Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1876-11-04
NOTES BY TIE WAY,
Correspondence of the Washington Standard
LONDON. ENGLANND.

Correspondence of the Washington Standard
LONDON, ENGLANND.
My first impression of the city of
Edinburgh have not materially changed
| after residence of nearly two months
in this beautiful and interesting place.
A stranger In a strange land, yet have
never met with greater kindness than is
exhibited by this people. In the Hos
pltais, especially, every attention is
shown to foreigners and every oppor-
tunlty is afforded by the faculty to
enable students to avail themselves of
the immense advantages here found.
England, France, Germany and Amer
lea are represented here.
OFF FOR LONDON
The ride from Edinburgh up to Lon
don was most delightful, occupying
about ten hours in the transit. Start
ing at morning hour and passing
over the line of North British Railway,
the time was propitious for seeing
England to very good advantage.
The English system of railways are
generally safe and complete in their
arrangements. The cars, or coaches,
are divided into first, second and third
classes, corresponding with the three
ranks or grades of society-nobility,
gentry, and common people. The
second class is the one usually taken,
especially by gentlemen without ladies.
Every one must be in time, as the time
table is rigidly observed, and the almost
universal prevalence of double tracks OBJ
viates the necessity of delays; and what
is of more Importance, there is seldom
any danger from collision with other
trains. The depots too are we'll az
ranged. Showing your ticket admits
you to the waiting-room corresponding
to your class. No one is allowed to
enter the car until the appointed time.
Your baggage is taken in charge by the
guard. It is not checked as with US,
but simply labelled for it's destination.
The guard then travels with it and de-
livers it to you at the end of your jour-
ney. The cars too are very different
from ours. They are partioned off into
sections with two seats placed trans
versely across the car. Each section
may accommodate eight persons, four
being allotted to each seat
The scenery for the first two hours after
leaving Edinburgh is rather rough and
picturesque, at times running very near
the German ocean on the left. The first
town of any Importance is
NEWCASTLE ON THE TYNE.
This is very black and dirty place,
and Justly celebrated on account of its
coal trade. It is also the seat of ex-
tensive manufactures of iron, steel,
wooden goods, &c. Passing quickly
on, we soon arrived at the fine old city
of
This is, in fact, very ancient place
for it was an old town in the time of
Agricola A. D. IS. Here Hadrian
lived, and here Constantine, the Great,
is said to have been born, more than
1000 years ago. Ancient Roman
towers are still to be seen. The cathe-
dral is the most celebrated object of
ATTRACTION, on account of which many
travellers remain over one train. It is
the second largest. in England and was
founded as far back as the 7th century,
but principally built in the thirteenth
and fourteenth centuries.
The great majority of the towns
along the line present very ancient,
rusty and uninviting appearance, in
striking contrast with the bright and
thrifty aspect of our American towns
and cities. The general aspect of the
country, however, is very pleasant,
very much like our own climate, the
moisture of the air causes the verdure
to present an emerald greenness, and
along the entire line, after crossing the
English border, the surface of the
country is gently undulating. Every
inch of soil feels the power of cultiva-
ton which is here so systematised and
perfected as to be superior to any in
the world.
I observed, while passing rapidly
over the country towards the south,
that vegetation was much farther ad-
vanced than in the north, and in some
instances fields of grain which were
not ready for the harvest in the north
were fully ripe or even harvested in
the south.
The Summer fruits abound in the
markets in great variety, and are very
Expensive luxuries. The strawberries
and grapes are superior to any I have
ever seen. The peaches are delicious,
but certainly not superior to those OF
California, and as to cherries, plums
and apples, I have never seen any to
compare with those of Washington
Territory.
| In reference to meats when you call
for beef-steak you got it. Beef is
beef here, and no mistake. But in re-
ference to vegetables we will allow
Owen Bush to take all the premiums.
| The universal complaint of hard
times, which I found throughout our
Eastern States, I find throughout the
British Isles, especially among the
gentry and common people of England
and Ireland. We have no reason
whatever to complain on the Pacific
Coast. RUFUS WILLARD. M. D.