The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1895-03-16
BEAUTIFUL THAMES.
1T is BY FAR THE MOST ELEGANT WA
TER PARK IN THE WORLD.

Pleasure Stream on Which In the Sea-
son There L. Always n Crowd and Yet
Plenty of Room--The Trip From oxford
to Richmond Delightful Experience.
The river Thames is the most impor-
tant as 1t 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 adj
1acent 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
Tor its maintenance as water park.
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 n population of $500. 900
people and a ratable valuation of about
$500. 600, 900. 1t drains, with its tribu-
taries, an area Of more than 8. 900 square
miles. Until it enters the county of
London 1t is distinctly a river of pleas
ure. From the western border of the
county of London to tho sea, distance of
sixty odd miles. it is a highway of COM
merce. By its aid London has become
the greatest port in the world
1t is Of the Thames as a pleasure
stream that propose to write. but it is
well to understand at the outset that the
river from start to finish as a water
park and as commercial highway is
under the control of a single authority
called 1.-THE Thames conservancy. q"
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 pnzy concerned.
One 81 2f'fn-per Thames at its best
from the - of May to the end Of
September tween those dates the
trip down Em, say from Oxford to
Richmond. Journey of 100 miles, is
one of the st delightful experiences
that can con to lover of outdoor pas
time. The st way to see the stream
is to row OF hnt or paddle down the
river, stopp overnight at any pleas
ant inn You ay come to and making
the journey easy stages of about 20
miles day. In this way you see some
of the lovelt st portions of the English
country to the best advantage and un-
der ideal cofditions. This journey is a
favorite one With thousands of people.
and the facii hes for undertaking it in
comfort are abundant In fact, the
Thames abotlds in facilities for out.
door pleasure At every few miles there
are boathouses and inns, and almost
anywhere ydu can put up on the banks
for DAYS T-icnic. From end to end OF
the course, how ON one side of the
! stream and low ON the other, there is q
towing pathtor the free use of the pub
i lie Wherever the path shifts from one
side of the sJeam to the other there i:
a ferry statid
There areyl pine 30 locks on the
Thames. At eal lock there are keepers
always ON duty pd they reside in pref
ty cottages ON tlrAanks. Most of tn,
e locks are supple 18th inclined rollel
] ways, over which, sAall boats can b.
easily taken if 20 prefer not to wal
for passage through the lock.
Many of the Thameside towns hav'
an annual rowing regatta, each Of which
makes for its district the great fete da,
h of the year. The chief of these regatta
is that at Henley, whose fame Is know
d, to amateur oarsmen the world over. 4
e Thames fete day affords one of the mos
/, delightful spectacles that can be imag
y ined. The course is literally covere'
). with small boats. The bright costume
- Of the occupants give a sprinkling o
welcome color to the scene. The festiv
itv is indeed a water carnival III
houseboats which make an importan
mart of the feet, line the banks and ar
decked with flowers and bunting. ant
at night every craft is gayly illuminated
On these occasions the old saying tina
1.-THE English take their pleasures sad
w." is again disprovod. for jollier an
more delightful fiesta is nowhere to b
found in Europe. Besides, no matte
how great the crowd or how high tn
shirts of il, the order Of the day
perfectly kept Perhaps the rough ele
ment of the community does not car
for these water sports. Perhaps the NJ
per river is too far from the haunts G
d the turbulent. but whatever the caus
the fact remains that gala days on th
Thames are as notable for good manner
as for good fun, and no matter hoy
- huge the throng there may be a seen
ingly solid mile of small craft packe
across the river from bank to bank "
the whole business is so well manage
that when the time comes to clear n
/, course for racing the way is easily mad
} by the regatta authorities and the on
q GERS Of the Thames conservancy.-bo'
ton Herald.