Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1895-04-03
THE INFLUENZA.
A Correspondents Retreat to the
Coast of DevonShire.
ITS HISTORICAL RESPECTABILITY.
Sedate People who Become Enraged at
Pianist-Aftepnoon Tea and
the Effects Of Grip.
ITS HISTORICAL RESPECTABILITY.

London in its grasp, business Is almost
at standstill, society is scattering in
every direction, news is dormant II only
for the reason that the tongues which
spread it are lying prostrate in CON-
longing to them. Your unfortunate
correspondent is enjoying a slight dose
of it.
A haven of escape and of GONZALES
cence from influenza is Torquay, a
watering place ON the south coast OF
Devonshire. which is mainly the prop
erty of the Duke of Devonshire. His
Grace is too rich to require an adyer-
tisement, and Torquay therefore can at
present simply be mentioned as boon
to suffering humanity. At other times
it is regarded as one Of the largest, one
of the most fashionable, and assuredly
the dullest of British marine resorts.
For there are different kinds of fashion,
and that of Toruay is not the smart
and frivolous kind that affects Brighton
and Scarborough. Oh, no. 1t is on
the contrary,a remarkably steady, solid,
highly decorous fashion; fashion that
has for it's exponents elderly ladies and
elderly gentlemen in somber heavy,
pair-horse carriages, hermetically
sealed from the outer air, as though
they were canned provisions, and driven
by solemn coachmen, whose faces are
just discernible through masses of fur.
Hundreds of these we'll to-do folk come
down here every winter to escape the
rigors and discomforts of London, for
is not Torquay supposed to be sheltered
from east winds, and to enjoy mild
climate peculiarly its own?
For the reception of these visitors
there are colonies of substantial villas
each in its own garden the embodi-
ment of English comfort. Today there
are thousands of refugee influenza
visitors in Torquay and board and
lodging is at premium. But despite
this extra influx, the same tone of in
tense quiet and responsibility prevail.
1t follows as the night the day that
the tone of the place corresponds with
that Of it's visitors. You will find but
on theatre here, and that quite second
rate. Only inferior companies come,
and even their managers, modest
though their expectations may be, fire.
quently find relief in swear words when
the treasury is taken.
"Torquay, SIR" said one irate come
dian to me, "Torquay, sir, is an infer
nal hole for business, there are too
many churches.
The language was little mixed, but
the idea not difficult, to seize. These
wealthy invalids and valetudinarians
think Of more serious subjects than the
box Office, and when they do feel in
clined to unbend, an afternoon concert
is the limit of their dissipation. In
the music sellers here to get down half
dozen singing men and singing
women on the chance of making a fair
profit.
In connection with this there was a
ludicrous fiasco the other day. Mr..
Paderewski, the pianist. was adver-
tised for recital, and there was a
tremendous rush ON the tickets Not
only people in Torquay itself, but
amateurs from all the country round
took advantage of the offered treat.
There was storm on that day with
heavy snow, and not a little trouble
and Inconvenience were gone through
by the enthusiasts while making their
way to the hall Judge, then. of their
Indignation ON learning that the great
man had wired to say he could not
really think of attending. Was he
ill? Was he dying? Had he pre-
vious engagement? No, none of these.
But the local speculator had fixed the
price of the seats at five shillings
($1.25), and this was an insult to Mr..
Paderewski's genius. Play to five
shilling seats, when the usual price to
hear him is one guinea! Perish the
thought! So the public had to go
home through the snow storm unplayed
to and Illuminating. Perhaps Mr..
Paderewski will not come this way
again. Tar and feathers are cheap
The usual form of amusement q in
vouge in Torquay is the afternoon tea.
1t RACES with much violence. Forty
three of the sex, one old gentleman and
two callow youths, that is the common
proportion. 1t was of Torquay society
that the wag first remarked:
Room full? Yes; lots of women;
also few hims, ancient and modern. 3"
A beautiful spot is Torquay, but they
say it is doomed despite its anti-in-
fuenza attributes. just five hours run
from London by express train, people
are beginning to argue that it is too
far away. Everything is comparative,
and they contend that if journey of
several hours has to be faced, why then
one may as well 60 to the Continent.
l cannot see this, for Paris alone is
much farther than Torquay, and yet
Paris is but fraction Of the road to
the Riviera. No, let Torquay thrive,