Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-05-04

LONDON, April 20.-Ater all, though
the antiquarian, historic and pictur-
esque features Of English villages pro
vide endless fascination and charm,
their human interest has the strongest
hold upon the ooseryant mind and sym
pathetic nature.
They are by no means alike, though
universally possessing similar charac-
teristics, and very many arc striktngly
typical of them all. Those most like
the English villages Of literature will be
found in the eastern, midland and
southern snires, from Lincoln around to
Devon, and these comprise the far
greater number. Those differing most
from each other, and occasionally sep
arately as well as a whole from ali
others, are those of the north western
shires; the northwestern midland shires
where industrial development has ere
sted host OF comparatively modern
+ hamlets; the western central shires
among the Malvern and Cotswold hills.
where the antiquity Of all villages il
very great; and those of Cornwall
where race distinction has left strongly
marked peculiarities in language, Gus
toms, and home and village life among
the lowly.
The peasants of Cumberland and
4 Westmoreland, who are nearly an vii.
layers, most of the former being states.
men, that is, owners in fee OF theirtiny
estates, are as rule ''house proud" In
years OF wandering among the lOwly Of
European countries | have never come
upon any rustic folk tine exteriors of
whose habltatlOnS were mora pir-
turesque, or whose interiors were such
shining examples Of hOmclv comfort
and content. There are OF course rx.
ceptions. Now and then yolI viii find
hamlets like Watendlath, hidden among
the fslls between Borrowdale aud Thru.
mere, where may be seen the sodlcn
squalor occasionally met among the I'M.
fortunate Scottish west coast crofters
and in the Irish west coast fishing
villages. Their houses are dark and
unTholesome, the floors uneven, the
furniture crazy, the men clad in ragged
fnstlan and the women in coarse wool
and wooden clogs. These are sheen
herders under later sort Of fcudahsm.
In every such case the history is, their
foretathers sold their little estates 10
encroaching land -grabbers, and their
children are consequently to-day in a
condition of petty serfdoin.
Precisely as in Wordsw orth's time Won
will find outside the Cumbrian VILLAGERS,
cottages the shade Of grand old svca.
mores and always "a tall lii through
which the winds sing when other tree,
are leatiess;' in the rear little orchard,
an ample herb-bed; near rill or sprtnr.
spout with It's ceasclcss winple: a
comely garden; comfortable stone out.
buildings for grain and for winter hous.
ing Of the COWS and tiny but hardy
Cumbrian sheep; and ALWAYS the she'd
Tor the hives of bees which dsttll from
the mountain heath the darkest, hut
ever the sweetest, honey in the world.
These village home interiors are no
less characteristic. The floors are
usually Of the same huge states as those
covering the roof. They are scrubbed
and cleaned until they shine Ike dutky
mirrors. Frequently you will find
them, particularly near the door and
fireplace, decorated with white, ocAre
and yermilion chalk in figures and
scroll-work embodying strange fqacies
il rustic art. The liviurroonl or fra,
house" as it is called is always vary
large for cottage, often from eiEhteeI
to twenty-five feet square, low, but with
the richest Of old anu polished 3aken
beams in the ceiling. Indeed gl4 M.
may be found in these CuInl,ri..r VII
homes in profuiou.
The long, solid table with benches +
its sides where the STATESMAN . nj.
family and laborcrs III t-,yc,1s,'''t - -
and Of evenings In wi6t.~. ~. ~. u
settle" or two yards long seat N o,lI
SIDE Of the great Fireplace, and M,
''sconcen on tile other sid. u,j.'r I, AZ *,
the nights fuel. rlIlnd Az .sotla,, 't \
placed: the rhairg hr.r. III il
requiring strong arm IN nI.,y,, . = ,',I,
the high, narryw snro,yit'.,. ,' '..'.'1'
bureaus: the many iron IN rr,.s
chests; the beds Anle ana .tr,".r ,'..i
to hold giants for These C,u,II,s.,,,'
often tremendous IN stnt,Iro mi !.
oak, CuriouslV carved ,r,l ,r.,'I III Y
polished. All this is slinrfirns. 80
by pieces Of mahr,raffv
as can be fOunl anIGng p, i,
homes If Brittany krGrn ~ go
clean "tire.holse'' 6r .i,in,+-r,''''',', -
are in all directions invitin,
through wide. Low doors ,,ri o'f,,. ~"
"lean-tos, perhap, e,rh n,,.,t.,,'r d, ~, "a
different century. 10 tfn,.-n,,,,1I -,
dows, splayed 'like turr.i I'M, T.. -
white with inner curtains .,u, II, .,,,
meI ablaIe with outer bind tDt.i,Ir,.-..,,
These villagers rooted 10 tb,.I1,,i Mn.
gave them Birth Nh oi,lg n. :, IA,
ties Of nGredity bit by flJr ~ ia,
more priceless lrritst: , - ~ .'.,..l
neither emigrate n5r tonE N, ,,.,t'i
gested towns. Here j. rir,,l m,
land as it has for centuries Hrou a,i[..,,
type of independent. haIf.,i,f,,,t, Z m
whose eirnnliritv ,ii,t,5 m