Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-10-01
The Gate OF the Sea.

The Gate OF the Sea.
To the millions OF LoDdon's laboring
and heaVy-laden population, whose brain,
muscle and nerve forces are daily strained
to exhaustion, sometimes beyond the lin
its of endurance, and that in an atmOs-
phere by no means conducive to elasticity,
it is one Of the vital problems. How to
obtain occasional respite, however brief;
how to procure rest for the worn body.
relief for the weary mind and resuscita-
ton for the suspended animation Of the
asphyxiated nature? If we except a
voyage across the ocean, there is nothing
more invigorating to the impaired consti-
tuition than quiet sOjourn in some cot
tage by the sea, where the eve may rest
from the cOmpexIty of shifting scenes,
the ear from the confusion of discordant
sounds; where the work OF the vital func-
lions is transmitted into play with the re-
newal of easy youth. Thanks TO our in
sular situation, we in England are nowhere
far from the sea. The four winds of heaven
watt to US the grace of life from the salt
bath OF the worlds regeneration and bring
us healing in their wings. Thanks, also,
to the modern cOnveniences Of rapid, COM
Portable and inexpensive travel, we can,
in very little time. at very little cost.
get from the crowded town to the open
country, and before we have fully lost
ourselves in the encbantment of the land
scape. can suddenly find ourselves in some
salubrious spot whence we look ont upon
the mirror of that heaven in which we
lOcaize our hopes Of undecaying youth
and endless rest.
No resort on the coast OF pOpulOus Eng
land is more popular than Margate, "the
gate OF the sea-" and no previous year
has witnessed greater crowds gathered
NO. 1tKrS fIA
Two railways run thither, the Southeast
ern and the London, Chatham and Dover
We select the latter as the more direct.
Our carriage is very comfortable, and the
train travels with smoothness and speed
We sit but two hours In this theatre of
natural scenery, watching "A moving do
rama OF spectacular delight; and how
much we enjoy! Passing DulwIch, the
Surrey hamlet associated with the name
of Edward Alleyn, an actor during the
reign OF Elizabeth. the village which is
eagerly being inundated by the swelling
tide OF suburban increase. we enter long
tunnel at Sydenham under the Crystal
Palace. The lamp in the train, invisible
before, now chimes in the darkness, like
many minlstering angel, unseen In the
light, hut coming out strong in the hour
of our need. PENCE next escapes US and
we are within the confines of Kent, the
county where the Cantii, the people of the
headland, dwelt. And what garden
opens before our admiring gaze! Hops
clinging to their poles, like youthful be
levers climbing by the aid of a simple
faith; wheat and barley ripening In the
sunshine, like all aged saints maturing
for the harvest home. Vegetable patches
and fruitful orchards, with quiet ana
quaint houses, vanish as we advance.
until we reach rare old Rochester, the
Roman ''camp on the rock" That ro-
mantle object yOnder, standing on an ele-
walton by the brink of the Midway, which
runs through the midway of The county,
is Rochester Castle, built by William the
COnqueror, on the spot which the Romans
occupied a thousand years before. Its
position, commanding the river, Illus
trates the mode in which the renowned
Norman held the lands Of mis- conquest.
We halt at Chatham station for refresh
ment, and then run on again, amid lovely
prospects, with grass OF the richest green
and sheep OF unwonted wilderness, till we
arrive in the Isle OF Thanet, the first Brit
ish possession of the invading Romans.
Margate.is our full stop. This town il
making quick progress towards the an
neXatiOn or absorption of adjacent wafer
ing places, so that Thanet bids fair to
become a Londop-on-Sea. The breezes
so bracing that thousands Will always
come hither to receive the benediction OF
health. BY these means Margate will
become greater every year and fuller
every GUNNER. This point pre- minently
attracts and connects the extremes Of
English society. Here both ends meet,
while OF course, the middle class mus
tiers numerously to Ill the intermediate
space. The apartments are let from
-. ,l, -.
only the wealthy can pay. There are
snug rooms which the city clerk can ell
gage for himself and family at POS. a week,
and superb accommodations which sat
isfy the capacious requirements of the
city prince. In Cliftonville and around
the fort there are hotels and private board
ing houses fitted up with every needed
luxury and ventilated with delicious air,
while lower down and farther back there
are humb bier habitations, comfortab BILE and
clean, where the charges are reasonable
enough for the workingman or small
tradesman to feel at home without fear
ing the embarrassment OF the expense.
But, though rich and poor are here. breath
ing the same sweet air and bathing in the
same blessed tide, the major part are OF
1.-THE common people," to whom n change
Of scene occurs only once year. They
therefore make the most OF the time and
see and hear everything that comes in
their way. No one need be dull in Mar
gate. Attractions OF all kinds are an
nounced in big posters as We saunter
along the streets or perambulate the
crowded parades. Bible readings and
Gospel meetings are mixed up with hor-
ticultural shows, royal regattas and the.
atrlcal exhibitions; while peripatetic
players. renowned under such select
names as "Bones" and "Spider," capt..
yate the attention and applause or the
children Of smaller and larger growth,
with their laughabie jokes and iudIcrous
performances on the sands. Dances on
the fort, promenades on the Jetty. pony
carriages and goat chaises, with the
never-weary don6eys, are for those who
love 10 be on shore; yachts and fisher
mems boats for possessors of aquatic
tastes: cheap trips to Ramsgate and back
in "a few hours Tor all--what more can the
visitors desire 70 make them merry? And,
when the too.short holiday Is over, there
are cheap and fast trains provided 10 carry
the sunburnt groups back to town, where
for many day the monotony of London
toll will be mitigated by pleasant memo
ries OF the happy place which seemed to
come OF them 1.-THE gate OF heaven" be-
cause 1t was "the gate OF the sea-"