The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1889-03-15
A LETTER ERoM TIE old COUNTRY

A LETTER ER0M TIE old COUNTRY"
When / last wrote to the REGISTER
myself and family were spoken of as
sitting down to breakfast in a friends
house in London. 1t is now nearlv
four months since that, our first Eng
lish breakfast was eaten, and of course
during that time we have seen, and
heard several things, some Of which
may be of interest to the REGISTER
readers.
If my letter should be of a desultory
kind and my "h's" not where they
ought to be, hope the reader will ex-
cuse me for only single copy of the
Allen county republican journal h as
reached me since 1 landed, go that my
mind has become barren bowling
wilderness in consequence, and am
not even aware whether the Hon. E.
H. Funston is still our Congressman,
or whether the Second District has
turned somersalt and consigned Mr..
Funston to rural life, and sent Mr..
Burris to Washington. Nay, will
go further, and say that do not even
know but what the Courant having
gobbled up the Democrat has not
swallowed the REGISTER also, and
this letter might be returned to the
writer bearing the legend "Gone, left
no address," 1 am truly sorry to
have thus to expose, my esteemed
friend MIR. Scott, but when you pay
for several copies of the paper they
ought to be delivered. think, dear
reader don't your But oversight will
occur IN best regulated offices. And
indeed we do miss the REGISTER sad.
ly.
After finishing that breakfast which
we did in open daylight, We had to see
once again what Londonfog was like.
/ went out in the streets about 10o'ciock
and it was quite dark. gas was lit in all
the shops and we had our dinner by
gas light. 1t was much lighter i'm the
afternoon and we could see without
the gas, but of course for all that We
"gassed" good deal for our several
years absence had left much to talk
about.
My first visit of interest was to the
Smithfleld meat market. This is tru-
ly magnificent sight, huge quarters of
beef, whole hogs-yes they 60 the
whole hog in this country-and sheep,
were hung up, farther on were poultry,
rabbits and game of all kinds. Lon
don butchers go to Smithfield with
their carts early in the morning, and
get what meat they want to seD.
Outside saw several cart loads of
American beef, cut in quarters, alld
one thing | noticed particularly was
the number of men that appeared to
be standing around each cart abou t
double as many as would be engaged
in the same work in New York or 9TH
er American cities. Beef (English)
cells at 16 to 20 cents per pound. mutt
ton about the same, American 2 cents
less.
I recently visited wholesale pro-
vision warehouse; here was a quantity
of green and dried bacon, lard, butter,
cheese and eggs. Bacon nearly all
from Denmark, butter from Holland,
Ireland and Normandy, lard from
Kansas City. cheese nearly all Ameri-
can, eggs from Austria and France.
That Kansas City lard was in pals
and packed by Fowler. The salesman
had been in Chicago and I had quite
an interesting talk with him, about
things in general, lard and bacon in
particular.
A visitor to London would be much
struck by the splendid horses he would
see. Even street car horses or those
used in cabs or omnibuses or any
light work are very superior to ours,
and the draught horses, are big fat
fellows weighing nearly ton. I saw
some good horses in New York but our
i,orses are the best. The Londoners
are good horse keepers.
The Parnell Commission was sitting
SO went to the New Law Courts in
the strand. A very fine building out
side it was too full inside for me to say
much from actual observation, as /
could not gain admittance. An official
very civilly 1--WE are nation of civil.
Ities) took note from me to the secre-
tary of the commission asking for
admission as / wanted TO make some
notes for an American paper, but a
note equally civil, was sent back to
nee saying he exceedingly regretted
the crowded condition of the court but
would 1 call again when he hoped to
accommodate me. So Mr.. Editor you
will not get those notes as left town
ssoon after.
We stayed in London ten days then
sci out for our native country on the
borders of Wales where we intend ed
making our home. What a contrast
there is in the appearance of the two.
The journey from London to Hereford
is through beautifully picturesque
and fertile country. As the train
rushes on, We pass though fresh
pleughed fields surrounded by neatly
cropped hedge. Then large meadows
looking fresh and green. and fat lazy