The Washington critic., 1888-02-04
THE "CRlTIG" ABROAD.
Along the Reach and on the ESpla.
made at Brighton.
FAIR "LONDON BY THE SEA-"
From Brighton to Roucn and From
Roucn to Frances Cay Capital.

PANS, Jan. 20.-"A handful of |
Americans" left London for Paris one |
foggy day in January, stopping on
their way at Brighton to see the
"Queen Of watering places" which
has three seasons--summer fall and
winter. The aristocracy of London
seek It's mild temperature and blue
skies, in order to avoid the misty at
mosphere prevailing during the win
ter months. This place was once a
pretty fishing village. In 1884 II. r.
IL. George, Prince of Wales, chose it
for his marine residence. Since then
it has grown rapidly, holding its own
rs the leading seaside resort of the
kingdom; q position no doubt due TO
the salubrity of its atmosphere and
its close proximity to the metropolis,
which can be reached in little over
an hour. The population of Brighton
is considerably over hundred thou
sand, and in the season this number
is increased by the presence of thou
sands of visitors. The promenades
and drives, which divide the long
line of fine buildings and houses on
the front Of the town from the sea,
form Brighton's principal attraction.
A scene is presented here unequaled
in any other pleasure resort of the
kingdom. On the esplanade, the
noblest and most expansive
promenade of its kind in the
world, there is a constant stream of
pedestrians, admiring the bright and
elegant shops. Flower girls, with
baskets of sweet violets accost you at
every corner. On the road there are
carriages of every description, and
gay equestrians, both men and
maidens, enjoying the sea breezesas
they gallop up and down the Kings
road. Along the cliff, which is re-
tanned by concrete wall, in many
places sixty feet III height, and at its
base twenty-three feet thick, is wide
marine parade. The construction of
this wall, at a cost of 100000, became
a necessity, owing to the constant in
roads of the sea. Here on pleasant
day is happy miscellaneous crowd,
children and dogs, boatmen and
nurses, donkeys with their fair bur-
dens, goat-chaises, and invalids re-
clining in path. chairs. Good music
gives an additional liveliness to the
scene. The money necessary for sea
defenses is obtained in the strangest
way. 1t is collected from the duty
|nDsaal, half q crown, or 62 cents,
30 charged on all Goals brought
~ Collectors are stationed
no the town, so as to
~ "a objects OF special
,ne visitor, among the
Ections Of this city, termed
D6oh by the Sea-" The one best
own is the Aquarium, which is the
mosSsStepsive in England, and one
can u kget his first impressions
upon e Frifg zsis strangely construct
ed building. Before descending a
long fight of steps, you seeHDei6re
you line of roofs, upon which
is an inviting promenade, with
handsome orchestral pavilion. At
this season of the year bushes and
hardy plants line the walks. The
picturesque clock tower of unique con-
struction, having four dials, is the only
part of the Aquarium above the level
of the ground. The entrance hall is
large and contains an organ, stalls for
sweets and souvenirs, q fine statue
standing in the centre.
THE CONSERVATORY
is approached from the entrance hall
by grand corridor. On either side
of you are several scores of tanks, in
habited by all varieties of fish and
aquatic curiosities. The tanks are
covered with glass, and as the light
passes through the water, the beauty
of the denizens of the deep is brought
to light. The arrangement of the
rocks in the tanks is fine, resembling
cliffs on the shore of the sea. The
anemones were beyond parallel. Some
were in the form Of sunhowers and Of
every color, from the delicate pink to
the deepest red, the bright yellow to
the faintest lemon, and all shades Of
Nile green and soft grays, mingled
with those of snowy whiteness, and
making a picture of surprising beauty.
There were all varieties of fish, those
from Russia being very curious and
the first imported into England from
that country. Another species which
attracted our attention was the fiat
sand fish. These resemble places,
being covered with red spots, and the
strange thing about them is that they
completely bury themselves in the
sand, no part being visible but their
round black eyes.
THE ROYAL PAVILION
is the second point visited by the
traveller. This was the palace of
George ~. Certainly it is the most
picturesque of all the castles we have
visited. The design is Moorish and
most unique. The interior is deco
rated in true palatial style. Chinese
and Japanese paintings adorn the
walls, and the chandeliers, one of
which is a perfect representation of a
palm tree, the leaves forming the
ceiling, are magnificent. The suite of
rooms on the ground floor is now used
for balls, soirees, musical and other
entertainments. The upper floor is a
museum principally of Oriental
curiosities. There is nothing in the
interior unlike other palaces, while
the exterior gives q perfect idea of
Oriental architecture.
Brighton has two handsome piers;
the oldest projects nearly 1900 feet
over the sea, the extremity being
covered with platform paved with
stone. Surmounting the piles are
towers used as stalls for fancy goods.
The new pier, opened in ls66-for