Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-09-26
A Yankee Girl Abroad.
FRESH AND PUNGENT VIEWS ABOUT UPPER
LONDON SOCIETY
Correspondence Philadelphia Times.

Correspondence IulltNiOlPiiAtS AiiAiS''
PARIS August 23.-Our party has just
been having run through England and
Scotland, and it was lovely. London is
certainly wonderful place, but Woulon
1 hate to live there, though! don't see
how the upper classes can be happy mo-
ment, seeing all the wretchedness about
them. Such hopeless misery l have never
seen in my life before.
Within stones throw of Buckingham
Palace are tenement houses teeming with
men, women and children the sight OF
whom makes ones heart ache. The poor
little children don't seem to belong to any
one in particular, but romp about to the
best of their ability, and why a THOUSAND
or two are not crushed under the horses
feet, goodness knows
One Sunday we went down to the East
End, the poorest part of London-and you
cannot possibly conceive of the condition
Peoples Palace is a great Institution, no
doubt, but it appeals to only rather bet
ter class than the lowest, and offers such
solemn amusement that don't wonder the
people don't rush to it. Sunday, the only
day that the workingman has leisure, he
is invited to come and listen to sacred con-
certs; and if there is anything hate 1t IS
stupid sacred concerts. | don't mean the
kind we have in America, which really
that would put anybody to sleep, I am
sure. Do you wonder that they prefer
the bar-rooms, the only place OF amuse-
ment left them? don't; would myself.
l must say the French have much more
pleasure in their lives than the EngliSh-l
mean the lower classes, of course. What
fun they have on their fete days and Sun
days, while the English Sunday is a
dav to be dreaded. The same day in
France is looked forward to all the week,
and plans laid for all sorts OF innocent
amuSements.
republic has anything to do with the diff
ference in the two countries don't know,
but certainly one is Immediately struck
with the commended, prosperous looks OF
the French people after the heavy, brutal
misery of the lower classes OF England:
We went several times to the opera and
theatre and, as it was during the season,
good deal of the English aristocracy, and
a palmer set never saw. II "blue blood
looks like that, give me red +!
Low-necked dresses Well, they just
did stay inside their clothes, and that was
all. I would not have minded so much II
they made an exhibition of beautiful
parchment-like old thing that had abso-
futely nothing to show, showed that moth
inc all the same Positively it made me
sick. Then at the opera, magnificent
performance of Lohengrin, which Madame
Melba sang exquisitely, they all sat with
their backs to the stage, yaWned and look
ed bored. Not sound Of applause, no ap-
probation whatever. Wouldn't hate to
sing to such an audience They all looked
Just as much bored at the meet OF the
Four-in- hand Club in Hyde Park. Elgh-
teen coaches full of aristOcrats and scarce
" smile. Just think Of the same num-
Der of Americans setting OFF for day $
frolic. Perhaps they might be a little
noisy, but they would have fun all the
same. The sscalm of Fere de Vere'' is all
very we'll in its way, but give me little
animation along with it. 1t seems diff
cult to find the happy medium between
stolidity and gush.
We did not go to court, becausea presen-
tation dress cost lot. but we mad
glimpse from the outside OF a levee-Prlnce
of Wales's reception for men, you know:
The foreign Ministers, in their brilliant
national court dress; the military officers.
in gold lace, and all the other men, in
black velvet nee-breeches, silk stockings
and buckled shoes, made quite a hne snow
and the Royal Horse Guards stationed IN
They are an awfully handsome set OF men,
and in their brilliant uniforms and noun
ted on beautiful black horses, pretty hard
to beat. We drove past several times and
feasted our eyes, and they did, too.
must say saw lot Of pretty girls IN
England, and, as rule, their compilations
were lovely. but few Of them know how
to dress. Even if the dress is all right,
they slip up on the hat.
In June it was so bitter cold that we
wore all our winter things. and so should
the BritisherS have done; but no, they
knew it was summer because the calendar
said so, and it was no unusal thing to see
girls in muslin OF bingham dresses with
sealskin coats. How's that for a combl-
nation?