Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-07-10
The Portland Party Takes a
Trip Up the Thames.
Visit at Hampton Court Palace and
the Kensington Museum.
\ TRIO Through the Famous whitechapel -The
Paintings At GuildhaIl.

sharp and instinct amid the succession
of. weeks and varied incidents of ones
experience. Such a red letter day was
the Monday we made our first trip
on the historic Thames. For the time
being our party had separated, going
different ways,--this day only E. and
w. Were left together to make the
journey over waters which recall much
| Of England's story, and whose banks
nave been the meeting place of men
ana women famous for all time. The
day, we know. must have been such an
one as inspired Lowell to write, What
Is SO rare as day in June" for Moth
ing could have excelled it in tempered
warmth OF sunlight, fragrance of BIOS
som, joyous carolling of birds; earth
and sky We're united in one matchless
vision of loneliness; there was not one
cloud too many, not one breath of wind
| too much. From early morning until
late twilight deepened into night it was
| day of days. Although the start is
made from London Bridge, the pictur-
esque beauty OF the Thames is hot seen
at it's best until we reach Kew whose
| magnificent gardens we passed their
entire length. and where, later, we saw
all manner of trees and flowers. From
| there until we come to the final landing
at Hampton Court, one charming scene
succeeds another; stately houses sur
rounded by carefully kkSt grounds
whose fine old trees bend down to the
water. and beyond the curve of the
| river many swans glide by, coming SC
near us we can almost touch them. We
gain view of Richmond and the cele-
hrn tod
ems, Thackeray, and scores of other
noted men were wont to go in days of
Aud Lang Syne; I'VE pass Twickenham
| and Teddington. Here for the firsi
time we realized what is meant by D
house boat" The cabin extends along
the middle of the boat leaving deck
space at either end which is decorated
with palms, ferns. and Towering plants:
here are placed chairs and tables ready
for that English custom, as binding as
the laws of the Modes and Persfans--
AFTERNOON tea" Awnings made NJ
graceful shapes are raised high above
the top of the cabin, shielding the up
per deck from sun and rain and here
are more flowers and singing birds in
cages making a veritable earthly para
disc; light draperies screen the cabin
windows, on the upper deck sat
pretty woman idly holding a piece of
fancy work. and beside her the lord of
| the house boat busily reading
AS we made fast to the pier we dis
covered that we were at Hampton
Court. Pclace, we saw all it's wonders
and gazed at Lely's famous court beau
Ities-mentally pooh poohing-Portland
beauties are so superior. We peeped
through the glass door at the 130-year-
cid grape vine, loaded with fruit. every
bunch of which is sent to Her Majesty
After walk Of quarter of mile
through Queen Mary's Arbor, formed
| of witch elms-stubby trees whose
short bunchy foliage meets overhead
and which only lacked two us" TO
| make most romantic spot, we drove
| in a wagonette through "Bushy Park
This is certainly no msnomer for there
is not a foot of ground which is not
covered by spreading trees. The drive
way. mile in length, has on either
side overlapping lines of gigantic chest
nuts, which were in their glory of bios
som, forming as it We're one huge
bridal bouquet, and beneath a snowy
path of fallen petals. All natures
| handiwork is so much more satisfying,
| more restful, than even the grandest
creations of man, that we were not sur
prised to find our visit, later, to South
Kensington Museum, prove something
of WEAKNESS to spirit as we'll as flesh
We acknowledge that we have no fond
ness for museums, and our experience,
although limited, has already taught W
that to visit them not only enjoyably
h1lt ia oh h.,fn
setting out, not more than half dozen
objects of which to gain a definite idea
conscientiously confining the attention
to those. AS Ulysses of old stopped his
ears with wax against the voices of tn,
sirens, SO We having fortified ourselves
against temptation with opaque glasses
shutting out all distractingly alluring
objects, are led straightway towards
the special curios we wish to see. We
thoroughly enjoyed looking at the
beautiful Albert memorial, where a
noble army of inventors, painters
poets, sculptors and musicians. in|
chiselled marble surround its four Sides
and whose rich coloring ani harmOni-
GUS designs from the long flight of mar
BILE steps leading up to it, to the very
top of the golden cross which seems to
pierce Jne SKY, is certainly a. lltllnS
tribute to wise and noble prince.
Ever since reaching London we have
been anxious to see something of the
Whitechapel district. and learning tina
Sunday was the most favorable time for
visit to that quarter, our party started
a week ago for that wretched place of
poverty and crime. "Petticoat Lane is
conceded to be the meanest portior and
as all the inhabitants are Jews Sunday
is their day for buying and selling. Both
sides of the streets were lined with tenn
pOrary shops, from which motley col |
lection of articles was sold, from old iron
and rusty nails. to ice cream and patent |
medicines. The place swarmed with peo- |
pie. On the edge of the sidewalk a small |
boy was struggling to get on pair of |
old boots; little farther on a man was
critically scanning himself in a hand
glass, undecided as to the becomingness
of different second hand derbys. Every
one was intent on his or her business, and
not the slightest notice was taken of U.S. |
Men were crying their wares in loud |
tones. but the buyers were quiet and or |
derby. We did not hear profane word |
or see one intoxicated person throughout |
the entire trip; undoubtedly the many po-
licemen stationed at short intervals had |