The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-03-29
CORRESPONDENCE,
Crossing the Channel.

PARIS, France, March I'd, 1888.
From a private letter. feel con-
strained to write you once again and
give you a little Of my experience IN
getting into la Belle France.
Last Tuesday l left London for Paris
and stopped off at Canterbury where lie
the largest Cathedral in Europe, being
5l4 feet long, and it has been kept in
excellent repair since it was built in the
early stages. 1t is indeed a beautiful
structure. l will not attempt to describe
it as should fail utterly. Here is also
another church called st. Martins s, which
is the oldest in the country. This also
is in good condition. went into both
of these churches; and il could find
words to describe the Cathedral would
be only too pleased to do 80, but for res-
sons above stated dare not attempt it.
My reason for writing you at this time
is for what will follow. We left Can
terbury at noon, on Wednesday, and
proceeded to Dover, about 16 miles, to
take boat for Calais, thence by car to
Paris. The time in crossing the Chan
mel is one hour and thirty minutes. And
here let me say if there were a way to
,Cdlk back | would not go back by the
little steamer Foam. IF you have tears
to shed prepare to shed them now"
l entered the boat and soon we started
in every sense OF the word. Not five
minutes had expired when lady COM
menced to throw her breakfast on the
deck and into her lap, and as the poor
woman tried to clean her dress she
threw up more breakfast, when a sailor
gave her bowl to hold, which she com
menced to fill.
was holding to an iron rail as though
was afraid it might get away from me;
then casting my eye along the rail Of
the vessel, noticed quite a number,
anxiously gazing into the sea and no.
ticed that they were feeding fish with
their own breakfast. They must have
felt great pity for the fish, as all looked
sad, rery sad indeed, and then they
would heave again upon their toes as il
they were going to send more feed to
the fish.
felt how extremely kind i. was Of
these men a I'd women, and then felt
that perhaps had better join in or the
fish might not get enough. Just at this
moment lady with white lips and tear.
full eyes by my side, who was holding
and filling a bowl-now whether she
noticed that my lips were white, or from
sympathy or from my misunderstanding
l know not she lurched the bowl toward
me. grabbed it, and we both held on
to it and together contributed of our
breakfast; she'd throw, then I'd throw,
then we would both throw together,
tears in our eyes, agony in our counte-
nances, and rebellion in our stom tchs.
1--WE leaned our heads together
And together filled the bowl"
or course we were getting acquainted
fast and as soon as she could speak. she ex
"Oh dear, i shall die" said."I
shall be right along with you, can't we
be buried in the same grave, and have
this bowl for an urn ovel us?' She said:
Please, sir, don't make light of it; it is
very serious "Yes said ], sit IS; l
paid three and sIxpence for my break
fast and it's all gomez then we jDiDed
again.
She said, Il have my maid servant
with me and look at her." There on the
deck lying on her face and kicking
holding on to coil of rope and covering
herself with breakfast was the pour girl
wholly unable to Ia, Up her mistress, eI-
''ouh oh dear mistress"
We approached the land and laid down
the bowl, felt better and smiled at each
other. She said, "Sir. our introduc-
tlon was short and quick and we stood
not upon ceremony now should you be
able to call upon US in England my hus
band will with me, be pleased to see you
at our home and we will make you well
come TO breakfast equal or better than
the one you have lost.
Truly yours,
]. r. PILLING.