Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-15
ON ENGLISH ROADS.
Washington Wheelmen Make a Run
to London.
OBSERVATIONS BY THE WAY.
The "Personally Conducted Tourist and the
Man on the whee1-Things In England That
Seem Qussr-Lord saiisbury's Country
ssat-Ths London Bus.
cOrrsspoudsncs o. Th. Evening Star.

TS THESE DAYS OF PERSONALLY con-
Il ducteI' tours abroad, when even the
cyclist may be personally conducted, it is n
simple matter for one unacquaintod with tho
customs and language TO travel ID the old cour-
tries 20 his hearts content What blessing to
be freed from all care Of tickets, baggage or
plans. to lon back and go with the personally
conducted" crowd Fancy the utter freedom
of mind Of the American from Pumpkinton
travelling in this conventional manner. who
hurrietly inquiries Of you the way to his
hotel, which he must reach in few min
utes or be left behind by his party.
''But don't you know where they are going
from here" you ask. 'No,-goshl 1 do1't
know where We going The man takes Us, ;"
IL his reply. The printed itinerary is probably
packed away securely somewhere in his trunk
aud he bothers his heed no more about it. but
goes along wherever the ''man takes him."
Rushing from sight 10 sight city to city. he re-
turns home with his mind filed only with dis
ordered recOllections Of picture galleries and
table dh0te dinners
The tourist by wheel and the pedestrian have
SO many advantages over their brethren of the
railway and coach for seeing and learning that
IL Is not to DO wondered at that both are be-
coming more and more common. The Britou,
with his fine roads, finds ample opportunity
and a broad field IN which to crafty his taste
IN THIS direction, ana the Brltlsn Wneelman III
particular makes it point to spend his holt
days in runs into some neiGhboring shire. Sat-
urday-and in some sections different days are
obseryed-is the great day for the wheels, and
In numbers on the road they then greatly eX-
coed all other vehicles
UNEXPECTED PoLrTrNEss.
Politeness one always appreciates; yet when
apolite term Is used at unlooked-for times it
Ia sometimes difficult to refrain from being
amused Thank YOU is very proper and pleas
ant but when the salesman in the store you
visit to mako q purchase thanks you when,
after passing through ten minutes OF doubt and
hesitation. you conclude you have not found
what you want, YOU cannot but think it
little strange. The maid who brings in your
chop and tea saws Thank you' as she disap-
pears, and you wonder what for. And when
In your mad rush for a late suburban
train you have accidentally upset a man wind
ing an unsteady course homeward and he, in
stead of assuming the belligerent attitude you
had expected as he regains his feet, simply
hicco1ghs Thank you" you are amazed. IL
you would say 1t as we heard 1t In northern
England, sing it with thank" as do and you"
Is fa-dO-fs, thank you.
Another peculiarity we noticed in northern
England is the custom Of bringing the bread to
the table cut and buttered ready for use- And
what do you say to mustard and jam mixed?
Try it Ii Is a Yorkshire combination strongly
recommended
Class distinctions extend even to getting q
drink in England at the better class hotels
Even in the small towns there is provided a
"tap room" for the thirsty carter, laborer or
soiled wayfarer always excluding the cyclist of
Course, while patrons higher up in the world
are served III u separate apartment known
the bar" Yet with all the barriers
between the classes. which in the railway pas
senger traffic extend not only to the train
itself. but to the ticket Office, waiting and
treatment rooms. the goats are not entirely
distinct from the sheep. and, as the world over
many third-class people are hrst-class. Some
nrst-claSs sinners VIII be disappointed, no
doubt. that their Accommodations in kingdom
come are no better than those Of the grovel-
ing third-cLiss sinners.
Many readers will no doubt recall the afro
ciOus murder in 1870 Of a young Englishman,
Mr.. Frederick Granthan yynar. by Greek brig
snds. the coming OF expected ransom being
unfortunately delayed. We were reminded Of
the sal affair by the fact that near Ripon in
Yorkshire, Is a handsome chapel. erected as a
memorial to him by his devoted mother, and
which serves parish church for the tenants of
the Synar estate. The interior is finished in mar
bic. and precious stones are layishly used in
the adornment OF the embroidery of the COM
munlon table and altar cloths Something
like I60, 900 sterling expended IN the
building and furnishing We sincerely hope
that the playful Greek brigand will not make
1t necessary for our friends 10 build a memorial
~,
but We should be unable to appreciate one.
on THE OLD NORTH ROAD.
The Old North road, where Dick Turpin and
hi. Ik passed many happy day in the inno-
cent amusement Of holding up people for
loan on long time and easy payments, took us
through Bawtry, a thriving town. which ap-
pears TO have furnished the Mayfower pill
griIns- The old church in which they wor-
shipped before abandoning their English homes
IL still standing right where they left il.
Turning aside to the westward. past frag-
rnents of the Sherwood forest of Robin Hood
and where Robin Hood inns now prevail, we
were IN Nottingham, with its lace factories and
fair operators. an event G. had been looking
forward 10 for some time. 1t was now our
happy fortune to fall into the clutches OF an
American family from the empire state who
gathered Us in and treated to a welcome
change Of diet. Renting English suburban
villas for the summer is not always unattended
with difficulties. especially if, our friends had
succeeded In doing peryerse English land
lord must be convinced that the custom Of re-
curing a tenant TO furnish gas fixtures is al
together unreasonable. at least under some cir
eumstances. Speaking of landlords, some of
the London members OF the class have been in
the habit OF exactIng not only premium a
bonus, Tor giving possession, but have refused
TO lease. making the tenant mere tenant at
Will To be turned out at the pleasure of the
landlord and without means OF redress II il
claimed that even some OF England's titled no.
bility have been guilty Of this extraordinary
practice.
With our forces increased BY a New York
contingent, q tandem tearn-most fascinating
youths In the first blush Of whiskers-we
descended upon Leicester with no more inten-
tion Of expending our last night on earth there
than had Richard Ill when he came up to give
battle at Besworth. Richard, you will remem-
Der, IL the historical party who, as
presented in modern times, rushes out
from tho wings and in clear, ringing