Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-09-03
LAND OF LAKE POETS.
AN INTERESTING LETTER FROM
CATHARINE COLE.
(New Orleans Times-DemocratD

The luggage had all been piled on the
top OF our four-wheeed GROWER" and
there only remained for US the last i'm
portant act OF leaving the hotel.
Now, the mere act Of leaving an En-
glish hotel arises to the importance OF a
ceremonial-a function. You may have
been as dumb as an oyster regarding
your movements. but nevertheless by
some system OF mental telepathy. the
entire stan OF those who serve are well
aware OF what is in the wind. IL Is In
the wind that you are going away, ana
when you 20 down into the breakfast
room in the morning for your toasted
mullins and tea. you find the walter hity
times more polite and solicitous OF your
comfort than ever he was before. The
boy who runs the lift comes out OF MS
shell; the maid smiles, and the portefs
fairly take charge OF you.
The bill had been tremendous-like a
mountain composed Of decomposed gran
ite-dozens upon dozens of small Items,
teas, breakfasts, dinner. laundry. te!e-
grams, lemOnades, lunches, attendance
but we had paid II like old, seasoned
stolcs. knowing We should have TO eaten
10 on expenses when We got mo cvuh-
try lodgings. and II had been returned 20
us marked on the corner, ram WIN
thanks"
"Thanks-I should think So" said the
companion Of my financial @nd other)
misery. when they get a bill Ike that
maid. they ought 10 be thankful
We went around the hall upstairs Civ
ing out TO this maid and that boy who
seemed to have a sort OF hold on us, our
small pour bores. at which my same com
panion began 10 eiggle fOOlishly, and said
/. looked as II / were playing a game Of
''Thlmble" | told her 10 shut W. When
one has Just spent more than one has got
Il does not take much TO upset the tenn
per a.
Are YOU not going TO tip the waiter"
continued my small tormentor az we
halted at the bedroom door for that last
involuntary look around.
mo. | amt" | answered, vulgarly
II am tired tipping"
We were on the sumptuously carpeted
stairs as I spoke. and as we reached
the first noor-nOt having had time 10
wait for the list--the dining-room door
orened and our waiter sprang out as
viciously thought like a Jack out or
box.
"Oh. you are leaving. NUM- asked ne
Yes: good-by. walter answered.
resolutely.
"Good-by. mum" with note OF stern
disapproval in his voice
I fImhled in my rocket and hshed out
= two-shiIline-nlece II was very much
afraid we would miss seeing you. walter
| remarked. weakly.
UaIf A dozen cur-dogs. slipping away
from a prize canine fght. with their 'dHs
down between their legs could not nave
felt meaner than did. but. neyertheiess.
| do not believe many Americans Would
have displayed any more moral courage
than did. It's one thing 70 say you won
tlp a waiter. when you've paid an a,-
tendance-foe on your bill, ana us pult'
another when that walter waylays you VI
,ba aim hall. looking like the ghost OF
Matthew Arnold plus a napkin over NJ
arm and with stern. rehuking eye, talily
h,,,,-otlzes the money out OF your pocket.
.yviil YOU be taking the coal-boX,
mum - inquired the second porter whom
7 had Timed. as we made our way Ike
imitation grand moguls 10 the door OF
the growler.
"rbe what?" I screamed. and a small
c,owd-that awful. idle. curious crowd
mat is always waiting 10 collect at any
INVOCATION in large cltles-began to
gather about us.
"The coal-box mum. what you AS been
IN the 'abit OF carrying" came the an
swer.
He held up as well as he could-for II
weighs a ton or less-my somewhat bat
tered typewriter.
"Oh. yes porter. the coal-boX must go.
answered and ne lifted II with a look
Ifc a n
ouite sure that when he gets 10 be an
Old man and n grandfather he will tell
tales Of queer American lady he once
waited on. who carried A big tin coal
box full of gold with her everywhere
she went
The more think Of II the more I am
sure that II is due 10 the unvarylng and
spotless integrity Of the English nation
that / have not been robbed Of that tyne
writer half dozen times. ! always
make the porter carry it In his hand and
deposit It carefully on the seat next me
I'm the railway carriage, and the mingled
look OF connivance. awe, and comprehen-
sion that comes on that pOrters face
tells plainly that he thinks I am get
ting away with q coal-box full Of money
and jewels.
But AT last we were safely settled in
2 comfortable carriage. and our long
cream and chocolate-colored train wa
slipping away between the sweet green
hills northwari into the country OF West
morland while we watched out of the
window impatiently for our first glimpse
Of the lake district.
To the average American the lake dis
trict Is one OF the bestowed PARTS Of
England. not. perhaps because 1t is one
~ the most beautiful spots on earth.
but because Of the dearer reason that H.
times gone by II has been the home ~
some Of England's greatest poets. Words
worth. Colerdge. Southey. De Quincy.
Mrs. Hemans, Gerald Massey. and now
Ruskin. have all swcetened this place
with their presence, or have made pic
lures OF II with pen and ink that are
more eloquent than any canvas
| must humbly confess that nv own
original idea or the lake district has been
lovely sheet Of blue water surrounded
Dy smooth swards and with the houses
OF the poets placed along It's shore A.
polite distances. and that they (the pcetsl
used 70 visit each other. scrolls OF verse
in hand.
At that time did not know exactly
where the lake district was located -
lies north OF Liverpool. with the Irish
Sea on one side, Scotland to the north
and the Yorkshire country 10 the east
For hill and valley and mountains OF
purple crags. with tiny tarns or lakes
caught on their sides with wastes Of
heather and gorse. with dimpled streams.
rs sweet as Ternyson's brook, with a
dozen lovely deep lakes or more, the lake
n as.s. 10 ,,.I. a. l..