taItling and spec
-ating? To use q common expression,
hey are nowhere Their sites are now Oc-
,upied by palatial club houses or gorgeous
hotels; the cOfiee-hOUses have degenerated
ntO whisky shops and Genius has moved
elsewhere. The men who ought to be
geniuses have grown rich, and have taken
70 the pleasant life of doing away the
nouns in some sleepy parliamentary COM
nlttee room. The men who could be |
yeniuses have thrown aside the pen and
IRE running" profitable newspaper stands.
The pursuit Of money and Of fashion has
lriTen the literary lOunger away to more
peaceful haunts in the country, from whence
be frequently Eliminates indictments
against the present life of folly and ex-
ravagance, but which, alas are treated in
much the same way as were the unwelcOme
prophecies Of Cassandra. E..