The National tribune., 1886-05-13
ENGLAND IN SUMMER
What Lady Saw in the "Tight
Little Island"

OF Democraey-Sc0tland and the Scotch.
To THE EDITOR: To the American who is
interested in the history of the Anglo-Saxon
race proper England must be a land to be
admired and loved. 1t is there we find our
own early history. In visiting her cathedrals
priories, abbeys and castles, we are looking
upon and enjoying, perhaps criticiZing, the
work of OR own ancestors.
There are few moro delightful excursions
than Summer in England, taking in Scotland,
Ireland and Wales. 1t requires fully three
months time to see il all, for there is scarcely
a mile of the country that is not historical
not an acre that is not beautiful and interest
ing.
From the time the traveller lands at Queens
town and takes trip through Ireland, or ut
Liverpool and makes his first pilgrimage TO
Chester with its restored cathedral, beautiful
old st. Johns church, and quaint, arcaded
streets, and takes his walk on the walls, to the
day DISABLING down the Mersey on his departure
il is all beautiful.
The whole country is SO cultivated it is all
like pleasure grounds. As we rode through the
country we were impressed by the perfect cul-
tivation OF the land-notbing Is left waste or
untitled If a copse or patch of wild shrubbery
is left, You see at once that there is good res-
son for it, The English are fond of trees but
only the wealthy can afford to give up land to
them. Still, in looking over a landscape, there
is no lack of trees. They grow by the roadside,
in the hedges and near the cottages. Such
beautiful things as those hedges are! From
the time Of their own early Towering in May,
all through the Summer, and have no doubt
late in the Autumn also, they are things of
beauty.
WITH SUCH CAREFUL CULTIVATION
as there is in that country no space is left for
weeds, SO their only chance is to hide their
seeds about the roots Of the hedges, from whence
they throw up their heads, peepiug out ali over
them. In June it is the wild rose, so abundant
that at times it looks as If there were wild rose
hedges. Then come buttercups, marguerites,
foxglove and various other flowers, red, pink,
yellow and blue, until it is like driving through
flower gardens. Indeed, it all looks so pietur-
esque, it is as if every tree, cottage hall was
placed for effect. Not that we will allow that
the English have more taste in the location of
their houses, but they have had time to grow
into their surroundings. Time and the climate
have toned down the colors of their houses and
grown their trees in the best places. And speak
ing Of trees reminds us of
ONE PHASE OF ENGLISH ExcLUsIYESEss.
In that thickly-settled country one can travel
for hours with scarcely a glimpse of their resi-
dences-the good ones. If a railroad is laid
out through a mans land or near his house,
the first thing TO be done is to plant thick
screen Of trees and shrubbery TO cover all views
of the house. They neither wish to be seen,
III
son for adhering to their old-style, stufy COM
partment cars, in preference to our more open
and airy ones, that t is their eJciusireRess.
Our Pullman cars are not success over there,
although no extra charge is made for their USE
It may be partly owing 10 the reason given,
but it may be from dislike to borrow ideas
from Jonathan. Any Yankee invention will
meet with reader acceptance If il has Brit
ish stamp on it, But nothing can equal
THE CARRIAGE ROADS
in England. There does not appear to be bad
road in the country. All are of the smoothest
McAdam. 1t is tho paradise for coaching and
cycling. The excursions from Lands End TO
the north Of Scotland. on the top of coach, is
the perfection of Summer travel; and for
bicycles and tricycles the whole King-or
Queen-dOm lies before them. In the States
the cycles are looked upon more as an amuse-
ment; there they are matter of business and
used more in the country than in cities.
BEHIND AMERICA.
With all their much talked-of civilization
and knowledge Of comfortable living, the En-
glish are far behind Americans in many things.
Their houses are not as well adapted to modern
ideas; their cooking (outside Of the big upper
classes) and their markets are far inferior 10
ours. Even in their best houses the Ameri-
can, who has been accustomed to his large
bath-tub with running water in any quantity,
hat-tubs and get good sponge of. And there
is so little variety in vegetables and fruit. 1t
is potatoes and peas for six weeks every day;
then potatoes and string beans the next six
weeks; and fruit is luxury to be paid for
extra always,-sO little is raised there except
the small fruits, like strawberries, raspberries
gooseberries, and curr3nts the rest is import
ed from across the Channel or raised under
glass.
PROGRESS OF DEMOCRACY.
1t is not for woman to talk freely on poll
tics, or comments might be made upon the
change which is now going on in England.
| The increase of radicaism and the decrease of
respect toward royalty and nobility is very sig
/ nihcant, laboring men declining TO touch their
hats when spoken to by Sir or Lord. The in
crease OF radical clubs among the laborers and
artisans all show that hand both shrewd and
| intelligent must guide to avoid a revolution.
The late increase of voters, many of whom are
as ignorant OF their duties in relation to the
| government as were our Southern bretheren of
African descent when the vote was first given
TO them, is another element Of danger until
/ they are educated up TO their responsibility.
The doings of the present Parliament will be
watched with interest by all who wish well to
our mother country.
IL SCOTLAND,
especially in the northern part, we miss the
| luxuriant cultivation of England, and one
might at first think there was barren and waste
land. But there is not an acre, apparently,
when we look closely at it. The mountain and
hillsides are sheep walks, and England and the
| borders require great quantity of mutton aud
| wool; while the mOors, with their shooting
| privileges. are almost as valuable TO rent as
| grazing land. We were in season for the hea-
ther, which makes the hills so beautiful. No
| wonder the Scotchman loves his native hills.
One not to the manor born might find the Win
| tiers dreary, maybe, but the Summers are lovely.
| Even the rains are beautiful. The showers as
they come and go produce the finest atmos-
pheric effects, such as i have seen nowhere
| else.
THE SCOTCH PEOPLE.
The one thing which we most admired in
Scotland was the inhabitants themselves On
other people the kilt would make men look
dOwdy and wOmanish-would in a measure
dwarf man. Not SO on a Scotchman. They
carry il with so much grace and dignity that
we were sorry they were ever induced to leave
it of when away from home. But there in
their native hills and moors it was the only
thing suitable. A Scotchman should be seen
AT home on his native heather 10 be thoroughly
| appreciated. The men look so massive aud
grand, the women strong and kindly-some
even beautiful; but the children are most espec-
Tally noted Tor their quantity. In the cities
they seem TO be bowling out OF the houses all
over the sidewalks and streets, under foot and
over head. In the country every green place
was covered with them. They live out Of doors
Babies, apparently not over six months, are roll
ing on the grass all day, while mothers and
| nurses sit by with Knitting and saying aud