Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-08-17
specialcorrespcndence OF Gazette and Jorrn!

Special Correspondence OF Gazette and journal
LONDON, Aug. 6.--The vastness of
London's population is less felt in its
impressiveness from meeting it face TO
face in London thoroughfares than from
even the still inadequate comprehension
securable through seeing some of its
component parts in its various holiday
resorts for summer outings. In the
first instance if one could severally
confront its four or five million inhabi-
tants along its seven thousand miles of
streets, the monotony of the experience
would detract from just perception of
It's tremendous import. But when you
might pass an entire month, indeed
perhaps an entire summer, without
being able to visit, with the most careful
disposition of time, any large proportion
of its immediate resorts, finding at each
outing crowds numbering from hum
dreds to almost hundreds of thousands,
tho immensely of the totality of those
who are "outersn and those who are
not, begins to dawn upon the observant
mind
There are more than 100 populous re-
sorts, from 80 minutes TO two and a
half hours distance from the Strand,
beginning at Bournemouth and follow
ing the south coast with circle OF the
Isle of Wight to the east coast, includ-
ing those of the north and south shores
of the lower Thames, and thence up
along the Channel to Great Yarmouth.
On every pleasant Saturday half holt
days, OH sunny Sundays and ON bank
holiday and other full summer holidays,
every one of these places is thronged.
The rich, the well-to.do idlers and the
families of comfortable tradesmen are
found in these. believe a quarter of a
million of "outers" of all classes are at
the same time afloat upon OF lounging
beside the Thames, from Margate to
Windsor.
As an experiment in seeing London
outing crowds, in one days travel |
found perhaps 10000 people in Green
witch Park; as many more at Brighton;
at least 10000 overlooking Royal Kew
Gardens; fully 10000 in Hyde Park,
where it seemed that all the open-air
speakers of England were haranguing
crowds upon every conceivable social,
political and religious subject; from
10000 to 50,000on and about Hampstead
Heath; and from 100000 to 100000 dis
porting themselves in the sun and shade
OF ancient Epping Forest. On this one
day secured at least glimpses of crowds
that in all forms of holiday making
must have numbered more than three
quarters of million souls.
Unquestionably the greatest two re.
sorts for the London middle classes and
the lowly are Hampstead Heath and
Epping Forest. 1t is but pleasant
walk from the heart of London te
Hampstead Heath, for its farthes
reaches can be no farther than six miles
from the Strand; while an Epping
Forest to-and-return fare is but ONE
shilling; and the myriad London coster
mongers and other possessors of tidy
carts and traps find 1t an easy jog fol
their donkeys or screws to either o.
these recreation grounds. The result Il
that In both of these resorts you in
variably find hordes of the common
people" filled to the brim with horse
play, flour ale" and good cheer. The,
are vigorous in their merry-making a
children loosed from school. They ar,
grudgingly but good-naturedly fierce il
the utilization of every moment of tn
holiday in some sort of rugged diver
sion. And altogether they furnisl
scenes of the heartiest, easiest-provoked
most unctious and vociferous holida,
enjoyment to be found in all the world
But who can properly describe thi
ancient Hampstead Heath and its quain
and picturesque surroundings, or fiji,
tell its weird and pleasant memories
"Gor bli me |" exclaimed coster friend
''me bloomin' donah d fade to hangel
eff didn't jog her uppn tn 'Eath wonc
week or so, Cor bli me, SO she would |!
That was his idea of its exceeding
utility. "Pd rayther ha'a mouthfu' O. Il
'Eath air than the best whites my mis-
sus do mess together !" observed a tram
car driver on the Kentish Town Roat
and that was his glowing tribute to il
fine salubrity. sven yer goes in for
regular lark, a regular lark, mind, wat
easy TO git, an sweet as Essex milk
maid to remember, 'Ambstead 'Eath
tn parydise yer wants ter keep yer hey
ont" was the brisk and authoritative n
mark of the green grocer's man upon i
ethical and divert:ng advantages, as
ruminatively trudged into old HAM
brought ME with CHEEKY enthusiasm
the verge of the enchanted holida
region.
The Heath is trifie west of north
the heart of London. It is not mo
than 800 or 400 acres in extent; but
it comprises the highest and widest hill
rising out of the valley of the Thame
the railways have had to stop at its edl
and leave the region for the peopl
almost as nature fashioned it. The His
street of old Hampstead town, windir
up the last steep of the first hill whit
has stood as rampant against Londt
encroachment, gives charming views
ancient houses, old streets which ha'
held their old names, old courts al
avenues of lines and Gins so old TIL
the midday light beneath them is Iii
the satfrony cleaning of eventide. The
is pensive hush in these streets al
lanes suggestive of splendid antiqui
and gentle, loving decay. 1t would
glorious outing in itself to saunt
Il and dream in these lovely avenues al
courts, with here and there the
"A shadowy vistas blending into blossoi
ing lanes, every one of which, sunfleclS
and odor-laden, invites to the free, wi
n expanse of the pleasant country beyon
You enter the Heath at once from c
a Hampstead town, and instantly comp
~ bend that the region and its attractio
TO Lopdoners must be considered
three distinct and delicious aspects
n advantages for free and untrammel
recreation; its positive inspiration
painter and poet and excellent uses
the naturalist; and from those blendir
and environment of mellow are Ii