The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1879-08-05
FOREIGN LETTER.
snteresting Letter from mrs. Mead
Her travel ia England and
YARMOUTH, WALES, I
July 0, 1879.

Middlesex, Oxford. Warmik and Serop-
sberes. These counties are very heau-
tifnl ones, in high state Of cultiva-
tion, and just now the hedges are lock
ing their best. and many Of them in
bloom: and the Hawthorn trees too
are in full flower.
We passed through Bugby. famous
for it's boys school; through many
small towns. some Of them manufac-
turing towns, and on the Welch border
Shrewsbury, with an interesting his
tory | am told, though | did not stop
there. Thus far the country was roll
/ ing, but as soon as We crossed the boz
Ter the scenery became bold, the hills
growing into mountains and clothed in
blue mist. We did not pass any large
towns, only hamlets and farm houses.
bnt 10 me it was all very fascinating
and just what had pictured Wales TO
be. There is all abundance OF wood
and water; everything, it seems 10 me,
to make comfortable happy homes, and
communities.
Our compartment was crowded, as 1t
was the only through one from Lon
don. NV visayis was clergyman Of
the Church Of England, very pleas
ant genial man. full of fun; but when
he came TO talk Of America il was too
much. His idea Of us being that our
yards all swarm with rattlesnakes; that
We nightly listen to the howl of the
wolf and that we are in danger from
bears wherever we go. Other animals
too, Of which | never heard, rs belong
ing 10 America he gave rs credit for.
His ideas of our government being that
it does not afford the slightest protec-
ton 20 its citizens, either for life or
property, his ideas evidently being
drawn from some sketch Of frontier
life. And his geographical knowledge
was on par with other impressions,
~ he asked where the county Of Ten
nessee was. and spoke Of the Mont-On-
uis- Tunnel as in America. And this
reminds me Of a remark made,tO me Mt
the diuner table in Paris, by an En-
think Gen. Jackson is your President
now, isn't he2" An Irish lady at the
same table few days before had made
the remark about some newcomers,
that they could not be Americans, for
they were quite intelligent" which
made the Americans at the table smile.
II these were people in the lower walks
uf life | should not mention these
things, but all came from the upper
ones.
yarmouth is little watering place
right on the sea shore, and derives It's
supper. from summer NI9itors. There
rs Just little place between the sea
aud the rocks where the lodging
houses are built. The streets are mar
row, without sidewalks, consequently
every body walks in the road. The
town is very clean, and the shops are
nice. The hills rise almost perpendicu.
lar right behind this strip Of ground,
aud good many houses are perched
like birds nests on the sides wherever
there is n projection large enough. All
these bindings are Of very dark stone;
also the fences, aud wherever either
are old enough the Ivy covers Them in
many places, adding very much to the
beauty Of the town The beach is a
very fine one, but unless the weather
changes the visitors will be few aud
far between, for never saw such
weather save in November. never
Yesterday was the Fourth of July, and
celebrated il in bed shaking with the
,guc. will leave here on Monday IL
able 10 get away.
On "Wednesday last / went 10 Har-
leigh, n little village ten miles of the
coast. 90 visit the old castle there. IL
is claimed this was built first in the
fifth century, then enlarged in the
thirteenth. IL is built on n rock three
hundred feet high on two sides, aud
these sides nearly perpendicular, the
entrance being on the side Of tho town
and not far above il. The building is
nearly square. each corner strengthen
ed by towers fifty feet in diameter the
walls being twelve feet in thickness.
At the gate are similar towers.
There are two outside walls, n good
,leal injured by time, but the ivy which
grows 80 easily and luXuriently here,
covers and beauties all. The en-
trance 10 the courtyard ia perfect,
only that the triple gates are gone
Inside. ilnnking the rooms once occu-
pied by the owner Of the castle, are
four more towers, two OF them seven
ty.fve feet in hight. and two much
smaller / spent some hours here. 60.
ing into all the hooks and corners,
climbing to the tops of the highest
walls-Walking all around them, and
from them obtaining the finest views
seen vet in this country. This is
ruin ia every sense OF the word; inhab-
tied only 10y Jackdaws. who make the
old towers noisy with their screams.
These buildings, where the centuries
look down upon the people Of to-day,
impress me very peculiarly which !
rahnot describe. or hardly understand
lis with great reluctance leave them
always
have visited the schools here in
Yarmouth The building is Of one
story: pretty on the outside, but
gloomy aud uncomfortable on the in
side. I found three teachers at work
IVA the fret room. four in the second,
and all talking al the top of their
voices. Two Of these teachers were
lads of twelve wears each, and the dig
atty with which they performed their
luty. was amusing. TO say the least
MONDAY. July :.
left Barmouth for Birkenhead. A.
on Sabbath, j had very hard chill,
aud felt I mnst get to "A better climate,
II possible. So on the strength Of a
big dose of qninine, ! started. The
country from H. 10 Chester ~ very
beautiful. and tho vale % Slangollen,
ia its whole length. comes the nearest
10 fairy land Of any place seen before
or slnce-at home or abroad.
Its hills and valleys, woodlands and
meadows. vatered by the Doe; It's cul-
tivated fields, surrounded by hedges;
its country houses aud towns are all
lovely as a dream; the one Arcadia 1
have found in all my wanderin9s. ]
had hoped 30 remain here week or
two, hut felt must not stop till with
my Billenhead friends, who had writ
ten mo ! would be welcome: 50 here /
have been with them for ten days.
gaining health and strength, and as
kindly cared for as with friends az
home.
Though thus far nearly ali my plans
have been blown % tho winds, yet
can still say that goodness aud mercy
haYe followed me, aud that j have
everything 90 be thankful for.
EDNBuno, July 10.
came here yesterday, leaving Lime
a