New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-09-24
LIFE IN LONDON SUBURB
COMFORTABLE AND BEAUTIFUL HOMES
NEAR THE GREAT METROPOLIS.

ondoners live out Of town among the beauti.
fnl suburbs which abound north, west and south
of this mammoth city. Along the banks OF thu
Thames there are some delightful residences and
pretty villages Of private houses; in the Crystal
Palace district there are also some thousands OF
| beautiful homes: but, to my mind, the northern
suburbs, which are reached by the North London
Great Northern and Great Eastern railways, ara
the localities where can be found the most bean.
tful residences, combining rural quiet and privacy
with stability ard picturesqueness which are not
| found In any other district OF London Nearly
half a million OF people-nine-te of them men
| arrive at and leave Iroad-st. and Lvcrpoo-st
stations morning and evening on their way to and
| from business One-half Of these live in thosa
suburbs to which have referred. And as it will
be interesting to visit this semi-country part Of the
treat CIV let us board North London train a
Iroad-st. and 20 whittier it will take u.s. The
terminal station is Enfield forty minutes distant
Away flies the train, now over the housetopa
now cutting through the network Of streets, until
we reach Finsbury Park. From here on thu
buildings become fewer, until we finally leave the
Everlasting streets behind, and find ourselves
in the suburbs, which, properly speaking, begin
nj Wood Green, where the Alexandra Palace ia
situated The next station is Pamer's Green, then
Winchmore Hill, and the next the terminal
Enfield.
Within a radius of seven miles from this old
town there are nearly dozen smaller towns
and villages, and sprinkled throughout the IN.
teryening country are some Of the finest residences
around London Leaving the Enfield station,
let us take hanson and drive to historic
Waltham Cross-fOur miles away On the road
We pass by Chcsunt, famed the world over fw
its roses. Here can examine the great rose
nurseries Of Paul, whose name conjures up
bouquets Of tho most delightful fragrance and
form and color in the mind Of every rose grower.
We are Oh the main road now: we have passed
the New River, and at last we go under the sign
Of the Four Swans. and arc in WaltIam Cross
1t is "a quaint, sleepy old place. but made famous
because OF the great stone cross which
erected there to commemorate the fact that Queea
gleanor's body rested here during the funeral
Journey from Canterbnry II is from this that
the place takes its dual nameit being formerly
plain Waltham.
One of the first things that arrests the atten.
ton of foreigner when exploring suburban North
London is the hedges. Running along each side
OF the roadway they rise four, five and SIX fee.
in height. They are in this district commonly
Of hawthorn, and are kept carefully trimmed BY
their owners. presenting refreshing, continuous
fence Of this sweet Towering sIrub for miles and
miles Sometimes there is break in this
green hedge 1t usually occurs at some large
estate whose owner, apparently jealous lest the
public may see the treasures OF his grounds
and wither them by their gaze. puts up seven.
foot 'hoarding' of split oak'-oaken boards split
holn the lDg-all around II makes a hideously
ugly fence stone or brick wall would be no
more expensive, and not so unsghtly; but the
T. ~ ia tha nd ,lv tIo
general rural harmony and Pcturesqueness il
destroyed
The roads are generally macadamized and are
always kept in excellent condition. They arc
raised in the certre and slope toward the sides,
where there are little dykes, or channels, to
carry of the water. Except on the main roads
there is no attempt at made sidewalks. Ths
usual plan is TO allow the grass to grow between
the hawthorn hedges and the dykes, except where
foot passengers beat out path from their con.
slant passing to and fro. Sometimes "shingle'
is thrown upon this pathway by the different
owners along the road; but a rule it is left
in it, natural state, and certainly it makes q
charming effect.
Sometimes, as We pass private grounds, we no.
tice gap in the hedge or oak fence, and right
through the grounds of course not interfering
with the gardens, etc) We find pathway. These
pathways belong to the public, and cannot be dis
turbcd or closed. Such passage Is called
right OF way In many cases, should thess
paths pass through a gent.mans stable yard, gates
without locls-arc put on them, put more often
We lind the old stc. The stiles are not nova
bic. They are made in various ways: but they
must be climbed over, and it is peculiar charm
10 the young swain 10 have the privilege OF help
ing his lady love them.
<,I cl,al Ia, pnt. nj
of the residents and have closer view OF them
and him We pass through swinging gate and
walk through beautifully laid out lawn T. tho
house, which is splendid limestone structure.
Its master receives us politely. and when we tell
him tina: .se are stran -Amercans-w desire
10 learn something of English suburban llie he
cordially shows us around his grounds, while va
rly him with questions pertaining to tie pro-
grammc We have set ourselves to complete. IN
our way to Waltnan Gross we passed by New
River There it looked like canal, beautifully
kept with green, grassy Sides and lined on either
side with poplars, elms AMI plare trees. bus
here il winds through tins gcnt.cman's grounds,
aud gives additional beatty to his eXqdisitely
planted lawn and gardens He informs us that
this is an artificial river, the cutting OF It's
channel Was begun hundreds of years ago. ana
that it comes from a great distance to supply
London with water. Every person whose GROUNDS
it passes through is bound by agreement, TO keep
that part of il thoroughly clean: bat at stated
intervals the officers of the New River Company
come to examine It and remove any foul bottom
that might collect between the cleanings. IL Is
certainly a delightful addition TO the beauty Of
the grounds OF suburban North Lordon, through
which il passes, and for appearance sake. II l,r
no otrer reason, they keep it, banks scrupuIousJ
neat and iOwer-bedecled IN
Through the trees see a tennis party IN iuli
swing, and beyond, in the open field, the nay
makers are tossing the hay, while the little ones
romp around it, A more beautiful picture OF hap
pincss it would be difficult 10 imagine. Then We
20 to see the greenhouses, ferneries, craperes'
orchid houses and other glass houses in this beau
tful garden, and are delighted at the polite III
terest our host takes in explaining every thing 70
us Behind the greenhouses is an excellent vegeta-