The Republican journal., 1885-10-22
Letter from London.
AND SOME PLEASANT SURPRISES ON THE
OTHER SIDE. YANKEES FIRST IMPRESS
SIONS OF LONDON.
Correspondence of the Journal,

A PLEASANT VOYAGE ACROSS THE ATLANTIC
AND SOME PLEASANT SURPRISES ON THE
OTHER SIDE. YANKEES FIRST IMPRESS
sIONS OF LONDON.
Correspondence of the journal.
LONDON, ENG, Sept. 80, 1885. There are
some things other than His Satanic Majesty not
half as black as they are painted, and the voy-
age the writer of this made across the Atlantic
from Boston to Liverpool during the first half
Of September came under the above cassfca-
ton. He had been positively assured that he
could not escape day or two of sea-sickness at
the least, and that it would be so cold that he
would be obliged to stay below greater part
of the time. He may have been especially fav-
ored, but the facts are that he had not the
slightest attack of sea-sickness and there were
but two evenings when an overcoat was neces-
sary on deck, where nearly all hi, time was
spent. We had favorable winds all the way,
and really the worst thing about the trip was
its monotony. Eating was the chief thing that
varied this, and as there were but four meals a
day the intervening hours passed slowly.
Walking the deck lost its attractions after q
while and all one could do was to think of the
'"h't <sNs tpai NC'J tuoy lClb bC-
hind them. We saw the usual whales, por-
poises, and passing vessels, and had little
two-for-a-cent gale which kept the ladies from
the deck one day, but which was really pleas
ant change and helped US on our way. The
majority of the gentlemen solaced themselves
by playing novel game called poker, and bet
ting on everything concerning which there
might be the slightest doubt. from the days run
of the steamer to the complexion of the pilot
who would board us on the other side. When
we came in sight Of land, and the shores Of
Ireland were visible, It was evident that the
Emerald Isle was decidedly off color. Instead
of being green ii was russell brown. The OK
perenced liar we had on board gathered a
group about him and gave names to all the
headlands, castles, and lighthouses we passed,
which was just a. enjoyable as though he had
stated them truthfully. 1t was disappoint-
mept that we did not enter Queenstown Har-
Dor, but the ocean was so calm that small
steamer took off the few steerage passengers
who were to land here, and we kept on to Liv-
erpool where we arrived the tenth day from
Boston. The Custom House farce was gone
through with and at last we were on land
among the subjects of Her Most Fat and Gra-
cous Majesty, Victoria. Nearly all Of the cab
in passengers went to the same Hotel, the
Great Western, and remained until the follow
ing day when we took the eleven O'Clock Ex-
press for London.
Allow me to pause just here and remark that
Whatever things l may write of English life
and customs | am well aware cannot be Iew to
your readers, and ! present them simply as
they struck me, an inexperienced and untrave-
ed Yankee, and as am sending thi. letter af-
ter being here but two weeks, like the adver-
tiSed proposals for public works ''reserve the
right TO reject any or all" of the statements
now make and present entirely contradictory
one. in the future.
The Doctor called on me soon after | arrived
in London ard 1t was most delightful to see
familiar face. He is the same old boy as ever
and almost the first thing he said to ME after
we had shaken hands was:
Have you got any fine cut or plug tobacco? q
On my replying Indignantly in the negative
he began to abuse me for not smuggling In two
or three pounds, saying that it was impossible
to find any decent weed for chewing purposes
in England-the best thing he could get was
what is called in the U S., Lorillards Nickel
Plug and here it costs shilling, just five times
as much as at home. l think that one of the
first things which strikes an American here is
the lack OF spttoons in the hotels and offices,
and the absence from the sidewalks Of those
brown and yellow discolorations with which
our own streets are so profusely decorated.
John Bull smoke. excessively but he doe. not
chew and he ought TO be proud Of it.
70 60 back little. The country through
which we passed on the way up from Liverpool
to London is simply magnificent, nor was this
the most picturesque route between the two
cities. The fields are all as smooth as the best
kept lawn and of the most delicious and varying
shades of green. The hedges which divide the
fields, and the trees, are very dark green, almost
black, the sheep and cattle seem apparently
carefully washed and groomed, the roads are as
level as floors, making this the Paradise of the
BcYcler, and the houses are odd and very
pleasing in shape and built of red brick and
7b'bN' ~ - N-NuStiN hhC tut paintings VI EuS
lish country L have seen, and. to slightly change
a familiar remark of one of Belfast's most dis
tingushed citizens, "Everything looked Just as
| expected and didn't expect 1t would" 1t Is
the same way with many other things here In
London. Almost every man, except of course
the gorgeous. and awe-inspiring military, wear
silk hints and carry umbrellas, the ladies one
sees driving and shopping deck themselves In
most abominable taste as far as colors are con-
cerned, their dresses and garments never fit,
and such feet as they have! No wonder there
was such an outcry made over the departure of
Jumbo to America. There was at least one iv-
ing thing whose pedal eXtremites seemed COM
parativey large beside the feet of English
women. Then the English language. | had
always thought that the expression speaking
United States" was joke, but it i. not. The
cab-driyers, boot-backs, porters, clerks, police
men and shop-keepers drop their his and prefix
them to vowels delightfully."-, all the Englishmen
have met so far say "ye know" ia nearly
every sentence. A is pronounced like ah or ar
or aw and the rising, interrogative infection Is
invariably used, whether the phrase Is ques-
ton or not. The air is full of Interrogation
points, and In fact 1t is just the London of my
expectation, eXcept-wel, various things. In
the first place and most important the weather.
| had been led TO believe that the sun was
rarely seen and the moon never. These two
week. have been simply delicious. Only
one day of rain and this was far preferable to a
similar day in Boston or New York, as the
streets are kept particularly clean and the mud
is plain, common, ordinary mud that will,
when dry, brush off, wherein 1t differs most
materially from the filth of New York, which
has an afectionate, cinging disposition and |.
not easily discouraged. The evenings have
been charming with glorious moon, and | do
not understand it at all, particularly as | am
told that it is the usual thing. Instead of the
Londoners being grabbed and disobliging
have met with the greatest kindness every
where. All my questions (and they are not
few are answered politely, and the policemen.
who are everywhere, are simply wonderful. If
they cannot tell you what you wish to know
they will go somewhere and find out. The
hotel servants are equally courteous and at
tend to ones wants, as if they enjoyed the SER
vice. Possibly the prospect of tip has some-
thing to do with this, but as penny, or at the
not begrudge 1t. The London drinking water