Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-08-12

SOME NOTES OF DR. DRAPER's JOURNEY ABROAD
IMPRESSIONS OF SCOTLAND, ENGLAND AND
FRANoE-NAT1oNAL CHARACTERISTIC
PATHY WITH AMERICA.
Letter 10 Friend.l
HOTEL p ITAIIE, VENICE
Sunday, July II, 1881. !
My Dear r.:
Having got as far from home as expect to
get on this trip, will take the occasion to
report progress Beginning with Scotland,
thence through England and Isle of Wight,
crossing the channel from Southampton to
Havre, thence to Paris, and through central
France to Mont Cents emerging from the
tunnel into Italy and crossing the northern
section Of this kingdom, we reached this, the
ultimate point in our plan, last evening.
Throughout the whole excursion we have
been favored with good weather, only one
rainy day, and that at Edinburgh, and no de-
cidedly oppressive and uncomfortable wealth
er until reaching Italy but as our next turn
is toward the Swiss region, we do not expect
to suffer greatly from the weather. For about
two weeks longer expect to remain with the
party, then, returning to England, spend the
remainder of the time at my disposal in Great
Britain, and in the particular examination of
the institutions and management of the in
sane of that country. We have secured re-
turn passage in the Crcassia, which sails
from Glasgow Sept list. You know very
well l anticipated much from this trip, and
endeavored to so plan for it that might
make the most of it that the time would al
low. l am glad to be able to say that we
have not miscacuated in joining, for pur-
poses of general observation and pleasure,
the Tourjee party. Its expected advantages
have been more than realized, and as l will
be able to supplement it with a month entire
ly at my own option, 1 do not think any
thing deemed important will be obliged to
be left out. Our section of the party num-
bers scarce twenty, guide included, and is
very systematically and satisfactorily con-
Quoted At each meal hour the guide an
nounces when the carriages will be ready to
take the party and what the particular OBJ
iects to be visited are ; and when we arrive
at the hotel for the night, We find our rooms
already assigned to aud prepared for us, and
often our valises already carried to them.
The hotels are all good and the service prompt
and satisfactory, and all this is great share
of the burden and annoyance Of travelling
lifted. The railway conveniences are every
where alike and differ essentially from those
of our own country. The cars are divided
into compartments or sections accommodating
from four to eight persons and they are made
exceedingly comfortable by upholstery, aud
for party travelling together as we are, have
advantages over those ordinarily used in our
own country. True, they lack some of the
convenienccs of American coaches, but these
are compensated for by much better arrange
ments at the stations. We travel by express
trains and through England, from Edinburg
to London, had special train. There is a
thoroughness of system in the management of
travelling arrangements in Europe that does
not obtain in our own country unless on
very important lines.
There is q solidity and appearance Of age
in this country that contrasts very strikingly
with what we see in America We have
scarcely seen yet a wooden building of any
description, and the absence of growing tim
Der is very noticeable everywhere. In Scot
land the buildings and fences are almost all
| of stone, and the latter are almost invariably
laid in cement. In England, especially in
the approaches to London, brick is largely
used, and growing hedges mark division lines
| in lands In France, again, stone predomin-
ates in architecture and hedge rows OF
raised lines of earth on which are planted
rows of trees, mark land divisions In Italy
stone succeed or rough cast houses, with tiled
roofs, are distinctive characteristics. In all
are seen some straw-thatched tonementl
among the peasantry. Hedges for fences
predominant in Italy.
In all the countries We have seen it is re.
markable how little waste land exists. The
whole surface of the country seems TO have
felt the modifying hand of man, and some of
the most beautiful sections of il have been
noticeable for the entire cultivation of val
leys, hillsidvs aud hilltops, the whole covered
with growing crops with differing verdure
and presenting sight which has 10 parable
as yet in any part OF our country There is
apparently agricultural thrift in all the coun-
tries we have seen, although in the matter OF
implements in use we should consider them
ii century behind the times, and there is ap
parently a higher intelligence among tn,
peasantry everywhere than we had been LED
to expect. On the continent men and wo
men work together in the fields. In Great
Britain we saw this in but few instances.
In Edinburgh We stopped two days; in Lon
don FIVE, and in Paris five. The former city
impressed me most favorably of any. The
vastness of London would require more time
| for 10 opn,yrahonI
but it contains great treasures of interest in
every direction for one who can study them.
Paris is sui geReris, and its people also
There is much to repay the visitor, but less
for the born New EngIander to like, it seemi
to me, than in any of the other cities. Dis
used palaces are almost as common in France
as disused castles in England.
In continental Europe tho climate greatly
modihes the architecture and habits of the peo
pie, Iu Paris an inner court or hollow squar,
is tine grand saloon of the hotel. Upon thisopeI
the office, the staircases, the dining-room
and in hot weather meals are served on little
tables beneath awnings. The entrance to
this court is through an avenue from the
street, near the entrance to which is the office
of the doorkeeper or bureau de concierge
All the Parisians, indeed, seem to live out oi
doors, and the Champ Elysees and Jardin dei
Tuilleries are every evening in a blaze oi
light OF gas certainly Paris is particularly
lavish America seems inclined to adopt the
French style of architecture more than the
grand old English, but after all one feel
most at home and most in sympathy with the
English people. OF Venice l have not seer
much, but in many things it is Frenchy. W.
dined last evening in a finely frescoed ant
furnished saloon, but breakfasted in the oper
air upon terrace shaded by myrtle bushel
in boxes, arranged around its border, be
meath which swashed the waters of the Adri
attic, and past which moved gondolas ladeI