New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-16
JOURNEY ON THE THAMES.
ARTISTIC, ORIGINAL AND PRACTICAL.

THE STREAM OF PLEASURE Narrative Of
journey on the Thames from oxford 10 London.
BY Joseph and Elizabeth Robins Pencil. Together
with Practical Chapter by j. q. Legge. 4tO, PIP
100 Macmillan Co.
No better season could have been chosen for the
publication Of this charming and artistic trife. The
accounts Of the dawdle down the Thames form oxford
to London, much Of lounge that the authors
times made only four miles day-and then brag Of
their record breaking achicvements-is full of the
from beginning TO end. 1t would indeed be dil-
cult TO write really dull book OF such voyage for
even transcription Of the guide-books would abound
with interesting matter seeing that every rod of tho
whole distance possesses some historical literary
association, ard that monuments Of every kind mark
the of the river between the university town
and the metropolis. The authors however, were re-
solved TO do" the Thames in their way, and
though they did not wholly succeed In this they must
have had plenty of novel experiences. Procuring
roomy rowboat fitted with an awning stretched over
iron hoops somewhat after the Of the covering
OF prairie schooner, they provided themselves with
patent stove and all other indispensbles for camping
ont a huge mattress had TO be discarded because
they discovered that when it the boat there was
no room for them. But they did not miss It, for they
quickly realized that it would be much more com
Portable TO sleep at Of the many inns that line the
river; and the same considerations persuaded them
| to take their meals also on shore
Setting of upon crowded stream without practical
knowledge Of boating is always risky and the Thames
| below Oxford, with its numerous locks welrs and
lashcrs. Is hardly the ideal stream upon which TO ex-
| pertinent. Oar vOyagers, however had luck with
thcm and escaped the serious dangers Of the situation
| being only once twice put In awkward positions
| No doubt the fact that they took their time 10 the
Journey accounts in great for their immunity
and the whole equally inexperienced people would
not do well to follow their example But these two
all that was to be SEEM ard one of them drew n
| dao1 Of 4 xrif f,o
consists ALMOST much OF sketches and Ihotogavurcs
as Of text The Illustrations are well chosen II not
so well executed II must be said that the methods
employed involve certain Tor uncertaln) wooness Of
| effect, and that some Of the sketches are so very
sketchy that il is sometimes hard TO tell In looking at
them, when they right side ups river filed
with barges and steam launches and canoes and house
| boats and sailing boats, randaus and pnnts and
wherrics and every imaginable kind of rOwboa ncces-
saly offers many distractions TO the artist in search
Of effect especially when that artist has to row and
cannot, and depends for the Of the boat upon
wife who has to Steer and docs not know how Never
thoess these bold and fortunate voyagers appear to
have neither run into been run into by their fellow
nOaters. though they went zgzaggng down the Thames
| in decidedly eccentric fashion.
The narrative certainly conveys the impression Of
uncomfotably crowded waters, and this, no doubt is
| the truth, though the English frcqucnters OF the
Thames do not realize the narOwness OF their quarters
having always been accustomed TO them. Hut pre-
| csely because the nver Is SO narrow and so full Of
craft such trip this, taken so lelsurely commends
itself the right way OF seeing the scenery and
the shOwplaces along the route. a few miles a day.
with plenty Of Ioang m pretty shady places and here
and there day two TO visit and Inspect some par
ticularly interesting spot binding or neghborhoOd-
this IS the way 10 gather permanent impressions b
avoid discomfort 10 get tie best Of the excursion Mr.
and airs. Pencil have IN these pages put together a
great deal of Local Information likely prove useful TO
Americans following in their wake. and Mr.. Legge con
tributes PRACTICAL chapter. in which he tells all
about the various kinds Of boats plying the upper
Thames with the cost Of hiring them and other mat
ters of interest 10 intending boates. The volume Is
handsomely made and 10 doubt 1t will find welcome
| such As It's merits entite IL TO.