The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-09-01

parish of primary Importance. It corresponds
partly to the township in the States. Then
the parishes are grouped together into dean
cries, archdeaconries, and dioceses, for the pur-
poses Of ecclesiastical government.
The very old towns are curious mixture OF
the ancient and the modern. Side by side on
the principal streets may be seen low, thatch.
rooted buildings and fine modern three or four
storied business blocks; while, for still greater
variety, curious buildings with each story jut-
ting out farther than the other and the gables
fronting the street, are mingled with the others.
The aspect of such q street when it can be seen
for any length is very interesting. Generally,
the streets are very irregular. They are wide
in some parts, narrow in Others and frequently
more like the track of snake than anything
else. Cross streets occur at irregular distances.
Many curious passages branch off which fire.
quently lead into court that Is, an open
space surrounded by rows of houses.
The older buildings are frequently orna-
mented with curious carved figures. These
represent everything which . sculptor could
conceive, from an imp of the internal regions
to an angel. The favorites seem to lie animals,
such as apes and lions, or patron saints.
In some prominent place usually stood the
"cross." Why it received this name / do not
know. Some Of them are very elaborate struc.
| lures with fine specimens Of carving. They
| seem to have been used as a market where no
tolls were charged. / believe, though, they
| were also used for some public purpose At
present they are preserved only because Of their
antiquity.
| The walls of some of the cities still remain,
| although in an imperfect condition. Before
| the introduction Of cannon they must have
| been almost impregnabe. The gates have
nearly all been taken away, but their location
| is preserved by the name of the street; such az
| north gate, east gate, etc.
| The people nearly all live In rows, or tor
races" These are built clear up to the street
! iI most cases, and there is usually very little
| yard at the back. Detached houses are occu-
| pied only by people of means These are gen.
| orally surrounded by q high wall, so that nc
one can disturb the privacy by looking in.
The English claim that rent is high in Amer.
lea. That is true. Yet if the American work
| man pays greater rent, he gets more for his
| money. It is surely much pleasanter to live
In little detached cottage removed few
| feet from the street than in q row with only
| one front room on each floor. Such is the
| difference in moderate-sized towns in the two
| countries. A city of 10000 in America will
cover as much territory as one of two or three
| times the size on the other side.
| believe the American house wife exceli
| her English sister in decorating the home
| There is greater abundance of fancy fashion.
| ings, which only woman has the patience OF
| even knows how to make
OF course, the moneyed classes have every.
thing that money can buy. That is the most
notable feature of life here. / mean the wide
difference in the classes. The rich are very
rich, and the poor very poor. There is not
| such q proportion occupying the happy
| medium-that class Of people who are not en-.
tirely independent and yet possess property Of
| their own. N. q. WINTER.