The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1894-10-20
BEAUTIFUL THAMES.
" IS BY FAR THE MOST ELEGANT WA
TER PARK IN THE WORLD. '

Plenty OF Noom-IhcI Trip from Oxtofu
to Richmond q Delightful Experience.
The river Thames is the Eloss impor-
tans Is it is the most beautiful water
mark in the world. 1t is TO London and
the adjacent countise what the Charles
river sllculd and Can By the diligence
Of public spirit be to Boston and the nd
iacent towns. With the 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 its maintenance as . water PARK, ]
present what follows:
Tho Thames, counting all its turn
ings and twistings and not measuring
by a direct line, runs something like 200
miles from its source to the sea. On it;
banks are 10 counties, including Lon
don. having a population of &, 800, 00O
people and a ratable valuation Of about
$500, 900, 600. 1t drains, with its tribn-
taries, IN area of more than s, 600 square
miles. Until it enters the county OF
London it is distinctly u river of pleas
ure. From tho western border Of the
county Of London to the sea, Assistance Of
sixty odd miles, it is a highway Of ON
mercc. By its aid London has beco,ne
the greatest port il tho world.
1t is of tho Thames as a pleasure
stream that l propose to write. but it Is
we'll to understand at the outset that the
river from start to finish as a water
park and rs a commercial highway is
under the control Of o single authority
called tito Thames conseryancy."
For purposes Of administration the river
is technically divided into two parts
the upper and the lower. the upper
portion is practically what l have al
ready indicated as the water park or
pleasure section, and with that portion
only am I now concerned.
One secs the upper Thames at its best
from the middle of May to the end OF
September. Between those dates the
Richmond. a journey Of 100 miles, is
Of tho most delightful experiences
that can come to n lover Of outdoor pas
time. The best way to see the stream
is to row or punt or paddle down this
river, stopping overnight at any pleas.
ant inn you may come to and making
the journey lii easy stages Of about 20
miles a day. In this way you see some
of the loye:iest portions OF the Englisl,
country to the BEST advantage and I'M.
der ideal conditions. This journey is a
favoritc one with thousands Of people,
and tho facilities for undertaking il III
comfort are abundant. In fact, the
Thames abounds in facilities for out,
door pleasure. At every few miles there
are lighthouses and inns, and alnC.t
anywhere You vi pnt up on the bani
for a days picnic. From end to end of
the course, row on one side Of tie
stream and To- Oh the other, there is O
towing path for the free use of the pub.
lie. Wherever the path shifts from ore
side Of the stream to the other there i:
a ferry station.
There are some 40 locks On thu
Thames. At each lock there arc keeper:
always Oh duty, and they reside in pref
ty cottages ON the banks. Most of lie
locks are supplied with inclined role,
ways, over which small boats can be
easily taken if you prefer not to wal.
for o passage through the lock.
Many of the Thameside towns have
an annual rowing regatta, each of which
makes for its district the great fete day
OF the year. The chief Of these regatta:
is that at Henley, whose fame is known
to amateur oarsmen the world over. A
Thames fete day affords one of the mos
delightful spectacles that can be imag
lned. The course is literally covered
with small boats. The bright costume:
OF the occupants give a sprinkling d
welcome color to the scene. The festiv.
lty is indeed a water carnival. The
! h~ouseboats, which make an important
part OF the feet. line the banks and arr
decked with flowers and bunting, and
at night every craft is gayly illuminated.
On these occasions the old saying tina,
1.-THE English take their pleasures sad.
~ is again disproved, for q iollier and
more delightful fiesta is nowhere to be
found III Europe. Besides, no mattel
how great the crowd or how high the
spirits of it, the order Of the day is
perfectly kept. Perhaps the rough ele.
ment OF the community does not care
for these water sports. Perhaps the I'D.
per river is too far from the haunts Q;
the turbulent, but whatever the cause
the fact remains that gala days on the
Thames are as notable for good manner:
as for good fun, and no matter how
huge the throng (there may be a seem.
ingly solid mile of small craft packed
across the river from bank to bank) YET
the whole business is so well managed