Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-08-04
ECHOES OF SHROPSHIRE.

1t was the 10Th day of May this
summer that the railroad train, by
Great Western Railway left Birkenhead
at II o'clock for my home in Shropshire
and places beyond. We had spent the
previous night in famous old Liverpool
and got somewhat rested after our
ocean trip of seven days by noble S. S.
Teutonic; and now after an absence OF
some 81 years we are to look upon
familiar scenes, tread the same earth,
saunter along the same lanes, walk the
same streets as we used to in earlier
days. The train went snOrting along
until Chester was reached, an important
town, railroad center, the county town
Of Cheshire and beautifully situated
upon the river Dee. The train stopped
here a few minutes for refreshments.
This is an ancient city, a municipal and
parliamentary borough and returns two
members to Parliament. The two
main streets cross each other at right
angles and were cut out Of the rock by
the Romans to 10 feet below the level
of the houses. The Cathedral is an
irregular massive structure of crumb-
ling sandstone 375x200 feet with tower
Of 127 feet. 1t was formerly the church
of the abbey of st. Werburgh and fol
go years one Of the richest in England
Bishops Pearson and Porteirs were
Bishops of Chester, and here at Trinity
Church lie the remains Of Matthew
Henry the great Biblical Commentator
Leaving Chester we sped along, closed
up in tight, comfortable compartment
until WreXham was reached, a busy
town, the center of q mining and
manufacturing region in North Wales
At this point a Church of England
clergyman and his curate boarded the
train coming into our compartment
They each looked rather inquisitively
at Mrs. Churm and myself and the
children, especially so when little
Carrie sang out Gas she turned her
attention from looking through the car
window "Mamma is this England ?''
OF course it was England and yet not
England but North Wales. AS we pass
along how pretty the hedgerows SEEM
the fragrant hawthorn in full bloom
while here and there appears III sight
the neatly trimmed boXhedge around
some very carefully kept garden OF
lawn. AS we passed Ruabon we got a
view of the Wales and hills of Wales
bordering on the noted vale of Ian
gollen. How delightful to see these
hills which | had climbed years before
when | lived in the vicinity. "The
gorse is yellow on the heath, the banks
with flowers are gay" and everything
clothed in green which refreshes one
after the chill Of a Wisconsin winter.
How anxious we are, town after town
passed by until Shrewsbury is reached
and only ten miles more and in
Wellington, Salop we are. AS the
train pulled up alongside the platform
and railway portcrs called out "Well-
ingtOn" we saw relatives and friends
awaiting us. What a meeting! We got
in a conveyance provided for US and
were driven to our old home.
Shropshire is one of the four counties
bordering on Wales, with which it Is
bounded on the west, and on the east
by the counties of Stafford and Worces-
ter It's area is about S4l ,167 acres
while its population numbers about
$4,000. The Severn IS the principal
river, it pursues 4 generally southeast
course across the county, is navigable
throughout and is joined by the Tern
and Teme. A breed of horned sheer
are peculiar to this county, in fact in
quite number of states in the Union
Shropshire sheep are to be found
Americans annually 90 to England to
get Shropshire sheep. The soil is
generally fertile though there are
several extensive tracts of waste land
The county is also noted for its mineral
wealth, several thousands of people are
employed in raising coal, iron, stone
lliAlN anu III lLLS 1IOII
Wellington has a population of some
5000 or 10000 and is quite busy little
town. All towns in England have theil
market days, and Thursday is the
market day here. The spacious market
hall is filled with venders of almost
every description and for miles around
people bring in their products, while
tradCsmen take their places at theil
own rented stands with their articles o.
merchandise for sale. Other smaller
towns in the neighborhood also have
their market days, but for the most
part on Saturday. In some respects
the market is Il help, in way OF provid
ing means of competition and forming
rendezvous where friends NEE
weekly to exchange greetings and dc
business. In other respects The
market in small towns is a positiv,
damage, inasmuch as it provides
temptation to the workingman to spenC
his weekly earnings IN beer, and thi
III sadly too many cases is done anC
consequent poverty and misery folloY
in their train. On Saturday evenin!
May Dist Mrs. Churm and [ ATTENDED
one of the markets and found every
body busy from the fish seller to th,
more pretentious draperyman anC
grocer; there was the merry-go-rounC
and kindred catchpennies, while nea
by Salvation Army captain was hold
ing forth, and everyone seemed OF