Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-20
A TOUR OF ENGLAND
Will Cost Dearly if One Implicitly
Trusts the Guide Books.
MEMORIES OF NORTHUMBERLAND.
The North of England Coal Miner Fares
Fully as Well as Ours.
RESULTS In COOPERATIVE STORES
rrRoM A STAFF CORRESPONDENT


ing is more surprising to an American In
England than to meet SO many people from
the United States. A short visit to this
country soon shows that the travel of human
beings between America and here must be
enormous. In some parts of Central Lon
don Americans have full sway, and in
every large English city they are to be
found in great force. As a result, re-
ceived numerous invitations to celebrate the
"Glorious Fourth" But what I want to
point out is that, as the visitors from
America increase so do the number of
"Guide books" wish to say few words
on this point, knowing full we'll whereof 1
speak.
The number of "Tourist Guides" now in
circulation throughout England is very
large indeed, and at first sight one would
think that almost every man, woman and
child in the United Kingdom were extremely
solicitous for the earthly and eternal welfare
of the man from the land of Stars and
Stripes. The first impression one gets from
the ''Guides" in question is that something
like Guardian Angels will hover over ones
path from end to end of the British Isles.
The fact is, however, that these "Guides"
are just the things, in the majority of in
stances, to lead visitors to places where hosts
are, metaphorically speaking, waiting to
bleed them to death. We may depend oD
the fact that wherever we 90 by the advice
of "Guide Book" there are many people
waiting for us. They know all about US
and in short time we discover that the
difficulty of finding out places OF historic
interest Is not half SO great as getting clear
Of these leeches.
NOT ENTIRELY WORTHLESS.
Mark, I'm not going to say that the
'guides" are entirely worthless; but I do
contend that Americans who visit England
depend too much upon them, and, as re-
suit, the thousands of Americans who come
here annually unnecessarily throw away
thousands of dollars and do not see the most
interesting parts of England. The latter
statement may seem strong, but there is
truth in it. For instance, how many OF
these 'guides" tell us OF the quaint and his
toric county of Northumberland? L have
failed to see one, and contend that every
American who visits England without taking
short tour through the county named
misses one of the most interesting features
of the transatlantic journey. Taking every
thing into consideration there is not county
matters of the most historic interest than
does Northumberland. The numerous cas-
ties that have withstood the ravages OF time
for 900, 1000 and l, 100 years tell the stories
OF the bloody conflicts between the Scotch
and English from before the time of Wal
lace until the two countries were made one.
OF course, Northum berland is the county
adjoining Scotland and a trip along the
border line will repay anybody. 1t was
near the borders that the famous battle OF
Flodden was fought; the battlefield is not
far from Berwick and the traditions that yet
are found among the natives regarding that
battle are very amusing, indeed. I met one
old man who, in speaking of tine battle of
Flodden Field, said: "Yis, man, blud ran
doom that field for lite (S) days and grass
hes nut grown on it since"
The battle field is naturally barren and
it is the earnest belief of the natives who
reside near it that its fertility was ruined by
Providence as consequence OF the battle.
THE DAYS OF FREEBooTING.
But the castles located on either side OF
the River Tweed, the dividing line, also re-
mind us OF the freebooting DAYS when the
English used to steal the Scotch cattle and
seek shelter in the English castles, and of
course the Scots acted similarly when oppor-
even attempt to go into details on these
features. 1 am only mentioning them, feel
ing assured that thousands of newspaper
readers who visit England will be Interested
in what say. Old castles in Northumber-
land are numerous, and each one has glories
associated with it that we would never tire
OF listening to. And in the villages which
surround these castles there is no designing
method of flching from the visitor his
money; mostly because the places are not
mentioned in the guide books aud the sharks
have not been apprised OF the visitors COM
ing. At the village inn, over pot of ale,
the entire history OF the particular castle
can be learned.
Northumberland also contains the Roman
wall, bnilt soon after Julius Caesar con-
quered the ancient Britons. The wall COM
mences in the city where am now writing
and extends many miles. 1t was intended
to circumvent the county bv it, and right in
the interior of the county is located Gipsy
tribe. Those Gipsies have been there for
generations and the name of their town is
Yaik. Some strange and true stories are
told of them. They still have their King
or Queen.
THE HOME OF GRACE DARLING.
But Northumberland is also the home of
Grace Darling. Everybody has heard of
Grace Darling. The place where she lived,
North Sunderland, is located only a few
miles from the main line which runs between
England and Scotland. 1 visited North
Sunderland, but the weather was too inclem-
ent to go out to the Farne Island and see the
island rom which the famous heroine
started In little fishing boat to rescue the
shipwrecked sailors. North Sunderland is
little old-fashioned fishing village and the
islands are only a short distance from shore
George Darling, a brother of Grace,
still lives. He is more than 20 years old
and was younger than his sister. The
sturdy old man delights to tell the story of
his sisters noble performance when she, ac-
companied by her father, lett the light
house and faced the tempestuous billows on
q Hfe-saving errand. The old-fashioued
folks of North Sunderland are proud of
Grace Darling, and their pride cannot be
too great. 1t is a lovely seaside village,
North Sunderland, and nobody will regret
visiting it.
Three or four miles, perhaps, from North
Sunderland is located Holy Island Iti
only about a mile or two from land, but
probably is one Of the quaintest and most
historic places in the United Kingdom. 1t
was famous in history in the fourth and
Fl tn centuries, and in those early times was
known as Landisfarne. 1t was on this ISL
and that the first monks that appeared in
Britain located, and the ruins OF their mon
asteries stand on the island to-day We can
learn much about it i'll st. Bede's history,
and that ancient divine made his abode on
the island, and if mistake not his history
was written there 800 or !, 400 years ago.
THEY DON'T BLEED THE TOURIST,
The monastic ruins are instructive to see.
The island is only six or seven miles in cir
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