The National tribune., 1883-08-23

that received the first footsteps of Julius Cesar
upon British soil" and the splendid Castle Of
Dover is said to bear traces of Roman and
Saxon as well as Norman architecture
DOVER CASTLE.
Twelve centuries after C;esar's landing, it
was at Dover that King John submitted him
self to the Pope, making all the effort possible
to his splendid abilities and INSCRIPTIONS self
ishnesS to subject England a second time to
Rome In the struggle that followed, Dover
Castle and Hubert de Burgh were made famous
forever in the history of England by their long
and terrible resistance to the French feet aud
the Dauphin Louis of France Three times
was the castle attacked, and three times was
the Dauphin repulsed, the last time with the
loss of all his feet, excepting fifteen vessels.
The castle stands on cliff north of the valley
in which the town of Dover crouches in quaint
and ancient disorder. The castle-t0Wer- still
stands forty feet high, of massive Roman
masonry; the castle church bears traces of
Saxon workmanship, and the keep and gate
houses date from the reign Of Henry II. Stand
ing within the castle under the shadow of it's
somber, protecting walls it is difficult to be-
iieve that modern shot and she'll have destroyed
the castles strength, and that its position and
its garrison, not its solid masonry. now make
it powerful defense of the British coast. In
the town there is the substantial air that IS
-
could be more unlike than Dover TO a fashion,
able American seaside resort. The town nestles
in valley that opens towards the sea, and, IS
the seaside resorts of Kent merely fringe the
county, SO the summer-hOliday portion of the
population of Dover is merely little fringe at
the see-edge OF the city. There Is an open
space with trees and drive and ample asphalt
pavement for pedestrians skirting the harbOr
and affording pleasant breathing space for gem
tie evening exercise and for enjoying the music
which is ansunfaihug portion of the days pro-
gramne at European watering places. There
are long walks 70 be taken 20 the castle and to
the Qualifications on the south cliff and there
is sea air; but of the gayety, the brilliant
dressing the dancing, bathing, yachting bask-
ing on the sands, and living amid the noise
diseomforts and display of such great hotels as
form our more fashionable seaside resorts in
America, Dover has not vestige.
The English family which befakes itself 20
the seaside goes enyeloped in the same exclu-
siveness which surrounds it at home. 1t takes a
house or lodging; 1T keeps the governess and
the nursery maids; and the family life goes on
as usual, except that the children who have
escaped from the nursery school to the real
school through the winter, maintain their in
dependence, and have a b0nG-fds holiday
through the summer.
To make seaside acquaintance may be to
have the experience of Dickens immortal Tugs
Family at Ramsgate in some modified but an
moving form, for the freemasonry of the Aneri-
can hotel or boarding house is wholly unknown.
\ funny example Of this was the experience Of
a family whose lodgings covered the first and
third floors of a cottage, the middle floor being
occupied by two unknown persons Through
out fortnight the divided family. though
they used the common stairway more or less
constantly, never once met their fellOw-lOdg-
ers, and knew them only through the land
lady's casual reference to " the captain with
indisposed veins that affects his feelin's, and
makes him need his food pertieler reglar, and
the wife of this interesting invalid. The land
lady in this case as is the usual custom, was
obliged to serve daily two separate breakfasts,
lunehaons and dinners, happy if ) o'clock tea
and 3 o'clock supper were not demanded by
both families. Although the custom of keep
ing aloof makes weary work for the keepers of
lodgings" it has certainly great advantages,
and, indeed, the system OF Lodging" might
well be introduced in America. Many tired
American mother looks forward 70 q sOjOurn in
q summer boarding place rs a season of strug-
gle to maintain discipline under the critical
gaze of strangers, aud finds WEAKNESS OF soul
for herself and positive harm for the children
in her endeavor. in England she would have
as complete a rest from housekeeping as a
clearinghouse can possibly give, for the land
lady buys and cooks food, supplies service, &c,
and the lodging is always furnished with pri-
vacy in her relation with her boys and girls.
An experiment, at least, might very well be
made in America, and if the restful quality Of
the method were once thoroughly felt, the un-
happy children who make themselves Obuox-
ioUs in hotels and boarding houses would surely
be fewer in number
The quiet of the seaside is not peculiar 70