The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1877-07-04

dral, which is on q little rising ground
about mile distant.
50 that the church at one end aud the
cathedral at the other, with the gateway in
the line, give a very fine appearance.
The trees in this portion of the nark are
scattering, but very large. Oak, ash and
beech seem to predominant. 1t appears to |
be used entirely for grazing. l followed |
the avenue short distance and turned into |
a footpsth over q rising piece of ground, !
which led to little park with several deer ,
feeding.
Here / struck winding avenue along |
the shore, with beautiful overhanging |
trees. A little further on brought me to
a keepers lodge, where Lpaid my shilling,
and entered the finest grounds that 1t has
been my good fortune to see, and which
cannot undertake to describe. But / will
say that the little river Skell, which winds
down the narrow valley, is a very notice
able fea ure. The water is damned and
made to flow over, forming beautiful cas-
cades, and lakes with islands of fantastic
shape, adorned with statuary, the shores
with walks, and here and there a little
lodge with seats.
Then rising up steep hillside, through
quite long tunnel, built of the toughest
kluu VI HlOuCs VIC COlnt W du ONlukOh
tower, from which is a fine view. The
tower, unlike the tunnel, is built of expen-
sively cut stone, but shows the marks of
time. Passing through the heavy forests,
perhaps one hundred feet above the lake,
we come across q keeper, who throws open
pair of folding poors, and unveils scene
which Ii would be very foolish for me to
attempt to desert C. All | can say is that
it was magnificent
The Skell running straight toward us,
turning off to the right, at the foot of the
bluff, sparkling in the afternoon sun, the
little valley covered with the deepest
green, the young foliage of the trees, and
TO crown all the lofty tower, ard broken
walls of the old abbey in the distance, was
simply magnificent. was soon into the
winding path, on my way down to the
valley, and up the avenue close to the
stream. | soon fell in with keeper who
called my attention to the Monks spring,
quite likely took drink 1t was the
very best, boiling out from under the rocks,
which have been hewed out, aud arched
over with cut stone in a substantial man
ner. 1t was the first drink of spring wa
ter which have had in England.
Coming up to the abbey must say was
surprised, tewildered, COMPOUNDED, at the
had not seen Klrkstall before coming here,
| should have been crazed. The great
| church, the choir, The chapel of the nine
affairs, the abbot's house. the dining hall,
the kitchen with two fireplaces sixteen feet
long each, the great coloister, three hum
dred feet long by forty or fifty feet wide,
| with O row of immense columes running
through the center, from which spring huge
arches supporting the floor to the dermi-
tory, or lodgings of the monks, the lodg-
ing houses for strangers, the arches over
the river, on which some of the buildings
stand, the bridges, and the old mill, are
wonderful.
The abbey occupies nearly the whole
width of the valley, high ledge of rocks
on one side and quite hill on the other.
About four O'clock / began TO feel as II
something must be done for the innerman,
so called at one of the lodges and gol
a lunch of bread and cheese, with glast
of milk, which is the first l have TASTED
since left home, that l could call milk
After passing the record gate of the park
the grounds are beautifully kept, every
hg pSiff6 n oTfeF sss at S s6Tsre "a
with the finest timber, oak, Scotch frs
ash, beech, yew, sycamore, etc.
The estate belongs TO the Most Hon. Tit
Marquis of RipOn.
understand the park contains about ont
thousand acres, quite decent farm.
thought if he would allow me to put
mill on the Skell, ard give me free access
to the forests, l might be induced to sloI
with him while, but aa did not have
time to see him | FASTENED on toward III,
cathedral.
Que thing have forgotten to mention
| n nj trnt fraA - H. Il Al
abbey, under which it is said the monks
found shelter during the building of the
abbey.
got back to Ripon about half-past four
services had just closed, and the sextor
was locking the doors, when | came uI
and asked il it was too late for adm!ssiu u
he said 1t was. | told him | was an Amer.
lean, should never be there again, anG OF
course anxious to see the cathedral He
said OF course l must, SO unlocked the
doors, and l had the free access. II is no,
bad thing to be an American, something
like being a "Roman citizen" OF old.
The sexton took me through the differ
ent apartments calling my attention to all
the curiosities, such as ancient tombs,
giving little history of each. was par.
ticularly interested in the wood carvings.
and an old book case Also some old
doors that never saw a plane, but were
worked With ak or adze.
The style of architecture is the same as
the abbey. A small trap door on the south
side of the nave opens to flight OF narrow
stone steps, much worn, leading to pas
sage hardly high enough to let me stand
erect. Could not get in only as | backed
down, according to the directions of the
guide. | followed after the dim light OF
tallow candle, gradually descending, un.
til We came to what is called st. Wilfred'e
crypt. about nine by twelve feet, and eight
feet high, supposed TO have been chapel,
as various things about 1t would indicate,
such as nItches scooped out to hold holy
water, and hole through the wall into an.
other direction would indicate that it was
used as confessional it 10 called now ST.
Wilfred's needle.
1t was once test of female chastity, II
she was not all right, she would be mirac-
ulously detained in The needle. Now it il
said If young lady does not pass the
needle she will never get married the
cons6 quence 10 all must pass.
The sexton, told me he had taken through
sixty in day, never had but one stuck,
that was on account of too much crinoline
abe was taken back. the hoops disposed Of
and she went through all right.
One OF the most ancient customs of the
kingdom Is still praoticed at Ripon, thai
is, the blowing of horn at the MAYORS
door, at nine O'Clock at night n