Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-08-25
LETTER FROM SWITZERLAND.
Across the AtlantiC-Fivs Days in
London, Hence to Amsterdam.
Up the Rhine and Among the
Alps.
GRAND Horn D'AsaLErERRE.

10 MY PUPILS-Thr0ugh the
kindness Of the LEDGER: l have long
watched for an opportunity to comply
with your requests, with respect to
writing occasionally, and at last | am
quiet for one evening, which seems all
tsle more q wonder as | came all the
way to the foot Of Mount Blanc, seek
ing quietude and rest. When leaving
New York on the 18th day of July, In
company with Cooks tourists, among
whom were Mrs. DR.. Nelson and fam
lily, also Mrs. Pierce, of Memphis, l
had planned a direct journey to Leip~
sic, Germany, but on learning that
Herr Reinecke was absent for a period
of several weeks, l decided to do
London for a week, thence to
the principal cities of Holland,
Rheinland and Switzerland prior to
my visit in Leipsic. To give you
minute account of all the places of
interest in London would consume too
much space. Suffice it to say, that
Judge John s. Conner, of Cincinnati,
Ohio, who was on his fourth trip to
the continent, acted as guide for our
party, a better one than whom could
not be found, and in FIVE days we
were enabled to see everything at all
worth seeing. Ohio being my native
State, made him seem more like a
kinsman, and of truth l must say
there was no waste of time. Let me
name briefly the more interesting
places we visited-but why should /
fail to speak of the fourteen days
voyage, so perfectly grand A calmer
sea was never known by the seamen of
our good ship Canada. Captain Rob-
inson spared no pains in making us a
eongenial family Of one hun
bred and fifty members. We gave a
number Entertainments on shipboard
for the benefit of disabled seafnen,
at which times the salon was hand
somely decorated with flags OF all
nations. The British and American
flags were interviewer, in decorating
the piano, where | sat as musical
director, in manner that impressed
me with the fact that there exists q
kindred tie between the two nations,
lovely in the extreme. Lucy and
Jamie Nelson, literary gems that they
are, pleased all with their Rotations,
heretofore so often enjoyed by their
admirers. There was cloud of sad
ness spreading over the entire party at
the final separation, but we did not
forget to leave our faithful ship with
out parting salute, in the shape of
three rousing cheers. We landed at
Gravesend and went by rail, the dis
lance Of twenty miles, to London.
After securing rooms at No. 3 Cecil
street, off Strand, we went on the
same day to st. Pauls Cathedral. In
every niche, recess, corridor and
aisle stood groups Of figures SO ex-
quisitively carved as to cause feeling
of doubt to enter your minds
whether the subjects lived or not,
Tombs of pOets,warriors and the great
men of old surrounded us, but the
grandeur was in hearing the tones Of
the massive organ peal forth through
the lofty domes, followed by the SOL
emily impressive singing Of richly
cultivated voices, now and then dying
away with the sweetest pianissimo
effect. My heart ceased beating as |
endeavored to drink it all in, SO that
upon my return to my own place of
worship might still be sufficiently
imbued to enable me to initiate these
heavenly strains.
A very delightful surprise was given
me on Monday as | wandered through
the sacred aisles of Westminster Alb.
hey, by the sudden appearance of Rev.
Mr.. Jones, pastor Of the Cumberland
Presbyterian church, of Memphis.
He, in company with Mr.. Goyer, was
also sight seeing in London. / then,
on Monday, visited the Bank of En-
gland, House of Parliament, Crystal
Palace, the famous Horse Guards,
Buckingham Palace, Savoy Chapel,
and the opera of 'IolantheD
at Savoy Theater. l must
congratulate my little company
more than ever, as in my disappoint-
ment | only stayed during the first set.
Lord Chancellor did not acquit
himself half so creditabIy as Stuart
Marabel, and, in fact, the whole caste
disappointed me. | felt like shouting
bravol for Memphis, and in musical
sense, can but sing the praise of the
ambition and musical tastes of the
entire community, teachers and pupils
combined. Let me hasten now to
Rotterdom via Harwich and the North
Sea. My fears with respect to the
rough passage were allayed, as [ had
lovely ride of twelve hours. One day
was spent at Rotterdam, thence by
railway to the Hague. Principal at.
tractions-picture gallery, Municipal
Museum, Dutch Museum, statues and
excursion to Schereningeu, which |
took by tramway. No town in Hol-
land possesses so many broad and
handsome streets, and spacious and
imposing squares as the Hague. |
visited the King and Queens resi-.
dence, and sat in Prince Albert's pri.
vate car. Two great events of nv
life. A slight acquaintance with the
Dutch language contributes Greatly to
the enjoyment afforded by tour in
Holland.
In Amsterdam, where l spent two
days, my high regard for my ability to
converse was constantly on the wane
as was the only one in the party who
made the least pretentions to being
German scholar, and | had given them
glowing assurances that they we're safe
from the constant vexations associ>
ated with the trickery of cab
drivers, portiers, etc. | never knew
indeed, that there was such a differ.
ence in the German and Dutch Ian.
guages before, and imagine my cha
grin when asked n ouestion I falto-