Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-11-30
Correspondenee Of TIE EVENING srAR.


but they know when to leave well as when to
come. few weeks ago you could find them
everywhere, but you are the first American 1
have seen for fortnight"
'This is the reason and he pointed thr ough
the window to the proverbial leaden skies and
the foggy streets. They have either gone
home or gone south" The weather had not ac-
CURED the real winters chill which seems to
reach the marrow and which any amount of ex-
ereise cannot shake off, although the mercury
may be provokingly high, but London was
gloomy enough to make a run into the country
very enticing. 1t took us only little over two
hours to reach bennington, in the
heart of beautiful Warwckshire. Here we
found clear skies, pleasant weather and
well planned city that is model of cleanli-
ness. 1t is an inland watering place and owes
its wonderful growth of recent years to the
popularity of its mineral waters. In the sum
mer it Is frequented by foreign travellers and
in the winter by equity and rheumatic En-
glishmen. When we arrived 1T was too late for
the former and too early for the latter. We
had the town to ourselves. The two English
men who entered the Turkish bath at the same
time did on the evening of my arrival thawed
out considerably under a temperature of lS0
degrees and pleasant conversation ensued
for a half hour previous to being kneaded and
douched.
HOW TO TELL AN AMERICAN.
Various subjects were discussed and then one
of the Britons said: ''Are Turkish baths very
popular across the border?" Now had never
been taken for anything but an American but
once, when was badly treated by some French
men because they thought a German.
why, what do you take me for?" L asked IN
surprise. "Well, / can't tell from your dress,
as the towels are all alike said he, with a
faint smile, "but from your brogue took you
to be Scotchman." 80 did /" said his COM
panion. pray tell us where do you come
from" I'm an American" / replied. Il
wouldn't have been in doubt for moment if L
had heard you pronounce the word America"
exclaimed the first speaker. II never
yet heard an American use it with
out divulging his nationality. Englisbmen
and Americans are growing more alike every
year, but that one word Is a stumbling block.
Englishmen pronounce II with an open sound
to the and a slight roll to the r, while Ameri-
cans invariably say Amuricans." That is not
the exact difference. Englishmen give the
short sound to the i, while Americans say
Americans. This is given as a pointer to GER
tain Washington young men who are trying to
become angliciZed. They must practice on the
pronunciation of America" or their disguise
will be transparent to real Englishmen.
HISTORIC AND PICTURESQUE.
With beautiful bennington as a central point
we could make daily excursions in different
directions to some Of the most historic and in
teresting points in England. They could all
be reached by train. but il was much pleasanter
to engage a carriage and drive over the perfect
roads, enjoying the picturesque scenery at our
leisure 1t wOuid have been much more beau
tiful in summer. but ii was attractive enough
as il was. The meadows. green as ever, were
dotted with well-bred sheep and cattle. The
picturesque hedges were everywhere. Near
every farm house was cluster of the most
-.
covered with matches. Little children with
bare red legs rOmped about the cottages of
the poor and lowly, and squirrels. rabbits,
pheasants and deer wandered about through
the almost endless parks of the rich and noble.
POETIC TONY WELLER.
Our coachman was an extremely interesting
character. His round English face was cleanly
shaver every morning, except the rim of
whiskers that encircled it. He was well posted
about the points of interest i'll the neighbour
hood but his historical references were some
times faulty and vague, which lent a charm to
his method of impartIng information. He was
very religious and he was poet. Both facts
he impaired early on our first ride.
He was not 10th to give specimens of
to poetize he would look OFF toward the hori-
zon, close his eyes. smack his lips once or
twice and in piping voice reel off verse after
verse, utterly regardless as TO the proper use of
was not from the songs of solomon he acknowl-
edged that the ideas we're, but claimed that the
yersihcatiOn was original. He had quite a gift
at rhymIng, which he INDUCED himself in be-
fore getting up i'll the morning, he said. and
his verses were always of a religious character
He called attention to this fact on the first day
and stated that this was the marked difference
between Shakspeare's poetry and his own
Our first and only Misunderstanding was over
his name.
ROW HE TOLD HIS NAME.
He said it was don, sir" with mechanical
touch to his well-worn high hat. Don
what" asked why just Don, SIR" with
another touch of the hat. Haven't YOU any
other name! "Ies, sir-Enry. Enry Don. sir, ;"
with anther, but rather impatient touching of
his hat rim. Then he looked off into the dis
tance as IL the divine atflatus had struck him
and slowly spelled "H-E-N-R-Y DANCER"
The subject was immediately changed aud he
said the pretty little stream to the right was
the ''Hayen again. SIR" / didn't ask him to
spell il. but l knew he meant the Avon. Our
first visit to Warwick only two miles dis
tant. Originally bennington was its suburb
but mineral water has been more productive of
population than castle and the resort has out
grown its neighbor.
PENNY FOR THE EARL
Warwick castle is one of the most interesting
II not the most interesting of the baronial resi-
dences Of Great Britain. and all travellers visit
il. a guide book description is not in Order
The old man who opened the door in the i'm
mense gateway took possession of all hand
baggage, for the safe keeping of which he
charged one penny. He explained that he got
nothing for the service. as all the pennies he re-
ceiyed he had to turn over to the estate That
the earl Of Warwick. who owns thousands Of
acres and part of the town, would not allow his
gate keeper to keep the few pennies picked mp
from visitors seemed out of keeping with the
surrounding grandeur and nobility. The Lei
eester hospital with its chapel over one of the
original gates OF the town was, of course
visited, and proved OF great interest
Another trip was TO StrStford II miles gong
and returning; another to Coventry 10 miles
Then there was the romantic Kenilyorth To be
visited and Guys cliff and a grand drive
through the almost endless parks of Lord
Leigh, who had Just opened the hunting season
with public breakfast to the riders in pink on
the lawn in the shadow of Stoueleigh abbey
All these excursions were made over the most
perfect Of English roads. The streets of every
village We passed through were as clean as II
swept by street sweeper every hour. The
windows of the houses we're as clear as
crystal Every cottage, however humble, had
dainty white sash curtains In the windows
ROAST BEEF AND CHOPS.
The proverbial English roast beef and NUT
ton chops proved fully up to their reputation
Achop at village inn makes an excellent
lunch. such great big mutton chop as isserved
would be looked upon with suspicion in America,
but it is always tender and juicy. Invariably