Southwest-sentinel. [volume] (Silver City, N.M.) 1883-189?, 1894-12-04
BEAUTIFUL THAMES.
u IS Bv FAR The MOST ELEGANT WA
TER PARK IN THE WORLD.


----
A Pleasure stream on which In the Sea-
son There Il Always Crowd and Yet
Pientyo Of nooEa--Tho Trip From oxford
to Iliohmond Delightful Experiences.
The river Thames is the most impor-
tant as it Is the most beautiful water
park IN tho world. Il is to London and
the adjacent counties what tho Charles
river should and can by the diligence
Of public spirit be to Boston and the ad-
iacent towns. With the hope Of stirring
this public spirit and showing what tho
English do with their beautiful river,
and how they manage il, how they pay
for its maintenance as o water park.
present what follows;
The Thames, counting all its turn
inga and twistings and not measuring
by direct line, runs something like 200
miles from it's source to the sea. On its
banks are 10 counties, including Lon
don, having population of s, 500. BOO
people and q ratable valuation of about
$500, 600, 600. It drains with its trfbu-
taries, an area OF more than o, coo square
miles Until it enters tho county Of
London it is distinctly q river Of pleas
ure. From the western border Of tho
county Of London to the sea, q distance Of
sixty odd miles, it is highway Of COM
merce. By its aid London has become
tho greatest port IN the world
It is of the Thames as q pleasure
stream that propose to write, but it is
well to understand at the outset that the
river from start to finish as q water
park and as a commercial highway is
under the control Of single authority
called ''the Thames conservancy /"
For purposes Of administration tho river
is technically divided into two parts
the upper and the lower. The upper
portion is practically what have al
ready indicated as the water park or
pleasure section, and with that portion
only am now concerned.
One sees the upper Thames at its best
from the middle Of May to the end of
September. Between those dates tho
trip down stream, say from Oxford to
Richmond journey Of 100 miles, is
one Of . most delightful experiences
thai an come to a lover of outdoor pas
time. The best way to SEQ the stream
is to row or punt or paddle down the
river stopping overnight at any pleas
ant inn you may come to and making
tho journey in easy stages Of about u
miles day. In this way you see somt
OF the loveliest portions Of the Englisl
country to the best advantage and un'
der ideal conditions Ihis journey 10 9
fnvorfUo one xviik tilOusundS Of peoplb
and the facilities for undertaking it il
comfort are abundant In fact, tn,
/ Thames abounds in facilities for out
door pleasure. At every few miles thor'
are lighthouses and inns, and almos
i anywhere you can put up on the bank
for a days picnic. From end to end O
the course, now ON one side Of thl
stream and now on the other, thero is
towing path for the free use Of the pub
lie Wherever tho path shifts from on
side Of the stream to the other there i
a ferry station.
There are some 40 locks on tn
Thames. At each lock there are keeper
always ON duty, and they reside in pref
~ cottages ON the banks. Most Of tn
locks are supplied with inclined role
ways, over which small boats can b
easily taken II you prefer not to wal
for passage through the lock
Many Of the Thameside towns hav
an annual rowing regatta, each Of whicl
makes for its district the great fete da,
Of the year The chief Of these regatta
Is that at Henley, whose fame is know
to amateur oarsinon the world over. 4
Thames fete day affords one Of the mos
delightful, spectacles that can be imag
ined. The course is literally covere'
with small boats. The bright costume
Of the occupants give a sprinkling Q
welcome color to the scene. The festiy
ity Is indeed a water carnival. TIL
houseboais, which make an impcrtan
part Of the feet line the banks and ar
deczed with flowers and bunting. an
atnight every craft Is gayly illuminated
On these occasions the old saying thn
"the English take their pleasures sad
"" is again disproved. for a jollier an
more delightful fiesta Is nowhere to
found Ia Europe Besides, no matte
how great the crowd or how high th
spirits Of 1t. tho order Of the day
perfectly kept Perhaps the rough ole
ment Of the community does not car
for these water sports Perhaps the al
per river is too far from the haunts {
tho turbulent. but whatever the oaus
the fact romains that gala days ON III
Thames arc as notable for good mannol
as for good fun, and no matter ho'
huge the throng (ihere may ba q seen
ingly solid mile of small craft packo
across the river from bank to bank) y
the whole business is SO well manage
that when the time comes to clear tl
course for rucing the way is easily mao
BY the regatta authOgities and the on
GERS Of tho Thames conseryanoy. .-Bo
ton Herald
Pon Gives Warning.
Ono Of Uncle Sans most faithfI
II 7 ...... a A..