The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1891-09-06
LONDON'S SUBWAYS.
Continued form Ninth Page.


least provocation. The surroundings are not
cheerful. All things considered ] think |
prefer our New York Elevateds. i intimated
as much to fellow passenger on the Under
ground. He was an Englshman with an
Englishman's natural selfishness and snap
pishness intensified by the disagreeable fea-
lures of the road. "Think l prefer a little
smoke to being compelled to look into the
private apartments of other people, he said.
"Its matter of taste, however," he contin-
ued, 'and no doubt to you Americans it's one
Of the attractions of your elevated roads to
pry into other peoples business and then
he gave few impatient puffs at his asthmatic
old pipe. did not attempt to continue the
conversation for with the smoke of the train
and the more noxious smoke of this English
mans rancid pipe had enough to do to alb
sorb sufficient oxygen from the vitiated at
mosphere to sustain life. Now and then we
would pass through openings through which
daylight and fresh air were admitted and
these were indeed refreshing, but when the
train reached my station / lost no time in
gaining the open street above, and thereafter
very seldom patronized the Underground.
Londoners, however, don't seem to mind it, or
do 1t from necessity, for the trains are always
well filled. | believe the English rather like
gloom, fog, and impure air. Their houses are,
as rule, dark cheerless, and poorly supplied
with fresh air Americans, on the contrary,
build cheerful, wel-lighted, and well-venti-
lated houses, and in matters of modern con-
veniences we are far in advance of our trans
atlantic ancestors.
Were you ever "Lost in Londonn as the
sensational theatre bills have it I am as
soon as get three blocks away from my
room. One of the interesting features of
London is getting lost. It's so easy, too. It's
more fascinating getting lost than Chinese
puzzle, although to be frank l don't know the
exact degree OF fascination Chinese puzzle
possesses.
The streets have such an unaccountable
way of going under an alias for few blocks,
unconsciously switching one off the track,
turning him entirely around without his
knowledge and then surprising him by re-
turning him suddenly to the very spot where
he started. Charring Cross will exchange
places with the Bank and the Mansion House
will be found sitting opposite where the Ma
tional Gallery is expected to stand.
On closer inspection 1t will be found
the Bank has been shifted bodily from
one end of the Strand to the other and
now occupies a position in the vicinity of
Charring Cross. London often gets into this
playful mood and enters into the game of
hide and seek with genuine childish glee.
The river sometimes joins in the sport and
leaves the embankment, Parliament Houses,
and all the scenes Of its sober moments and
hides itself way mp in Regent street. went
to mail box on the Strand one evening about
1U O'CLOCK TO post q letter, ana aIter having
performed this little errand turned down what
took to be Cecil street to go to my room. l
knew the house when ] saw it, and after hav-
ing walked about the proper distance began
watching for my door. 1 didn't recognize the
house, but did not think strange of this, for
in London l never know whether 1 have gone
one mile or ten. So walked briskly on down
the street. After about half an hours travel
without recognizing any familiar landmarks
began to grow more concerned. 1t seems longer
than usual, thought, but being rather late
explains it, no doubt, and pushed on an
other twenty minutes. But the neighborhood
seemed stranger the farther l went, and
asked policeman to direct me to No. 20
Cecil street.
''That's just off the Strand, you know,' he
said, land you are going directly away from
that street. Keep right back the street you
are on and you are about an hours walk from
the Strand. Cecil street is two blocks down
on the other side" and / retraced my steps,
and it made me tired. Cecil street, as soon
as turned into the Strand to post the letter,
winked at the street opposite, and they quietly
exchanged places and then watched the fun. I
don't mind these harmless jokes in day
time when one is not tired and sleepy, but
late at night they become monotonous, and If
carried too far positively annoying.
ALvA SIGEL RoUsH.