The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-10-30
FROM RAILWAY WINDOWS.
RHINE PICTURES BY Mr.. wAKgMAN.
From London To Middle Europe-scenes
En- ROute-The Valley CT the Rhine
From Cologne To Mayence-''Sweet
Bingen"-Other Notable Places.

MAYENcE, Oct. 15.-[Copyrighted. I'm
leaving the worlds metropolis for middle
Europe by way of Dover and Calais the
traveller passes over London. A kindly
familiarity with back windows, with tiny
flower gardens upon the tops of hundreds
upon hundreds of London houses, with
odd places where people seek rest and
quiet away above the roar and rumble of
the street, with sparrow-houses and dove
cotes, with miles upon miles of rows of
chimney pots, looking, one half fancies,
like quaint Dragons on guard in faded
Vandyke uniiorms-indeed, even with the
architecture of the roofs of churches and
cathedrals. rich with the historic associa-
tons of centuries-come before and into
the vision with glowing and imagery,
that bring the olden tales of this mother
city OF the English race back to the men,
DRY and heart, like sweet old songs resung.
As we neared the channel not only did
the scenery become bold and rugged, but
the night came down with storm, and as
we rushed through the last long tunnel
and sped along the feet of the white chalk
cliffs, the roar of the sea was louder upon
the great stone quays than the din of this
fast mail train, as we rushed in upon old
Dover town. Sorting us like sheep, we
were at last huddled aboard the Foam
the most appropriate name, as even along
side the docks the spume of the sea was
dashed over us-the luggage and con-
tinental mail somehow taken on, and, with
a great lurch from which she only recov-
cred to stagger in another direction, our
steamer began ricochetting across the
channel.
You who are to come after, listen to the
voice of experience and never cross from
Dover to Calais save by day. 1t is weird
experience by storm and night. Through
the noxious vapors could be seen, at
either side OF the little cabin, in tiers the
one slightly above another capacious
hunks, each provided with a leather
cushion and a surge-covered pillow, and
nearly all occupied by men and women in
all imaginable attitudes of human suffer
ing, or preparation against torturlng ex-
perience. Over yonder were party of
Americans, evidently an entire family,
cursing everything outside OF America, and
struggling with each other as their physical
commissions increased. Beyond, were
three old friars, evidently from some Of
the cloisters in France, beyond Amiens,
sober and grave in their brown, rough
dress, but ever and anon compelled to be
do ObuCI anu DCdIlDR lLlClI lulbC-
rere with holy fortitude. Opposite were
Tightly Frenchmen, full of antics in their
torture, and French women graceful and
pretty even in this most pitifully leveling
of all ills, sea-sickness. The horrible AIR
and scenes of the cabin force you back on
deck, where all are knocked about fear
fully. There is no escape. All bravery
resolution, supreme will power, are of no
avail. You succumb. For a good hour
every aspiration and ambition of life is
swept away. But at last utter exhaustion
comes; and then the storm which sweeps
up the channel pounds new life into you !;
the salt spray dashes into your face and
revives you; and, crawling along the deck
to where the four grim wheel-men are, the
head wheel-man comforts you with the
consolation:
"Doan't mind it, mon. The best there
be doan't be able to stand on their legs
hereaboutw
Away to the right was seen the light at
the French Cape of Griz Nez; and, as we
began skirting the coast, here and there
peeped out flashes from the coastwise viii
lagos where the late revel or vigil was be-
ing kept. Soon the pier-head light at
Calais glowed upon us. Over the pier,
where the sea PLAYED mad havoc, was a
continual Wreatbing of phosphorescent
glowing, like that which covered the chan
mel behind us. Here were the fantastic
fishing craft, and The bellying Fighters"
at one side, and on the other, as the bag
gard and desperately sick passengers
crowded to the gangway, rows of French
porters bowling and scraping and chatter
ing glibly. The weird cressets flared over
the picture strangely, and flavor of de-
caying salty things. of half-digested Cog
nae and of penetrating garlic was over all.
What din was there With bump and
a swash, our steamer was finally made
fast Then the perilous ascent to the
docks, the keen-eyed customs officers, the
skirmishes and heavy engagements with
the porters, the cries OF the train-guards,
the miserable entanglements aud Wild
eyed sorties, and finally the mad haste to
the different trains for Paris. for Austria
and for Germany Then the train moved
out OF the grooming docks past frowning