The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-08

ter, what thenl.. there issno scenery to. com
pare with the valley Of our noble Thames
That's a popularity Of my countrymen, yov
know. we-fhink our own ways the best; and
to a certain extent I believe in that. hut wher
one gUcs away from homo and secs how muef
| better things are done in o.her Countries. n,
caHn't help feeling the difference. As you say
in Nnnkceland, we are not in IT, at al beside
you. in managing holiday excursions, either b.
| land or water.
You will understand why | felt rreretfuI
NJ seeing what wrctchcd little TOW bonls oiT
! Thames steamers are. We are taught here
fror, childhood that the Thames is the grandest
scenery anywhere else. But it Is not so. our
great river does not compare with your
oh. you say that just to aattcr me-" the
American interrupted. with q peculiar witch.
ing of the muscles about the mouth. lit /.
your politeness leads you to say 50. merely he.
BILE tor a Londoner really to believe the Hudson
n finer river than tho Thames.
~ don't know yet whether you're lawtnE Mt
me" the ondoner went on. but no matter.
You Americans are so fond OF Jokes, and m
as fond OF them rs anybody. There wac a
Yankee told an awrully gUud story on thn
! steamer coming home, and made US al lawr.
! forget now what It was, but II was Jolly funny.
However, 1t wasn't only Dur my boats that
made mo feel sorry. The river ITSELF was a
disappointment, after seems your, two great
we have no such harhor here. 10. really, we
haven't. you know. | like =" We honest about
good. but / have got rather out Of patiGncc
with our old buildings since / ,aw New York.
Everything Is 80 bright and fresh aud new
old buildings look a. II theg hal been smoked
and then had ink bottles broken over tAciul
We'll, not quite as bad rs that the Ameri.
can laughed. THEY do look A. II = TOW centuries
OF dish water had been ,poured'oycg them, bat
that is what we admir- them hen for. ,.,,
| do, really. the Londoner continued. Now,
Lambeth Palace always used to seem to me
CAD. what is it beside some, Of youg New York
structuresl 1t is 50, crumoly and black and
dtsinantisd looking was dt,En'tGt With it;
| scotch. And there | had another reminder Of
your customs: u reminder by cnutrnries. j. hen
felt almost angry. after getting used 70 your
American ways Of setting the bottle b, fore a Gus
TONER and letting him help himself.
by the way. | almost got scrrNed when |
first ran against that, custom. l asked for 4
| three OF Scotch s~neCial. as We 10 at home, and
the man set out the bottle ami u glass, but no
How much am l to, tatel' aw,ked him.
"'All you want. said he.
Then | remembered reading that the Auiert-
can custom was to pour out whatever you
wanted; 50 as a big drink cost no more than !
little one, | filed up the glass. .knyhudy would
90 that, | suppose. And then | took another.
for ii was good stuff. The man was Jolly pu-
snan and a towel: hut | ditu't wish FOR that.
don't you know. 1t was enough TO furnish 20
much whiskey. without anything more. But
surfing out q mans drink. - | wr- say
ing. seemed u mean way of doing things after
learning your American custom. Hut no mat.
ter; we went on up the river. and anne directly
u Fulham Palace. | don't lutte see now bow
! ever Thought that a grand 6mt place. 1t looks
shabby enough now, at any rate. The river
was well enough when we got up toward Mort.
| lake. but so oily small.
But no matter. Now. what time do you
think we got 10 Richmond! Leaving West
minister Bridge ~ about lO. We REACHED Rich
mOnd about hawt past ! Twelve miles or 50 in
three bours and u hawf. A. they had soiid-and
LIQUID refreshments on board. they would not
finish the journey too quickly. Tho beer must
! be sold before they would land: and the bawud
passed the hat every hour. | suppose they never
delay the excursion boats in your country 81 Is
to sell more beert
Well. the American replied. after thought,
! Occasionally the tide keeps uUr u DIR excursion
| boats back, when there l. a bar On board
DO you know | wouldn.t 90 back in the
boati" the LOndouer concluded 1t was TOD
| disappointing. Everything looked too small
after seeing your country. | eut gtf At Rich
mond and came home by train. That what
your Iankeelant has done for the. Perhaps
my views ARE 'broaiened b. travel AS they
say; bus it look- to Ee a II the Thames had
narrowed. II does. really.