The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1880-02-26

Rambling "reminiscences Of Foreign Lands
90, etc, etc.
II .f..l.S. ,s~ass , b1
d y J.gLEwIs PEYToN,
Author OF "Tae American CRISIS. &c;;" "0usr tn
AHe0han2es. &c." etc.. etc.
CHAPTER VIII.
ARROW ON THE.HILL-THE PUBLIC
sCHooL-BYRoN's EARLY DAYS THERE
HAMPSTEAD HEATH-RURAL SPORTS
KISSING IN THE RING, ETC.-HIGH
GATE, &c.
We had often taken counsel with the
more intimate Of our new. made English
friends, IS to All excursion on foot to thai
metropolitan locality, Harrow on-the-hill
indeed 1t had been agreed that we should
lido" the place on the first fine day. This
was not long in coming. The 10th OF May
invited US FORTH. Our party consisted Of
come famous wake rs. among them r. B.
Barnwel, OF SC, Haviland Burke, since
NJ. p. for one Of the Southwestern shires,
the heir and representative Of the great Ed
mund Burke, and DR.. Granville, cold
0Iduuys De uC Wdb 1dullIld1 ~ oby tCuj Vi tuC
British Museum, ~
Our route lay through Westbourne Grove
and Kensall Green The days of May are
ever fair in Old England. yet fairest and
best Of May. days seemed this particular one.
Pure, calm and sunny, we cannot describe
how much we enjoyed the sweet, exhilirat-
ing atmosphere, the rustic of leaves, and
the ripple of sound that gladdened the morn
ing. The hedges were decked with profu-
sion OF primrOses, butter-cups, daisies, cow
slips and other wild flowers unknown in
America, except in Conservatives. Across
the highway the shadow of many an old
oak was cast. Everywhere there was a di
vine iulness a mysterious sense of expan-
sion, suggested, the unseen effort Of the sap
in motion. Glittering things glittered more
than ever loving natures became more ten
der. There was hymn in the flowers, and
radiance in the sounds of the air. The
widely diffused harmony of nature burst
the dawn of life invited others to put forth
shoots. A movement coming from below,
and also from above, stirred vaguely all
hearts susceptible to the scattered and subter.
ranean influence of termination. The flow
ers Swallowed forth the fruit as young maid
ems dream of love. Il was natures uni
versal bridal. 1t was fine, bright and
warm. Through the hedges in the meadows
children we're seen laughing and playing at
their games. The fruit trees filled the Or
chards with their heaps of white and pink
blossoms. In the fields were primroses, DAT
foGils, hyacinths. cowsIips. daisies, violets,
mi foil, speedwell. Flowering vines covered
the matched roofs with colored patches
Women were plating hives in the open air ;
the bees were abro d, mingling their hum
mings with the music of the air.
On one side of the road there was firm i,
smooth raised sidewalk, about ten feet vide,
which made the walking perfectly comfort-
city. The attention shown to the wants of
foot passengers is general throughout EGG
land. This makes it plain that the laws,
even IN aristocratic Albion, are not enacted
entirely in the interests OF those who ride in
chaises. This particu larity as to the com
tort of foot passengers arises, in part, from
the high value which is set by the English
upon human life; which causes them to
sacrifice to its preservation many consdera
lions of interest and convenience. The
speed, too, with which they drive in the
country, never stopping to avoid pedestrians,
make these sidewalks a kind OF necessity.
While resting at an inn on the road side,
RECALLING ourselves with glass of ale, each
of US having ordered, "a pint OF the bitter
in the pewter''-one OF those road side inns,
which we never see without associating
them " ith the old coach and four, and the
'ostler in fustian shorts and yellow leggins,
standing with watering pail at the 'Osse's
'ead's, drove OF sheep passed on the way
to Smithfield market. The shepherd, who
seemed hot and thirsty, stopped to have his
'arf and 'arf, and being talking man,
informed US, while emptying his mug, that
his sheep would fetch G2.12 each from the
butchers. "Ees, Ees they III fetch that or
the butchers be a precious lot o'ard screws.
Bent. that lots o. money!" and without
waiting for reply he walked off praising
bis sheep, which had been we'll kept together
BY one of those intelligent creatures, the
shepherds dog.
On leaving the inn, we continued our way
by gradually ascending and winding road
until we reached the summitOf Harrow hill.
The panoramic view which meets the eye OF
the spectator from this eminence is beautiful
indeed-London to the east reposes like
huge monster under its clouds OF smoke to
the South are the famous Surrey hills or
Epson downs, to the north, the village OF
Stanmore and the baronial seat OF the
MARQUIS Of Abercorn, and to the west the
distant turrets of Windsor Castle stand out
in gloomy grandeur against the sky.
Harrow, which was formerly market
town and place OF some consequence, has
dwindled into comparative unimportance.
1t is a unique and antique town, marked by
the quaint and picturesque architecture OF
the Elizabethan regime. Formerly the res
idence of the Arch bishops of Canterbury,
it is now only known and distinguished as
the seat of one of England's four great
schools, This school counts among its for-
mer pupils some of the most distinguished
names in British history, such as Sheridan,
Byron, Theodore Hook, the wit and novelist
Earl Dalhousie, governor general OF lndla,
Earl Hardwick, Earl Westmoreland, Slf
Henry Lytton Bulwer, the Earl OF Aoer-
deem and Lord Palmerston.
1t was here that Byron was placed at an
early period, and where he was associated
with Sir Robert Peel, Lords Clare, Power.
scourt and De la War;, the Duke OF Dorset
and other eminent men with whom ne
formed passionate friendships or contracIeo
life long enmities. He made. as every Dooy
knows, but little progress in his studies, but
gave such evidences of talent that the Heao
Master, speaking of him about this Time,
said that he had talents which would ado
lustre to his rank. ;.
The school was founded by john Lyon III
the 18th century, land contains on an average =
800 scholars varying in age from Twelve ~ W
twenty. As we proceeded through the
town from the Kings head Hotel, we saw
large numbers of these healthy looking iaus
strolling through the streets or iistiessiy
idling near the cake shops. The yard OF tne
school house was also we'll filed with others
engaged in play. Lyon took deep interest
In the school, and before his death drew up
set Of statutes for its government, WIZ
full instructions for the disposal OF tne es.
a.s-.lod RI onnr0OFf8tG 10