The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1891-09-20
"HIeHLANDLoDeE HnRNE HILL,


''LoNDoN, s. e.
"DEAR DooToR: We expect Won ont TO-
io" W speho sunday. Don't disappoint
10. ALICEn
didn't. had longed to obtain elimpse
OF English home life and now was my op-
Portunlty. Alice an English girl who resides
The above address, few years ago she
was passenger on the City of Rome bound
Ior New York, So was l. l was sea sick.
She wasn't needed attention. She didn't.
Her destination was Ohio, mine ditto. In
one year she returned to England. In two
years did the same. A coincidence. Simply
friends.
accepted the invitation. Do 1 ever de-
clines Seldom. have a superstitious
reverence for invitations and do not often
tempt fate by refusing. l believe il nv
tailor would take the trouble to have his dups
neatly engraved ''requesting the pleasure Of
my presence on certain day to meet some
old bills" l could not muster M sufficient
strength to refuse, but at the appointed
time would present myself to my creditor and
deliberately pay the account In full. This ia
saying good deal I know, but such is the
power over me of a neatly engraved in
vitation
Ihey call Herne Hill suburb of London.
with equal proprety Massachusetts, avenue
northwest, might be called suburb of Wash
lngton. once inquired for the Mansion
douse. was in Regent street. ssOh. that's
IN the city," the policeman replied, and pro-
ceeded to direct me. Then it would seem
that Regent street is considered the country
oy these Englfsh officers, thought. l was not
little curious to see what they conceived to
DC the city. | afterward learned that tsthe
city, was term used to designate only the
central portion Of London, the remainder of
the metropolis being divided into sections
eacn named according to location. Thus stE
0a designated s q, the section lying Immediately
east OF the centre or city, s'W. C.'' the part
lying west, "S. G." south central. s.S. En
southeast OF central, and SO on. In the latter
section Is the so-caled suburb, ssHerne Hili, ),
~ Is residence portion and not so crowded
as as ia tne business part OF London. was met
at the station by sCharlien a brother Of
Allce. The streets of Herne Hill are narrow.
crooked, and hemned In by high walls. With
IN these Enclosures can be seen the upper
stories or the large houses and the topmost
pranches OF tne garden shrubbery. These
For every lot there is a low door through the
street wall above which is printed the name of
tne residence. Arriving at "Highland Lodpe,'
Charlie took key from his pocket unlocked
eg tne gate and we entered. Those not provided
with pass keys who wish to gain admittance
pull the bell knob always found at the side of
ene gaze; Inc grounds of Highland Lodge
contained perhaps three acres and were tasto
Iuily laid out In walks and drives Rustic
seats were placed in shady hooks and flowers
EuSm @ III proIusion. flowing fountain,
SWING, grape conservatory were other objects
IL, I notlced as We walked toward The house.
The old mansion corresponded to nv pre-
conceived ideas OF an English home. The
winding. WV '','''
was introduced to the head OF the fam
nyIa orusque, ruddy-complexioned side
Hhlskered, heavy-set gentleman, who greeted
me genially. The mother was a timid look
ing low-voiced little woman, in spectaclss.
,"Dick," girl of about 12, had complex
Ion as soft and rosy as June morning
MARY, TWO years younger, was dream OF
gHIisn beauty. l can see her now, with her
roguish eyes, her mass OF loose, curly hair, her
pert little mouth, and dimpled chin. Louise
Alice told me conidentially, was engaged to
London merchant, and a superb bride she
VIII certainly make. Carrie was in Paris, and
Maud visiting her aunt in hecountry. That's
only the girls Besides Charlie there were
Tour other boys-William, George, Henry,
ana Albert. Plain old names. are they not
have often observed here the noticeable
simplicity In the choice OF names and words
generally. We find comparatively few pro-
per names, and all signs are printed In the
simplest words. In England 1t is simply sway
ont;' In America, ''exit" In England we
take the train at the 'station." We Ameri-
cans outrage good English by having our
trains run Into the ''depot.n / attended a
boatraee once, in which the Oxford "eightsn
were the winners. Here, doubtless, 1t would
have been the "regattan in which the locta-
Kons' were successful
supper awaited us, and having met eleven
out OF this family Of thirteen, we sat down to
a steaming repast. Nights are often chilly in
England even In July, and the cheerful fire
In the CRATE was very comfortable. Supper
over, several choice brands OF cigars were
passed. ! made remark 10 the effect that
supposed pipe was an indispensable article
TO the complete happiness OF every true Eng
lishman.
Not now SO much as formerly" my host
replied, as he lighted a choice Havana, swe
are Initiating yOu Americans, you know, in
this respect, and SO far as I'm concerned
hnd II jolly good change. ! always keep
that cabinet stocked with the best brands
can buy. Scarcely ever smoke q pipe now,
YOU know With that peculiar rising In
heetiOn on the ''yOu KNOW a phrase so com
mon with the English. As a matter of fact /
didn't know anything about his personal