New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-09-17
A RAMBLE IN ENGLAND.
FOOTPRINTS Of HISTORY.
BY WILLIAM WINTER.

sucb a spot that its association is marred and It's
sentiment almost destroyed by the presence OF the
persons and the interests of to-day. The visitor to
such places must carry with him not only knowl-
edge and sensibility but imagination ana patience
He will not find the way strcwn with roses nor
the atmosphere OF poetry ready-made lot his en-
Oyment That atmosDhere, indeed. for the most
part-espccially in the cties-he must hlnlseh
supply Relics do not robe themselves Tor eAhlOl-
ton. I he Past is utterly Indifferent TO It's wor-
shippers All manner of little obstacles, too Will
arise before the pilgrim, to thwart him In MS
search. The mental strain and bewilderment the
inevitable physical WEAKNESS, the soporilc i"iiI-
ence of the climate. the tumult of the streets the
frequent and dishe5lrtening spectacle OF poverty
souaor and vice the capricious and untimely rain,
the Inconvenience of long distances, the lll-tmed
arrival and consequent disappointment the occa-
siona nervous sense of loneliness aud insecurity
the Inappropriate boor the ignorant, 0arrulons
porter. the extortionate cabman, and the jeerng
bysfandcr-all these must be cast aside with reso-
lutte indifference. by him who wodid ramble, pleas
antlv and pr0ftably. in the footprints OF EngHSh
history. Everything depends in other words
uporr the eyes with which you observe, aud the
spirit which YOU impart. Never was keencr truth
uttered than in the couplet OF Wordsworth:
Minds that have nothing to confer
Find little 10 perceive
To the philosophic stranger however, even this
prosac occupancy of historic places IS not without
its pleasurable because humorous, significance.
Such an observer in England will sometimes be
amused as well as impres ed by sudden sense OF
fine singular incidental position into which,-partly
through the lapse OF years and partly through a
pecularity of national characteristic scenes Of
famous events not to say the events themselves,
have gradually drifted. | thought of this a few
NIGHTS ago. when. in Whitehall Gardens, | was
looking az the statue OF James lI.,-which there
marks the place of the execution Of his father,
Charles land courteous policeman came up
and silently turned the light of his bul,eye upon
the inscription. scene OF moro incongruou' eIe-
ments. or one suggestive of a more serio-comic con
trast. could not be imagined. thought of it again
when standing on the village green near Barnet,
and viewing, amid surroundings both pastoral
and ludicrous the column which there commend
rates the defeat and death of tho great Earl of
warwick, and consequently. the final triumph of
the Crown over the last of the Barons of England.
II was toward the close of Il cool summer day, aud
OF a long drive through the beautiful hedge-rows Of
sweet and yerd lrous Middesex, that came 10 the
villages of Barnet and Hadloy and went over the
field OF King Edwards victory that fatal. glorious
field on which Gloster fought - well, and where
Neville, supreme and magnificent i'll disaster. Killed
his own gallant horse at the last and fought on
foot. 10 make sure that himself might 90 down in
the stormy death OF all his hopes More than four
hundred years have drfted by since that misty
April morning when the star of Warwick was
quenched in blood yet the results of that conflict
are living facts in the government Of England now
and in the fortunes % ner inhabitants. II you were
unaware OF the solid simplicity and proud retcence
of the English Misunderstanding it to merge all
its shining deeds in one continuous faDiic or
achievement like Jewels set IN q cloth OF god,-you
might expect to find this spot adorned with
structure of more than common splendor. What
Won actually do find there 4 plain m0no.ith.
standing in the middle Of q common at the june
ton os several roads-the chief of which are those
leading to Hatfield and st. Adams, in HEREFORD
shire-and on one side Of this column you may
read Ia letters Of faded black, the comprehensive
statement that Here was fought the famous
battle between Edward the Fourth and the Earl of
Warwick April l4th, ammo 1471, in which the Earl
was defeated and slain. Stick no bills" IN my
reyerie standing at the foot Of this humble.
Weather-stained monument, I saw the long range
ot Barnet hills, mantled with grass and lowe and
with the golden haze of morning in spring,
swarming with gorgeous horsemen aud gttering
with spears and banners; and heard the venpeful
clash Of arms. the horrible neIghiLg of maddencd
steeds the furious shouts of onset, and all the
nameless cries and groans OF battle, commnged IN
a thrilling yet hideous din Here rOde King Ed
ward. intrepid handsome and stalwart with his
proud. cruel smile and hi, long yellow hair. There
Warwick swung his great twc-handed sword, and
moved his foes like grain. And there the fiery
form of Richard, splendid in FURNISHED steel
darted Ike the scorpion, dealing death ut every
blow: till AZ last, in fatal mschance. the sad star
of Oxford aSsall,d by its own friends, was swept !
out OF the field. and the light drove, raging into
the valleys of liadley. bow strangely though, lid
this fancicd picture contrast with the actual scene
before me. At a little distance, all around the
VILLAGE green, the peaceful. empowered cottages
kent their sentinel watch. Over the careless
struggling grass went the shadow of the passing
clouds Not a sound was heard. save the rustic OF
leaves AMI the low laughter of some little Children
playing near tho monument. Close by. and at rest
was flock Of geese, cOuChed upon the cool earth'
and ~ their custom Is, supremcly contentcd Win
themselves and al the world. And at the very foot
of the column. stretched OUT at his full length III
tattered garments that scarcely covered his naked
meas rcposed the British la5orer fast asleep upon
the sod No more Wars Of the Roses now but !
calm retirement smiling plenty, cool western
winds. and sleep and peace
with 2 red rose and white rose
Leaning. noddIng at the WALL
One of the most impre 'sye spots on earth, and |
one that especially teaches-with silent pathetic !
clocrencc and solemn adn,ontion--this great !
csson of contrast the incessant How of the ages
and the inevitable decay and Oblivion OF the past.
is the ancient city of Canterbury Years and not |
merely DAYS Of residence here are essential to the
adequate ana right comprehension of this wonder
ful place. Yet even an hour passed among its |
shrnes will teach you. no printed word has aver
taught, the melsurces - power and tho sublime |
beauty OF perfect religious faith; while, yOn |
stand and mediate in the shadow of the gray |
Cnthedral walls the pageant Of q thonsand VOWS |