New Ulm review., 1894-10-03
BEAUTIFUL THAMES.
1T is BYFAR THE; ;MosTELEGANT WA
YER PARK IN THE WORLD.
A Pleasure Stream on Which In the Sea-
son There Is Always Crowd and Yet
Plenty OF Room-The Trip From Oxford

Plenty OF Room-The Trip From Oxford
to Richmond Delightful Experience. Z
The river Thames is the most impor-
tant as it is the most beautiful water
park in the world. 1t is to London and
the adjacent counties what the Charles
river should and can by the diligence
Of public spirit be to Boston and the ad-
jacent towns. With the hope of stirring
this public spirit and showing what the
English do with their beautiful river,
and how they manage it, how they pay
for its maintenance as water park, I
present what follows:
The Thames, counting all its turn
ings and twistings and not measuring
by direct line, runs something like 200
miles from its source to the sea. On its
banks are 10 counties, including Lon
don, having a population Of 8, 800, 900
people and a ratable valuation of about
$500. 900, 900. It drains, with its tribu-
taries, an area of more than s, 900 square
miles. Until it enters the county Of
London it is distinctly river of pleas
ure. From the western border of the
county of London to the sea, distance Of
sixty odd miles, it is highway of COM
merce. By its aid London has become
the greatest port in the world. '5ss
It is of the Thames as a pleasure
stream that propose to write, but it is
we'll to understand at the outset that the
river from start to finish as water
park and as commercial highway is
under the control Of single authority
called "the Thames conservancy."
| is technically divided into two parts
the upper and the lower. The upper
portion is practically what I have al
ready indicated as the water park or
pleasure section, and with that portion
only am now concerned.
l One sees the upper Thames at it's best
! from the middle of May to the end of
! September: Between those dates the
trip down stream, say from Oxford to
Richmond, a journey Of 100 miles, is
one of the most delightful experiences
that can come to a lover of outdoor pas
| time The best way to see 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
the journey in easy stages of about 30
miles day. In this way you see some
of the loveliest portions of the English
country to the best advantage and un-
der ideal conditions This journey is q
favorite one with thousands of people,
and the facilities for undertaking it in
comfort are abundant. In fact, the
Thames abounds in facilities for out
door pleasure. At every few miles there
are lighthouses and inns, and almost
anywhere you can put up on the banks
for days picnic. From end to end of
the course, now on one side of the
stream and now on the other, there is a
towing path for the free use of the pub
lie. Wherever the path shifts from one
side Of the stream to the other there is
ferry station.
There are some 40 locks on the
Thames. At each lock there are keepers
always on duty, and they reside in pref
| ty cottages on the banks. Most of the
locks are supplied with inclined roller
ways, over which small boats can be
easily taken if you prefer not to wait
for 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 regattas
is that at Henley, whose fame is known
to amateur oarsmen the world over. A
Thames fete day affords one of the most
delightful spectacles that can be imag-
ined The course is literally covered
with small boats. The bright costumes
of the occupants give q sprinkling Of
welcome color to the scene. The festiv-
ity is indeed water carnival. The
houseboats, which make an important
part of the feet, line the banks and are
decked with flowers and bunting, and
at night every craft is gayly illuminated.
On these occasions the old saying that
''the English take their pleasures sad
ly'' is again disproved, for q jollier and
more delightful fiesta is nowhere to be
found in Europe. Besides, no matter
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 up
per river is too far from the haunts Of
the turbulent, but whatever the cause
the fact remains that gala days ON the
Thames are as notable for good manners
as for good fun, and no matter how
huge the throng (there may be SEEM
ingly solid mile of small craft packed