The record-union., 1891-09-05
How the English People Go Sum-
merlng.
Some of the Leading Persons in Par
liament-Visit to Christ Church
the Lord Mayor.
Special Correspondence of REcoRD-UN1oN.I /

VIZ AAN<tO w ACStN lONLls Sllll tI1t AISG MtCh
in August is as general a season of fit
ting here as in more torrid climates.
The London mode of fitting is, in its
way, peculiar. In the case of family
flight, on the day preceding departure a
huge covered van appears at the front
door to take to the station, furniture,
stores, or things of that nature that may
need to be moved to the summer resi-
dence. On the day of departure itself an
omnibus, with one or two horses, as the
case may be, appears at the door. In its
capacious interior the fanily-seldom
numbering less than eight or tents
safely slowed, while all the trunks or
"boXes," rs they say here, are placed on
top Of the vehicle. 1t is one Of the fun
niest sights i'll the world to see these
boxes poised on the curving tops of the
omnibuses. How they remain there is a
mystery tc the average American, for
they are not strapped on, and there seems
TO be nothing to save them from instant
overthrow, except, perhaps, the narrow
little rail running around the top of the
bus. These convenient omnibuses and
vans are provided by the railroad COM
panles. and entirely take the place of the
express wagons which we Americans
employ for the conveyance of our lug
gage.
AS to the places to which these English
n1tterS gO-they are innumerable. Every
known resort at the sea shore, or in the
mountains, is crowded now with the es-
Gaping londOnerS. Those Of high de-
gree have gone, of course, to their coun-
try houses to recupGrate after this unuSu-
ally dull season; but the average English
man IS not person of high degree, and
iNn
man, stock-brOker, professional man CIR
Shop-keeper, as the case may be, takes
his family to lodgings, or steps into Il
furnished cottage which some other Eng
Hshman is willing TO rent him for a
month; for it seems to be a confirmed
habit on the part Of the Englishman, who
lives IN place having scenery, or air
sufficiently attractive to warrant him in
so doing, to step out Of his house for q
month or more. He considers the three
guineas, OF upwards, per week, which
he receives for the use of his home, Suifi-
cient compensation for the wear and tear
of his household effects. He, himself,
rents, perhaps, some other EngliShman' S
house during the time for which he has
surrendered his own home. As all con-
cerHed are undoubtedly benefited by the
changes, it would be impolite for an out
slider to express any wonder at the per-
formance, even though to no little eX-
tent 1t conflicts with our usual ideas of
the sanctiUy of an Englishman's home or
castle.
The group of cottages clustered near
some large hotel. and occupied by their
owners, year after year, have no part in
the Englishman's plan for his summer
holiday. The summer hotel is regarded
with almost as little favor as the summer
bOarding-hOuSe, and he would never
think Of building or owning house near
one of these great caraVansaries. Ii he
does not hire a secluded furnished house
he takes his family into lodgings where
he fondly fancies that he has the privacy
of his own home. Nevertheless, at Fe-
HxstOwe, and EastbOurne, and Worthing
there are both hotels of gOodly size, and
bOarding-houses, all OF which are well
patronized. Tourists, perhaps, make up
fair proportion of the patrons of these
houses; but widows, with marriageable
daughters, elderly bachelors, or young
men, bent on having a good time, form
no small part of the bOarders at these
houses, all of whom are Enthusiastically
English. 1t is simply the average father
OF the family who prefers the seclusiOn of
lodgings or hired house.
The prOroguing Of Parliament on the
9th really brought to an end this very
dull SeaSon-dull on account Of the finan-
cial difficulties that began last year with
the prevalence Of the influenza. Even
Parliamentary matters had an unusual
monOtOny, which even the discussion of
the Free Education Bill failed to en-
HVen. | spent one of the best evenings
of the session listening to the debates In
the House of Commons. On account of
the recent death Of his son Mr. Gladstone
was not there, but Mr.. Balfour, Mr..
Goschen, Mr.. Matthews and the leading
Ministers were present, and each in turn
answered the various questions put to
him. The contrast between the general
aspect of the House of Commons and our
House of Representatives is very great
The dimensions of the former room is 50
much smaller that it is hard to believe
that it holds as many members. Its eX-
treme dimensions are only 75 feet in
length, 10 feet in width and Al feet in
hight. The benches, SO-called, rise from
the front a little above one another ON
each side of the Speakers chair. In
spite of the upholstered green leather COW
ering Of these benches they look fairly
uncomfortable. The members sit bolt
upright, rather near together, with their
hats on. They have no desks. No news
papers near them. No supply of station
cry on which to scribble, and so pertorce
are almost compelled 10 attend to the
business under consideration. There is
an air of dignity in the high, narrow
room, which is lacking to the House of
Representatives and this air of dignity is
increased by the appearance of the Speak
or in his gown and wig, in his high
backed chair, with his two clerks, simi-
larly attired, at the table below. The
table, too, with handsomely bound books
Of reference lying upon it, with the great
mace, lying across one end, has a partic-
ularly home-like look. 1t was my mis-
fortune to be present in the House on a
4 how, -t,,i, Il,
with railway charges, came up for con-
sideration. But it was also my good for
tune to have a good view of the obstrep-
crous Mr.. Atkinson, who has, of late,
been making himself so conspicuous i'll
the House, that finally the Speaker had
TO order his suspension. Mr.. Atkinson
is pleasant looking gentleman, with q
shock Of white hair, he has an agreeable
and humorous expression, and lie wore q
pale, pink cravat that harmonized very
well with his white hair.
DR.. Tanner, too, with his smooth face
and corpulent figure, was conspicuous
figure among the Opposition members,
while of the Ministers, Mr.. Balfour
spoke the most impressively. In appear
ance and manner Mr.. Balfour reminded
one irresistibly of Matthew Arnold as he
appeared during his last visit to America.
The one thing which seems strange to
an observer at the House is the limited
size of the ladies' gallery and the absurd
thick, iron grating through which they
must gaze at the floor of the House. 1t is
said that this grating was put up to pre-
vent the members from being distracted
by the fair spectators. This harem-like
arrangement is certainly effective in this
respect, although it can hardly be called
agreeable for the ladies inclosed behind
the bars.
Like a good many wiser people had
been under the impression for some
time that the old Christ Church School,
where Coleridge, Charles Lamb and
many other great men went to school.
was an extinct institution, although the