New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-07-28
IMPRESSIONS OF ENGLAND

BEAUTY AND REfOSE VI 1nL IOtNih'
THE HAWTHORN HEDGE-rNGIIsH RosKs-FLoRAI
DECORATIONS OF LoNDoN-THE LIGHT AND THE
BIRDs-A GLIMPSE OF WESTMINSTER ABBEY
FIRST GLANCE AT THE IowER-DELIGHTFUL
WEATHER.
TFRoM STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
LONDON, July Ut is not strange that English
men should be-what certainly they are-passionate
lovers of their country; for their country 49, almost
beyond a parallel, peaceful, gentle and beautiful.
Even in this vast city, where practical me asserts
itself with such tremendous force, the stranger Is
impressed, from every direction, with sentiment OIL
repOse and peace. This sentiment seems to proceed
in part from the antiquity of the social system here
established. and in part from the aectionate nature
of the English people. Here are inshei towns'
rural regions thoroughly cultivated and exqusltey
adorned, ancient architecture crumbling In SLOW
decay and soil so rich and pure, that even In It's
idlest mood it lights itself up with howers just as
the face of sleeping child lights itself up with
smiles Here also soft and kindly hanhers'
settled principles good laws invariably executed,
wise customs rooted in the universal attributes OIL
human nature and, above all, here is the practice
of trying to live in happy condition, instead OF
TRYING 10 make noise about it. Here, accordingly,
life * sootbed and hallowed with the comfortable,
GENIAL loving spirit of home. IL would doubtless be
easily possible to into contact here With some
absurd forms and perneious abuses. TO observe alb
surd individuals, and To trace out veins OF sordid
selfshncss and of evil and sorrow. But the things
that first and most deeply impress the fresh OBJ
server of England and English society are their
potential manifold and abundant sources OF beauty,
refinement and peace. There are, OF course, erum-
blcrs. Mention has been made of person who
even in heaven, would complain that his cloud was
damp aud that his halo did not fat. We cannot have
perieciion but the man who could not he happy III
England-n so far, at least, as happiness depends
upon external objects and iniluences-could not
reasonably expect 10 be happy anywhere.
Letters from home say that New-l Ork is hot. The
statement cannot be doubted by any one who re-
members what July was last year in that city. III
this July resembles its departed brother you are all,
indeed the proper objects OF pity Here the
weather is literally blissful. 1t behaved little
shabby during the first days of June, but ever since
then it has been Iii a temper entirely delightful.
Summer heat Is perceptlble for an hour or two each
day, but il trivial to the American sense ana II
causes no discomfort. Garments that we IN New
York should wear IN October are quite suitable Tor
use in the London july, and at night We sleep under
blankets and could not do without them. Fog has
RETAINED though il is understood 10 be lurking in
the Irish Sea and the British Chanuel aud waiting
CRIME all the new paint on the London houses.
Meantime the sky is softly blue and full of mag
niicent bronze clouds; the air is cool, and in the
cnyirons of the clty Is odorous with the scent of
new-mown hay; and the grass and trees in the
parks-those copous and splendid lungs of Lon
dOn-are green, dcwy sweet and beautiful.
Persons ito the manner born - were lately calling
the season "backward7 and they went far as to
grumble at the hawthorn as being less brilliant than
i'm former Seasons. But in fact. 10 the unfamiliar
sense this bush of odorcus coral has been delicious
YOu know it, doubtless as one OF the sweetest
beauties Of rural England. 1t deserves It's reputa-
ton We have nothing comparable with il in
Northern America. unless perhaps, IL be the elder OF
our wild woods; aud even that, with all its fra
GRANGE. lacks equal charm of color They ase the
hawthorn or some kindred shrub for hedges in this
country and hence their fields are seldom dsiigured
with fences. As YOU ride through the land you
miles aud miles Of meadow trayersed by these green
ami blooming hedge-rows and yOu find that they
give the country charm winch i quite inconi-
municabe in words. The green Of the f0lage-en-
riched by an uncommony hgmid air and FURNISHED
By the sun-is just now in perfection, while the
lowers are ont in such abundance that he whole
realm is one blaze of color. ] saw the other day.
near Oxford on tie crest Of hl at least three
thousand square yards of scarlet peoples. You can
easily imagine what a glorious dash Of color that
was in a green landscape lit hv the afternoon sum
Nobody could help loving land that woos him with
such beauty.
English lowers it must often have been noticed,
are altogether exceptional loI substance and p0mp
Tie roses in pmtIcuar-though many of then, it
should be said, are of French breeda-,urpdss all
competition 1t may seem an extravaganza to say
50, but ii is certainly true that these rich firm
brilliant flowers affect you like creatures of flesh
and blood They are this respect only to be de
scribed az like nothing in the world mach as the
biight lips and blushing checks of The handsome
English women who walk among them and vie with
them in health and loycliness. II is easy thus to
perceive the source of those elements Of warmth and
sumptuousness which are 50 conspicu as in the
results of English taste This is a land of flowers
Even in the busiest PARIS of London people decorate
their houses with them. and set the sOmDre. fog
grncd fronts ;r,azc with scarlet and gold. These
are the prevalent colors $50 radically such that they
have become na,ional, and when placed against the
black tint with which this climate stains the build
ings they have the advantage Of wind contrast
which much augucnts their spcndor. All London
wears suit of s.,blcs,' gated with tTacery
of white Ike lace upon pail. In some instances
the effect il sI.endidly pompOus. There cannot De a
grander artificial object in the world than the front
of st. Paus Cathedral, which is especially notable
for this mysterious blending OF light an shade. 1t
is to be regretted that climate which can thus
beautify should also destroy; but there can be no
doubt that the stones of England are rapidly
defaccd by the action of the fogs. Already the
delicate carvings on the Houses OF Parliament are
beginning to cumbe. And yet, If one might Judge
the climate BY this gltteriug july, England is
land Of sunshine rs well as of flowers. Light comes
before 3 o'clock in the morniug and it lasts.
through dreamy and lovely " cleaning" till
nearly 10 o'clock at uivbt. The nnrutur sly i.