Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1893-04-20
For the Ellsworth American.
Rambles in Old England.


Leaves. from VI, Log
Once more the end Of the old year is up
on Us; the troubles that faced US S65 day.
ago, have been met and overcome, and be
fore u 10 the dim distance stand the cares
OF coming days, and hope the realization
OF other pleasures similar to those ,ha,
have passed, only under new date.
have passed 33l Of the last $50 dsys q,
sea- which i less time at sea in the same
number VI days than for several wears
Several more days must yet be worn ou,
before we see the land again, Sitting here
surrounded ny hundreds of miles Of roll
ing wafer, recall-by the aid of my log
some ~ my feelings and ideas Of the last
two years ego this date. Dec 81. one
year ag0, was not far from my present
position being then in lat. deg % min.
n. Ion. +3 deg, = min. W. on passage
from India 70 New York. Two years ago
Was IN one OF the oldest town. In Eng
land. How yiyidly to my mind comes nv
walk sitter an evenings visit in pleasant
English home, 70 my vessel lying at a dock
mile or more away on the margin of the
ctiv
In the last hours Of the old year alked
along the silent streets OF that ancient
town meditating upon the many events
that bad transpired 10 the last year In
which was personally Interested. some
Of which, though turned down forever.
leave impressions through all the coming
years uf life. Ny rev.ri- ~" a"u 'i'e"
was broken u, ,he ha,hos Of brilliant light
OF many hues that shot across my path
through the stained glass windows Of the
several churches. and the sacred music
that filed the otherwise silent sir with
melody; ligh; and music flowing from
churches who's" congregations consisted
of yoGnG and old, fathers, mothers, sis
ter, brothers, swertbesrts and lovers. who
watched the old yesr out and the new
yesr in
After passing out Of church the light
and music, ali nature seemed asleep be-
meath the cold gray mantle OF dim moon
light that covered the ancient ci,y, and all
the country round. As walked along
the waters II The placid Medina fiowing
so silently between it, fertile banks, my
mind wsnders back across the vista Of
many generations. aud before me pass
Incidents that might have transpired In the
days when along those same nights rode
and waiked mai!-clad knight and warriors
Of other nations. He. Ike myself may
have been going to his own home after
passing the earlier hours IN genial com
pany. The memory Of pair Of bright
eyes that smiled into his. and the warm
clasp Of soft li,tle hand that responded
10 the pressure Of hi, own when he said.
good night" vas still in his mind, when
he il sroused BY the hoarse call Of sen
tincl 10 a language unknown TO the pres
ent inhabitants. He listens to the call as
it j. reEeated from the tops of those round
watch towers, and hears it re-echo through
the silent night from tower to tower on
lis way to the officer in command. Through
openings in the forests Of giant oaks he
caught the sight of tower and tent, and
saw the, bright Medina flowing between
towers of the Roman legions, and
dreamed as be walked as did of the pas,
and possible future that concerned him
self. Ny musings brought me in a circle
10 the realization Of the fact, that mail
clad warrior tented field. towers and grand
old forests had all passed away, and in
their places stand quiet lovely homes, busy
villages and factories, and in their season
fields of fragrant flowers and grain bow
and rustic 10 the mellow light. But-this
| is not Just what had in my mind to tel
YOU when sat down here, or at least die
| not intend to tell you quite so much of il
| But my Imagination has taken me far afield
| By that wonderful power of though
that instantaneously overc omes space o
through lofty cathedrals and decaying cas-
ties, through galleries Of art, and museums
of wonderful exhibits. through mountain
wales, and royal parks, through the lovel.
scenery of Ceylon, and through ancien
towns and villages, among the Hindoos
Cipgalese and Tamils, whose modes o
architecture, Of living and of dress hav
changed but little, if any, in the course o
some three hundred years contact wit
western nations and in imagination hav
again been one of party, Gin scene tina
few ship masters, perhaps, have ever seen
in community of Jews whose forefath
ers were driven from Jerusalem at the de
struction Of the second temple, and settle
at last in Hindostan. Some time nigh
tell you something Of that gathering.
One morning two years ago this month
friend of mine and myself started fo
Ventuor, a famous watering place on tn
south side of the Isle of Wight Th
ride took US through Newport, the
through the pleasing scenery of forest
farm and village, nesting on the sides a
the hills, or dreamily slumbering in th
wales along their bases. The day was fin
and how peaceful, contented. and happ
appeared all nature!
Peace, with wings Of golden sunlight
seems to hover over all this quiet scene Z
English rural loveliness, this bright Sur
day morning. After a run of about hftee