Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-07-31
WHAT HE HAS SEEN
Dr.. Roberts Writes an Enter
tanning Letter
ABOUT HIS EUROPEAN TOUR
He Has Visited the Great Hospitals of
Edinburgh and Witnessed Opera
tons by Prof. Annandzle-

DIR. VI. z. Roberts, Who 10 spending
the summer in Europe, writes an inter
tanning letter TO . friend ia this city,
from which the following 10 an ex-
csrpt:
Left New York CITY June on the
steamship Nevada for Queenstown, AZ
irving ct latter place June IA. rne
voyage was . most enjoyable one. Had
sunshine each day, but one when rain
fell for SIX hours. The sea Was quite
calm, although there is constant roll
ing motion to the steamships as they
glide over the Immense ocean swells.
Each day brought IL amusements.
Had ali sorts Of games. such a. chess,
draughts, cards, beside many snip
games, such ~ pitching quoits and
another game called schuffie. Had
several concerts, one champagne
dinner and . mock trial which
afforded rich amusement. The
mock trial was the arrest and trial
of Colonel Hammond of Illinois on Q
charge of gambling, which, by the way,
is INDUCED in by nearly everyone on
board the ocean steamers III one way or
another. Messrs. Moxam of Kentucky
and Todd OF New York were the prose-
cutors and Mr.. Schofield and we're
the defendants attorneys. Mr.. Spencer
of Australia acted AS judge. Then
there were the witnesses aud jurors and
q large audience. The colonel was
found guilty, but was released on the
ground of temporary insanity.
l was much disappointed IN the ap-
pearance of Queenstown, that 10, in an
architectural view, as ! found nothing
but old stone buildings of ancient type.
The town claims IL 900 inhabitants and
Is nicely situated upon the side OF =
mountain, the slopes being covered by
the loveliest flowers, which watt their
sweet odOrs lar and near.
Two Wheeled Carts.
The conveyances here consist of two
wheeled carts with seats upon each
side and are drawn principally by 4
small, scrawny little donkey. Think /
saw not more than dozen horses while
in Queenstown. Spent only one day
there then went to Cork, fourteen
miles north upon the River Lee. The
ride was quite pleasant, but, oh, what
cars the railroads have here. They are
about the size of the dummy cars that
used to run to Reeds lake, and each
one has two seats across the end of the
car and then q partition and so on,
each car having Its little pens which
are distinguished as first, second and
third Glass, the only difference being
the upholstering. There are no &C.
commodations for water. heat, etc.
You cannot get out of the little box
after the train starts. The rates for
travelling vary from one and two-thirds
cents per mile to about four cents per
mile according to accommodations.
The checking of baggage here is un-
known. You nave to claim your bag
gage 1T the end of the journey. It
seems n though the English adopt
the most confused plans they can
think Of. They are not modern
In anything. America 10 hundreds of
years ahead now. Spent day in Cork
with DR.. Vanderberg of Grand Rapids,
who is travelling with me. We cav and
heard the famous Shandon bells that
ring 90 merrily out over the River Lee.
We drove out eight miles from Cork
and visited the Blarney castle and
kissed the Barney stone. The drive
through Ireland was grand; roads level
and hard, scenery varied with noun.
tains and valleys covered with grass
and flowers. There are no forests here
except small patches of groves which
they call forests. The farm houses are
Of stone, ole story high and from q
hasty glance seem dirty and filthy
The fences all through Ireland are OF
stone, generally covered with grass and
flowers. The fields are divided into
very small lots. which 70 an American
seem like garden spots.
Visited Dublin Hospitals.
Leaving Cork at a. m. we reach
Dublin ct p. M, having travelled q
population of about 250, 900 and is quite
. nice city. Here | visited the hospit.
ais and found them we'll managed
But most of their buildings are Old and
poorly ventilated, with improper facil.
tiles fer antiseptic surgery. The Ma.
ternity or Rotunda hospital 10 the
largest of its kind in Ireland and wal
established in 1880. We also visited
the museums and several other points
OF interest.
Left Dublin at .. m. Saturday on .
boat for Glasgow, where we arrived 81
10 .. m. next day. The scenery ~ We
approach Scotland 10 magnificent, par.
ticularly after we entered the River
Clyde. On the way M the river we
passed the famoue Dunbsrton castle
which figures 80 conspicuously il
Scotch history. The Clyde is . grea'
port for vessel-building. Saw two i'm
mense boats ~ we passed into Glas
gov. which will be when finished the
largest afloat. Having arrived ct Glas
gov, WAS surprised at the size Of thu
city. Learned that It contained
500, 900 inhabitants and IL strictly
business city, very LITTLE
being given up to pleasure. While there
We visited the cathedral, the only on,
remaining since the reformation. IL il
an immense structure. srrounded by
the metropolis, which 10 without doub
the most picturesque ever saw. 1t il
reached by passing over large eton'
| bridge, Justly termed the bridge o.
signs. We visited the blind asyIun
and saw the inmates making furnitur,
and performing some wonderful feat
| in the manufacture OF articles. W,
also visited the great West End park.
magnificent place, In the center o
which stands the beautiful University
| of Glasgow.
Tuesday We entered Edinburgh, tn
capital Of Scotland, and, | might say
the most charming place I have We
seen. Words cannot describe the seen
cry here. The university has an enroll
naent of nearly 5000 pupils The hos
pstals here are managed nearly tn
came ss 10 Amerlcs.
Operatives by Prof. Ansansase.