Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-02-28
From Our Regular Correspondent
Our Euopean Letter.


The few .halcyon days which hive
deluded the present generation into be.
lieving that spring exists, and that 1T can
look like what 1t never is, have file ID he
park as 1t rarely ia even at the he glit OF
the season. There is a drill like almost
automatic precision in the name uvres OF
Hyde Park. Each hour OF tt @ day is
sacred to particular form OF pr .rade duty,
and 1t is absolutely impossible to shorten
or transpose, the allotted til ne. To be
seen driving when you shoul d be riding,
or to be seen at all except within the lines
and intrenchments Of the earlp of fashion,
is to vote yourself nobody. You at once
become reprobate, an outlaw. compared
to whom the exile in Siber ian mines is a
cheerful member of society.
Leaving alone the early hours, the pride
Of the morning, when babies, perambula-
tors and nurses combine exercise and
amusement by rather circumscribed
and unhallowed march. past the horse
guards, and where accidents invariably
happen in front of the sentry boxes which
necessitate a heightened stoppage before
the tall soldier. we reach ii O'Clock.
Hendricks of equestrians, flock into Rotten
Row every forenoon, emerging on all
sides, and thronging the space between
"The Corner" and Remington Garden
gates. They never swerve nor wander
into other paths; they pace the conven.
tional treadmill with the same regularity
as the blinded mule of Spanish noria,
and they never seem to weary of the daily
routine.
The women still wear those very short
and peculiarly ungraceful habits which no
perfection of fit can render graceful to
short girl riding tall horse; she displays
her foot, and beneath it the saddle girths,
and has the effect Of being out of all
proportion More low round bats are seen
now than Of yore, when it was considered
mot the thing" TO be seen in any except a
mans hat. Dark green is the prevailing
color. 1t is a pretty conceit to say that
all English women ride well; many do,
Of course, but some are certainly not to
the saddle born; and their bearing on the
reins is cruelty to the horses mouth.
Sometimes batch Of six or seven girls
come flying past, probably escorted by
aunty riding master, and they scatter all
before them in their headlong charge.
Many try the rails and display pretty
feats of Workmanship for the benefit of
the bystanders. Those are generally
unattended save by groom.
When the clock on the park lodge points
to l, pedestrians and equestrians vanish
like lightning. A few feet moments and
the row is silent and deserted The park
remains empty till 5. when the carriages
have their hour, and the fairy godmother's
wand is changed thepumpkins into coaches
instead of the rats into horses.
Parliament convened very quietly on
Thursday. and the chief interest attached
to Mr.. Bradlaugh, and his efforts 10 gain
bis seat. The energy and deter mination
with which he managed the public
demonstration in his favor, and the extent
Of the agitation which he excited in the
public prints and among the social
organizations, had their effect upon the
government, and resulted in the declara.
ton that bill allowing affirmation by
members would be introduced at an early
date. This is, of course. a practical
triumph for the chief atheist of England,
and is loudly characterized by the opposi-
sition as an eternal disgrace and humilia.
ton to civilized country.
A great deal of sympathy is expressed
in this city with the sufferers by floods in
the Ohio valley, and some practical
expression of it will not be long wanting
should occasion seem to require it. The
scanty accounts received are read with
deep interest A large proportion of
Europe is still heavily flooded, and all the
river districts Of England are under water.
Reports from all sides point unanimously
to disastrous effects upon crops of 1883.
AUGUST.