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

many minds" have supposed that they were
called to tell the benighted world Of the
wonders Of London, and basing their con-
elusion upon such a superstition, have
evolved most noble array of essays con-
corning the Tower, st. Paul's, London
Bridge and the Abbey. Now the fact is,
the modern reader knows quite enough Of
these things, or at least as much as is good
for his general health; for more descriptions
Of this kind serve only to create confusion
in the mind, and bring it to pass that the
ordinary mortal is the unhappy pOssessOr
of the idea that London is a great CONT
mental depot, ornamented for the most part
with churches full of tombs, and towers full
of thumb-screws. As this mournful way
of looking at the subject is to be depreca-
ted, allow me to present another view. Let
US have done with ancient London; let us
try and forget, for the present, all about the
plague and the great fire, and strive to gain
some acquaintance with the present state of
things.
Last Saturday afternoon a young man
could have been seen standing in front of
the American Exchange in the great city
of London, swinging in his hand an airy
trile in the shape of a walking-cane, and
sporting a pensive frown upon bis brow.
That young man was the humble writer of
these lines, who, at the moment, was med
itating in what manner to use up a spare
shilling or so. After deciding to make an
excursiOn-which is, to my mind, one of
the most pleasant ways of spending small
change-came the question, '1n what d.
rection and by what means?" 1 did not
care. where 1 should so, but in ehOsing the
modus 1 was much confused and troubled
in spirit by reason of the numerous facili-
ties offered by cab, omnibus, street-car,
OvergrOund, underground and boat. A
cab will take you anywhere aid back for a
shilling, and bus is equally obliging.
The Hanson cab is the most convenient
vehicle in London, and is just the thing
in which to do the town. 1t is a one-hOrse
two-wheeled carriage, the body of which
shaped something like a top-buggy-hangs
low between the wheels, while Jehu is
perched up behind after the style Of q
guard in the bout of an old stsge-coach.
King David expatiates somewhere upon
the wonderful power and the threatening
majesty of the war charger, but he never
saw the frightful shape of the eab-horse,
nor yet hath he heard of the tremendous
speed and the reckless driving that charac-
terizes Cabby in his prime. Yes, there
they 60, round dozen Of them, thunder
ing fHll-tilt down the street as if all Ira
falgar Square was on fire, and each one of
them was private fire engine company
striving manfully for the silver trumpet.
Yet it is not so dangerous as it looks, for
from long practice they have acquired the
art Of being able to shave close and to stop
even when going at full speed.
They plunge headlOng into a crowd Of
jolt hub against hub, Craze for
ward cabs windows with their shafts, punch
he otherE'ass7 in the ribs, and are all
he while apparently oblivious 70 anything
except an earnest desire 20 tell the COM
,eting eab-man exactly what they think of
him. It is remarkable how cleverly these
nen drive, and equally remarkable what an
mount of chafrthey always have at imme-
late command.
As was not in for a cab drive, allowed |
ny thought to center upon the ov er-
round, which, 1 must confess, is a very
onyenient mode of excursioning, since |
he lines run in every direction and the |
rains start at all hours of the day and |
light. The lines are so numerous as 10 |
make the map of London look as if it were |
overed with a fishing net. 1t is true that |
he trains in entering and leaving the city |
ave to pass miles Of houses and cross |
streets, but invariably they do |
v ~ AloaAS VI NOStAg hlaullCto aeCA i
Ugh in the all upon huge arches of stone,
rick or iron. II is not true, however, that |
ailway lines in Great Britain run always |
trough cuttings or upon embankments,
nd, as has been asserted, that no track is
llowed to be laid upon a level with the
country. In some cases this
so, but not universally. There is one
hing TO which praise must be given, and /
is, that the lines are guarded on
ither side by high fences, and the
-atious are completely hedged in
18th boardings, so that the only
ntrance to the line is through the doorway
! the station build 8. A ticket is re-
uired to obtain an entrance upon the
latforn, as the authorities have quite done
way with the interesting crowd Of loafers,
no chew tobacco, and obstruct bona fide
-avelers in and about our country stations
! America. This arrangement not only
,nfers a benefit upon the travelling public,
ut diminishes the risk Of accidents; for
one could easily get upon the track be-
Yeen the stations, and the crossing from
ne side of the train to the other, at the
atoms, is absolutely forbidden; this rule,
Oreover, is vigorously enforced, and the
nployees have authority to arrest any per-
N who transgresses it. An interesting
ticle might be written upon the different
gulatiOns made by the English railway
,mpanies, providing for the comfort and
feiy Of travellers, which, if neatly printed,
Ould serve as a useful text book for those
ilroad bosses in the United States who
EN- to care so little for such things. How
er, must not forget that l have left my
If standing at the American Exchange,
ready for a grand tour.
Being unable to choose all at once, 1 in
llged in meditation concerning the under
ound. Go down Villisrs street and you
i'll come TO a little house covered from
p to bottom with artistic advertisements,
he of which informs you that this is the
District Railway Station and that by
is line you may 60 "fifteen minutes
Kicker than by any other route" to a
hole column of stations named hereunder
BON huge board. The underground
nos ara tbrea In uumbar which RIM in |