Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-08-13
Aanraster fltelliqellrer.
SATURDAY EVENING, AUG. ls. 1881.
MAI. HKENEMAN ABROAD.

MAI. HRENEMAN ABROAD.
Among Abbey Ruins and Busy Cities.
From private letters written to personal
friends in this city, by Maj. B. F. Brene'
man, now travelling in Europe, we are Per-
mitted to make the following extract:
YORK, Eng, July %, 1881.
Having found Scotland mnch more az,
tractiye than even anticipated, L delayed
there longer than expected. On my way
here stopped at Abbotsford, the home OF
Walter Scott. 1t is a charming place, q
grand old mansion built by Scott himsen
in 1911, Every room and corner OF the
honse are filled with objects of interest
the armory with its walls covered with
broadswords, dasgers, old muskets, bugle
horns, etc, almost every one of which has
a history: the drawing room with its ele-
can't ebony furniture, the gift of George
the 4tl: the dining room with its old por-
traits the library with its 90, 600 volumes
of Scott's own selections; even to the
closet. in a glass case of which is pre-
served the blue coat with brass buttons,
plaid .rouserss aud broad -brimmed white
hat, worn by him just before his death.
Much as have always enjoyed the writ
ings of Scott, shall take even greater
interest in them now, since visit to his
country and his home. From AbbotsfOrd
a drive Of a few miles brought me to
Melrose Abbey. This old Abbey had read
and heard so much about that before sce-
ing it l imagined | could almost draw it
upon paper, but how different when stand
ing within its crumbling walls. l was awe
struck with its grand proportions its
rich and elaborate carvings; its grand
window still in good state of preserva-
ton is floors are filled with tablets to
the illustriOas dead would like to have
fingered for hours among its ruins, but
time did not permit.
Another drive Of six miles
brought me to Dryburgh Abbey.
Parts of this Abbey are in better
state of preservation than MelroSe. In
one of its aisles is buried Sir Walter Scott.
The walls are almost covered with ivy and
present beautiful appearance, but to at.
tempt q description of these old ruins
would exhaust both my time and your
patience. SO will hurry on through .
grand country, tho very heart of England,
to Leeds. large manufacturing city for
wool and flax spinning. Not finding
much to interest me there, l took an early
train for York. This is one Of the oldest
towns in England and has much to inter-
est strangers being in search OF antlqul
ties, | concluded to stop ut one of the IA
nous old inns-' Black Swan" two hun
drcd years old. When | entered its time
hOnOred portals and was received by one
of the most lovely bar-maids perhaps in
all England, Thought had struck it ex-
actly. An examination of the rooms, how
ever, and one table d hOte dinner satisfied
me that no amount Of romance or histor-
ical associations would repay for filthy
beds and bad living. Still, had l
been alone 1 might have endured it
all, for the lovely face and charming man.
ners of the bar maid have haunted me ever
since.
OF course, the great attraction ut York
is its cathedral. Its grandeur aud maagni-
tude arc far beyond my anticipatiOns. Its
length is 52j feet aud breadth across the
transepts $50 feet. 1t is said to be the
finest specimen of purely gothic architec-
ture in the world. Its largest window is
&c feet high by 50 wide. The stained
glass is about six hundred years old and
every window appears to be of = different
character. One might spend a week cx-
amining the tracery and sculpture in this
magnificent structure and see new beauties
every moment.
York has :; population of about GO, OOO.
about half of which is within the
walls (York and Chester are the
only two walled cities in EngianG) },
and you have fine view Of the city by
taking a walk around Oh its walls. This
did this afternoon in company with a
fricrd. Almost every step some object OF
interest would be pointed out-the ruins
of all old abbey; palace built by Henry
VIII, or Ierhaps by one Of the Rich
ards. licrc some king had been born,
there some king crowned, and there one
buried, and SO on.
The Yorkshire Fine Arts and Industrial
Institution is holding its summer exhibi
ticn here at present. Having our Centen.
NAL fresh in my mind, | iesitated about
going, but as the Prince Of Wales Indian
presents We're to he exhibited concluded
to go, never dreaming, what was in store
for me. These presents alone occupied
three large rooms. and the magnificence O
them is beyond description. There are all
kinds of armor, llindoo temples, palan.
quins, ELEPHANT haraess, table mats, per.
sonal ornaments, state swords by the dOZ
en-, goldsm;ths' work, silvcrsmiths' work
and every thing yOu can mention. every
article blazing with precious stones Thi
display alone was we'll worth crossing the
ocean to see. leave early in the morning
for ChatswOrth, the residence of the Duke
of DevOnshirc, and oac Of the finest place!
in England,