The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-12-04
BEECHER'S LETTER.
WHAT nE sAw m ENeLANp.
DI'confort' of Railroad Traysl-Pio.
tuFssqVs RpglISh sOeusry-Ou an
English Telly.HO-Tho Drinking
HRbItS Of our BrItiSh Cousins.


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mountains to be crossed as in America
and very few rock excavations to bt
made, yet the general construction could
hardly be surpassed. Tunnel after tunue
is found on every great road, pierced iol
the sake Of maintaining straight linea o.
travel, The solidlty Of the roadbsd, the
weight Of the metal imposed upon It, and
above all the mason work, are worthy oi
the reputa.lono Of old Eugland for strength
and durability, The bridges are built ss
II in defiance Oi food or earthquake, Ac,
cuatomed as We were to the slighter struc.
ture Of American roads, our Hnt impress,
sion was that both In msterlsl and elab.
orateness there was squandering Of
money; nevertheless, as a specimen Of en-,
gineerlng the construction could not but ex,
cite admiration, whatever might be thought
as 10 necessity and economy, To very
large exteut, also, the roads at and near
the stations are laid out in gardenesoue
style. Flowers and shrubs are planted in
protusion. But, over sgainst this, the
American rQada compare most iayorably
In regard to administration and excel
EnglHh roads in 80 far as relates 10 the
convenience ot passengers, The English
cars arc very short, which gives 10 them a
lateral oscillation or wrenOhing motion,
There are three axles, ono under each end
and one under the middle Of these short
cars, which gives to every passenger the
privilege OF riding over the grinding iron,
and conveys a Jarrlng which ID very
wearisome. Accustomed to read as we
have been In American cara all day long
without material hindrance or incon-
ventenCe from the jarrlng Of the carq, we
find ourselves obliged to dispense entirely
with hooks and Newspaper even in the
trst'clasa English cars.
DIscoNFoRTs OF TGAyEL.
The roads continue still to subdlvide
their cara into compartments not connect.
ing with each other. Thesa Is no posi-
hllity Of entering q car at one end and
passing through 1t to the other. We were
locked in, aud whatever accident might
happen, whatever interruption or violence
thero might be, we had no means Of de.
tenSs or Of escape until the guard should
ceMe and unlock the door. Many very
serious, and come deadly, accidents have
occurred by reaaon Of imprisonment in
these boxes. II Is true that they arc up.
holstered in the most luxurious style In
the 6rst.Class cars and well lighted, but
the game DISTANCE ridden in an English car
and an American car results in a fatigue
which pleads loudly for the American
system. The average speed Of the Eng.
lish lines Is not greater than that Of the
principal roads in America. The COM
forts OF night travel are not for moment
to be compared with American linesi for
although gome pullman cars have been
introduced they have not become popu.
lar, and upon lew only Of tho great lines
are they run at all, and OH none with the
regularity and popularity that exlGta upon
our American lines,
The American baggage car aud the eys.
tenn Of checks are not generally used In
England. Every passenger must needs
look after his own baggage. The small
stuff Ia placed In the Car with the passen.
ger, and trunks (Which are In England
called boxes) are stored In compartment
In passenger cars. To be sure portera
abound in English railway stations, and
every person with any considerable bag.
gage puts 1t In their charge. So far as l
could see, they were very intelligent,
faithful aud prompt. II 10 customary,
however, to pay them for such service.
Arrangements may bs made by which ex.
presa companies will deliver your baggage
at hotels or private houses, but we saw
none. Indeed, the express business, as It
exists In America, Is not widely, Il al all,
known In Great Britain the roads do the
e4presu business for themselves. Whether
this is an advantage We have no means Of
knowing.
Whatever criLlciam may DO made upon
the Inconvenience ot the English railway
syatem, and especially its want Of all ar.
rangements Of toilet rooms for ladies and
others, no complaint can be made OF the
English station houses. The restaurants
connected with them are on largo scale
and furnish an abundance Of very good
quality Of whatever Is needed for eating
and drinking, and at moderate prices,
Book'stalls and newspaper stands are at
hand everywhere. A sufficient number
Of officers and porters are at every part Of
the road 10 answer queations and 10 give
information. There Is much greater
facility, too, In securing separate car for
yourself and party, and Of q moderate
extra expense, than In America.
ENGLISH SCENERY.
English scenery, already famous, has
not hsen overpraised. A days ride
through England in almost any direction
will reveal some Of the most beautiful and
picturesque scenery in the world. The
eye Is never wearied Of reaching out over
the round bills aud exquisite valleys and
the Chegrnins AltsrnatiouS Of harvest
Aelda, Of grounds ploughed as II ruler
had drawn the lines for straiehtness, the
hedges for fences, tho absence OF barns
and the substitution Of riCks Of grain or
Of hay, beautifully formed, clustered TO.
gether, furnish succession oidelightS. In
Walea the scenery Ia bolder, but not leas
beautiful. All the world knows Of the
rugged beauty Of Scotland.
The perfection OF q days ride we ex.
peTiNnesd In trip from London 10 Dork-
lng, a distance Of about thirty miles. We
have alreSdy initiated the English gentle.
meu's coaching system, In which men Of
property and standing amuSs themselves
by running q regular coach during the
agmnler aud pleasant months from point
10 point They are conducted on business
principles, charge regular prices, start at
appointed houfa from regular stations,
exactly az II they were designed 70 earn
money instead Of amusement ior the pro.
prleLora. A generous friend hired whole
coach tof no and attendant irienda and
gave % one OF the most delightful fides
We ever experienced, Seated upon
the top ol The coach The land
BCans uutolled on ollhor side az we
advanced In ever-Chanrlng beauty, A
merry Grew we were. Qilps and jeatA
and arch stories were abundant. Our
tAse Of travel was about ton miles an
hour, and the hotses we're changed al each
such period. Tho old stAge.hofn A1unded
our coming and CChOsd and rs.eohoed
through tue narrow streets and atone walls