Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1880-02-12
An Old English Town and Its Anti
quated Inn.

In Chester 1 had my first glimpse of
the genuine old England. Ientered the
city through gateway; beheld a
walled city, although great and increas-
ing mobs of modern houses now stray
outside the ancient boundaries. Twice
I made the circuit of its ancient walls,
and then my legs, already fatigued by
the previous walk, refused to bear or
tolerate such pedestrian sentiment any
longer. But it was such a luxury to
find ones self on the real walls of city,
walls on which had stood warriors in
armor, with spears and crossbows, try
ing to murder other armed men below
or trying to escape from being MUIR
dered. 1 supped at kitchen. 1t &C.
cupied the front room of humble
house. In the window were sundry cold
cuts of meat; in the interior three small,
round tables, CHEEKY coal fire, big
singing teakettle, and cat reposing
and meditating, as cats love to repose
and mediate, by the fire. Overhead
were racks, and on these unbaked
oatmeal cakes and pendent flitches of
bacon. On the walls hung pots, pans,
broilers, ladies and every variety of
kitchen utensil, some of copper, some
of tin, all brightly secured. On shelves
the entire force of crockery belonging to
this coy inn seemed displayed on dress
parade. Not an inch of space on those
four walls was vacant. 1t was cult
nary and domestic bric-a-brac show,
and not one newly bought to order.
The platters spoke of feasts when men
wore wigs and knee-breeches. Over all
presided little Dame Hubbardish old
lady in cap and kerchief. The material
portion of my meal consisted of eggs,
bacon, toast and tea, prepared before
my eyes by Dame Hubbard, the cat
looking on approvingly. But equally
refreshing was the cozy, comfortable
influence of this kitchen, so domestic,
so old-fashioned, so old-world-like, so
new and yet so Misunderstanding /
had longed for-s free from the hurly-
burly clatter, clash, din and heartless-
ness of our American hotels and res
taurants, where culinary fiends of all
countries down in the Internal regions
of cookery, roast and boil and broil,
cursing and perspiring for people they
see not nor care for seeing; so different
from Dame Hubbard of the Chester inn,
who seemed to take an interest in my
comfort so soon as gave my order, and
prepared it with the air and manner of
preparing it for me exclusively. Such
a meal is doubly blessed, and all for
shilling! After which 1 once more
mounted the walls and paced them till
dark. The promenade was admirable,
he outer bulwark being about waist
high, the walls rising from ten to forty
feet from the ground, and affording a
fine view of green hill, dale and plain
below. In places the cottage doors
opened directly on this mural walk.
Many couples were out enjoying the
beautiful twilight, and the English twi-
light, prolonged in midsummer till half
past 9, is feature and a privilege which
can hardly be realized in the United
States, where our orb, with business
like promptness in accordance with the
habits of the people, puts itself punctu-
ally out at o'clock and calls for gas.
1 slept that night at the Red Dragon
Inn. 1 selected this inn partly on ac-
count of its name, partly by reason of its
antiquated appearance. 1 wanted to
sleep in house having on it the mold
and rust of centuries, and full within of
the dust of ages. The Red Dragon
came pretty nearly up to my standard
of antiquarian requirement, which at
that time was high. Before leaving
England could sleep comfortably in a
house only 100 years old; but at this
time, on having any choice, l drew the
line at 2OO.-C. W. Stoddard, in San
Francisco Chronicle.
Row Save the Rags.