St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-08-29

presents great variety of architectural
design, and underneath its altar was
inferred the heart of King Robert Bruce.
Four miles east is DOyburgh abbey
where Scott and his son-in-law Lock
hart were buried, and also the Erskines,
eminent Scottish divines. The country
about is beautiful, the surface rolling,
the soil fertile, the trees with luxuriant
foliage, and all under the soft light of
sun which kindles life without scorch
ing it, made the drives and walks here
abouts delightful.
In our journey southwark we passed
Hawick, near which is laid the scene of
Scott's "Lay of the Last MINSTREL" ran
through and over the Teviot and Cheviot
Hills where shepherds watch their t1ocks
both day and night, and, following the
windings of the Tyne, are borne along
under the shadows Of quaint old mon
astery at Hexham,-we longed to visit
it but could not,-and into that Pitts
burgh of England, Newcastle on Tyne.
Accordingto our oft quoted proverb,
carrying Goals to Newcastle is super
fluOus, but they do it still, for on the
way from Hexham we saw little else
but huge coal trains and Newcastle
itself is half coal sheds. We learned
here that the first load of American cat
tie shipped direct from New York had
been landed here the day of our arrival
and the next mornings papers were
full of plans for the establishing of an
American cattle yard.
Ripon was our next stop. The ca
thedral here and the Fountains Abbey,
a magnificent old ruin, four miles away,
were full of interest. The latter is said
to have been the most perfect monastic
building in England. Its roof has fallen,
but its tower and roof still stand, and
it's Gothic clOisters are as perfect as
ever. Thence to York which with its
old Roman walls and its celebrated
minister, or cathedral, is always attrac
tive to strangers. Except Chester, it
has more of antiqueness and guaintness
about it than any other English city we
have seen, and we feel that we would
like to raDsack it from steeple to cellar.
We reached York after the usual time
of closing the minister for the day, but
strolling around the outside we chanced
to meet verger, who kindly offered to
take us about and who gave US thrice
the time and information we could have
had with the usual parties in the regu-
lar hours. Visiting objects of interest
is often extremely unsatisfactory from
the way in which you are hurried from
point to point by local guides, and also
others who are waiting and in whose
presence you dislike to be too inquisi-
tive. Sometimes you are reminded that
note-taking is not allowable, or that
certain guide-book for sale at the
side door, contains all the information
you desire. Our experience with small
parties makes us the more congratulate
ourselves that we are not tied to an
excursion party of forty for the season.
York Minister is built, as almost all
cathedrals, in the form of Latin cross
The total length is 519 feet, the length
of arms or transept, 249 feet, the breadth
of nave 140 feet, height of interior near
ly 100 feet, length of windows from so
to rs feet, and height of towers 200 feet.
1t has no spire but one tower contains
peal of bells, and the other a monster
bell called Great Tom, which weighs
26, 900 pounds, but which the builders
failed to hang so that it could be rung.
Parts of this grand old Gothic structure
were few years ago damaged by fire
kindled within the building by an in
sane man, and while the most Of the
burned portion has been renewed, there
are still other portions that sadly need
repair. Some money raised for this
purpose has recently been lost through
the failure of the bank with which it
was deposited.
On the way from York to Derbyshire
we found it convenient to tarry at
Chesterfield, where we saw a peculiar
chnrch spire, built with concave as
well as convex angles, and where we
visited the tomb of Geo. Stephenson,
the celebrated engineer, and saw the
Hall erected as his memorial. His
house was but short walk from the
town.
In Derbyshire we chose, out of many,
three points of interest,-Chatswo
the we'll known estate of the Duke of
DevOnshire, where are some of the
finest works of art, and rarest curiosi-
ties in England, Haddon Hall, one of
the best preserved old feudal castles
existing, and Matlock Bath, noted for
its picturesque scenery, its petrifying
wells, and its caves of spar. The Acade-
my may expect a box of mineral speci-
mems from this point. Our few hours
at Rugby will be supplemented by an
other visit, and at another time we hope
to be able to say something from per-
sOnal knowledge of the work of several
of the great preparatory schools of
England.
bennington was our home for the
next few days, and delightful place
for rest and excursions it is. Thence
we drove to Warwick castle, Kenil-
worth, and Stoneleigh, and by rail,
Is miles, visited Stlatford- on Avon.