The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1895-11-13
BY SEA AND LAND.
JULIA GOODRICH GILLETTE IN
CHESTER.
Visit to Hawarden Castle, Gladstones
Home.-Chester's Antiquities, Poet
wordworth's Former Resi-
dences Described.-A
school Scene.

"A very merry, dancing, drinklnE'
Laughing, quaffing, and unthinking ume'
We happened upon Chester at the time
of the 'ROOdeye races" the one great
gala week of this other time serene, II
not positively sleepy old city.
Although the races did not begin until
the following Tuesday, the sport" and
the horses were already arriving, and
prices Of lodgings and meals were con-
siderably advanced in anticipation OF the
expected crowd, for this week is Chester's
annual financial harvest which must "e
reaped as closely as possible.
The excitement began Monday night,
increased with the crowds Tuesday, and
eliminated in streets densely packed on
Wednesday, cup day; little falling OIL
Thursday, the last day of racing, and by
Saturday night the city had relapsed into
its usual jog trOt.
Which horse took the cup? What
sums were lost and won on the favorlteS:
l can not tell you for our interest was
not in the races, but in the people, and
the street scenes, and our only view OF
the course was on Monday. when, IN
making the circuit of the older part Of
the city upon the lofty wall which sur
rounds it, we passed the ROOdeye,
large field outside the wall, in which the
meets are held, and looked down on the
vast preparations in that and the adjOin-
ing field, and Little ROodeye," where
mammoth paviliOns containing every
variety of swing, merry-go-rOund, side
shows, gambling devices. and drinking
stands, (misnamed refreshment bOoths)
were prepared to coax the nimble six
pence from the pockets of those not en-
gagged in the more serious occupations Of
the race course, or who had not lost their
last coin on unlucky stakes.
Toward evening on cup day, we
walked down the principal street to an
open square in front Of the cathedral
and there watched the gOings on. Here
was a woman mounted upon a cart,
violently gesticulating and in most in
feminine tones crying the cheapest and
tawdriest watch-chains, and all about
her were other carts with every sort OF
useless and worthless articles, so chOk-
ing up the street that it was almost I'M
possible to pass. just beyond was a
street preacher denouncing to a shifting
crowd the sins of racing, drinking, and
gambling, his nearest neighbOr being a
most comical Punch and Judy, which,
truth to tell was more interesting and
held a larger audience than thepreacher'
An enterprising Salvation army band
had gathered quite crowd from which
it was trying to extract pound cOllec'
tiOn by inducing the passers-by to pitch
pennies into the ring formed about the
preacher, and when the pennies actually
counted up a pound, the desired amount
was advanced to a guinea whether the
additional shilling was realized, die
not stay to see, for couple Of athletes
on the opposite corner who were perform
ing, and passing their hats, offered su
perior attractions. Every sort Of vehicle
clattered through the streets, drums
beat, and a lively procession Of cOache
and fOur-in-hands, gay with smartl,
dressed ladies and gentlemen, and tn
continued footing" of unmelOdiOu
horns added its part to the general dil
and jOllity. Everybody pushed, elbOwed
and scrambled his way through tn
crowd as best he might; pockets wer
picked men, and women too, drank an
drank again, growing more noisy an
more reckless with every dram the r(
freshment stalls and street-cartS did
thriving business, and every third mar
woman, and child had a paper bag G
shrimps, sandwiches or gingerbread frOr
which he was taking peripateti
luncheon. Young rural couples wake
hand in hand in blissful, open, unblusf
og enjoyment of their holiday, starin
'e sights, and prodigally wastin
ng Of many weeks, ifnOt month;
beer and lemon squash
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