Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1883-10-05
GEO. o. BARNES in ENGLAND
"PRAISE THE 10 RID"
LAUREL LODGE, MUswELL HILL N |
LONDON, Sept. 10, 'S3. !

Dear Interior;
A few words more about Higbgate
as il drifts into the ''things that were"
"All devouring London" has charged up
one slope Of the pretty hill,-the one par
tally described in my last-marring its
beauty greatly; but with the exception Of
this Holloway road, the rural seclusion Of
Highgate is its most charming feature. The
romantic winding roads and lanes, wimp-
ling away in every direction, lead to dainty
villas and stately mansions, through EN-
powered groves, and alongside hawthorn
and holly hedges that are a perpetual joy
to the strolling pedestrian. And here one
finds quiet English family life in its most
attractive form. In addition 10 those
already known il could only, without
breach of courtesy, introduce you to the
circle at "Beechwood," where our good
friend Mr.. VIM. Piper and his dear family
have shown US oft repeated kindness; or
that at "Bishopwood" where Mr.. VIM Gre. n
and his, have hidden us equal welcome,
once and again; or the "Brooklands"
household Of Mr.. VIM. Ellis, later known,
but quickly endeared to us ALL am quite
sure my readers would think "the lines had
fallen TO us in pleasant places" And they
have. But / can not introduce all in a
row, like a master Of ceremonies, even il a
proper delicscy allowed this wholesale lug
ging Of gentlefolk into newspaper. |
must therefore be content with presenting
them as they touch our lives in some
marked way, that may be an apology for
the mention.
l can therefore, only say that "Besch-
wood" has the grandest Of ancient beeches
half dozen or more, upon the lovely A
acres that surround the Piper mansion,
with view across the Earl Of Mans6eld's
forest, and 10 Hampstead in the back
ground, with church spire towering beau
tifully against the sky,lwhich for exquisite
beauty would be hard to match even in
this incompatible England. And you
walk out to admire this over an English
mans special pride-a sloping lawn of
grass, emerald and velvet combined, that
springs under foot, elastic and responsive
to the tread, in way exclusively EOglish.
Mr.. Green has also an exquisite lawn,
with the raIest arrangement Of flower beds
in massed patterns that have ever seen in
private grounds, and such wonderful flower
and graperies, that il is a
treat to walk through them. Grapes and
peaches are almost exclusively grown I'M
der glass here, and Of the former, By care
ful forcing and retarding, a skillful gard
ensr can keep upa supply of the various
kinds nearly, II not quite the year round,
rs / am told. Pears, apples and plums
grow nicely in the open air, and fruit gen.
erously. "Brooklands" has the utile cum
dulee, and merry tennis lawn, where a
Jolly game is added, though necessarily at
the expense Of faultless beauty. One can't
have ones pie and eat ii too. But like
tennis. II is such capital game for young
folks. So mer ~ and innocent and health
full. 1t is played with rubber balls and
bats with catgut woven across, very elastic,
and the balls are beaten back and forth
across net work barrier between the play
game being TO send the ball back,
80 as 10 clear the network, three feet high,
and yet land il within certain limits on the
farther side. One can acquire great skill
at it, II is mo end" better than croquet.
Mr.. and Mrs. Piper kindly took me over
the Earl Of Mans6eld's "Caan Wood" estate
one day last week This Caen Wood once
sheltered the mplices Of Guy Faukes,
and a 6ne summit or knoll, still called
"Traitors Hill" is authenticated as the
place from which they watched TO see Par
lament House and without il Par Lament
and "KiDg jamie" mayhap, blown into
he air. Ga the failure Of the plot they