Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1894-11-06
BEAUTIFUL THAMES.
IT is eY FAR THE MOST ELEGANT WA
TER PARK IN THE WORLD.

Pleasure Stream on which In the Sea-
son There T. Always q Crowd aud Yet
rienty Of Hoom-The Trip From oxford
to Riohmoad DeiiThtfui Experience.
The river Thames is the most impor.
tant A. Il Is the most beautiful water
park in the world II Is TO London and
the adjacent counties what tho Charles
river should and can b. the diligence
u public spirit be 20 Boston and tho ad
3aoont towns With tho hope OF stirring
this public spirit and showing what tho
English do with their beautiful river
and how they manage it, how they pay
FOR It's maintenance "a n water park.
present what follows;
The Thames, counting all 81 turn.
ings and twisungs and not measuring
by direct line runs something like 200
miles from its source to tho sea. On it,
banks are 10 counties, including Lon.
don, having n population OF $500. 600
people aud n rltable valuation Of about
$500, 900. 600. 10 drains. with itq tribu.
tnrics, an area OF more than D. 600 square
milcss Until DC enters tho county OF
London 10 81 distinctly river Of pleas.
uro From tho western border Of the
county Of London To- tbcfo % distance Of
hxiy odd miles. it Is q highway of com.
mcrco Iy its aid London has become
the greatest port in tho world
Il ID u the Thames ns pleasure
stream that ] propose 70 write. but it ~
VOL % undorstaud at tho outset that the
river from start TO finish as wnier
park and ~ "a commercial highway is
undor tho couirol Of a single authority
called tho Thames couservaucy.
For purposes Of administration the river
Is technically divided into two parts
the upper aud the lower Tho upper
portion Is practically what | have al.
ready indicated rs the water park or
pleasure section, and with that portion
only am / now concerned
Ono soes the upper Thames at H. bcst
from tho middle Of May to the end Of
September Between those dates the
trip down stream, ray from Oxford to
Richmond, q journey Of 100 miles. Is
ono of the most delightful experiences
that can como 20 lover OF outdoor pas.
time Tho best way 70 500 tho stream
IL to row ur punt or paddle down tho
river, stopping overnight ut any pleas.
ant inn you may come 20 aud making
the journey Ia easy stages OF about 20
miles day. In this way you SEQ some
uf tlo loyoliost portions Of tho English
country 70 tho bost advantage aud un.
der ideal conditions This Journey IL a
favorite one with Thousands OF people.
and tho facilities for undertaking IL In
comfort aro abundant In fact, tho
ahounds In facilities for out.
door pleasure AZ every fow miles there
arc lighthouses and inns. and almost
anywhere you can put up ON tho banks
Tor n days picnic. From und 10 end "
the course, now on ono side OF tho
stream and now ON tho other, there Is a
towing path for tho FREQ use Of tho pub.
lie Whorovor the path shifts from ono
sido Of the stream TO the other thoro Is
u forty station.
b. Thea I'VE soma 40 looks ON tho
Thames At each lo6frthoro arc keepers
always ON duty, and they reside In prot.
~ cottages ON the banks Most Of tho
locks are supplied with inclined roller
ways, over which small boats can DO
easily takon II You prefer not TO wait
for passage through the lock.
Many Of tho Thnmosido towns have
an annual rowing regatta, each Of which
makes for its district the great fcto day
Of the year. Tho chief Of these rcgattas
Is that nj Henley, whose fame IL known
10 amateur oarsmon the world over. A
Thames feto day affords ono Of the most
delightful spcotaclos that can ho imag.
incd. The course is literally covered
with small boats Tho bright costumes
of the occupants give u sprinkling Of
welcome color 70 the scene. Tho fcstiv.
ity 10 indeed water carnival. The
houfcboats, which mako an important
part of the tioOt, limo tho banks and arc
dccScd with flowers and bunting, and
at night every craft is gayly Illuminated.
On these occasions the old saying that
the English tnko their pleasures sad
ly' IN again disproyod. for a jollior aud
more delightful fiesta Is nowhere to DO
found In Europe Besides, mo- matter
how great the crowd or how high tho
spirits Of IL, tho order Of the day Is
perfectly kept Perhaps tho rough ole.
ment Of the community does not care
for these wator sports. Perhaps tho up.
per river Is too far from tho haunts Of
tho turbulent, but whatever tho cause
the fact remains that gala days on tho
Thamoa are as notable for good manners
as for good fun, and no matter how
huge tho throng (thmo may bo seem.
ingly solid mile Of small craft packed
across the river from bank TO bank vet
tho whole business is El VOL managed
that when the time comes 10 clear the
course for rclng thoway Is easily made
by tho regatta authorities and the Off