Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-05-22

IN LONDON.
Maine Party Enjoying Them
solved in the Metropolis.
First Morning in London--The City
Seen from Top ola Rus.
Al tho British Museum. the Savoy and Other
Places Visited.
st. AIMS Terrace, London. April %,

table oasis IN tnat desert, "hN'i ~
two hours search for apartments on
our first morning in London. we as
covered Mrs. Davis. Such blessed
change was her newly-painted' new
ly-papered house, from the dihsy,
musty ones we had been look
ing at. vainly trying to persuade
ourselves they would do. We engaged
the rooms instanter, hastily laying
down our gold sovereign to clinch the
bargain, fearing some onewouiu snatch
them from us. Our drawing room was
carpetless, unfinished, but what cared
wei We had secured a home, ana our
oblging. rosy checked. Welsh landiady
was ready to wait upon us down TO the
ground. When we returned with our
luggage at five o'clock in the afternoon,
Mrs. Davis triumphantly exhibited the
new carpet. and the gaily upholstered
furniture which was "fearfully and
wonderfully made Springs, We
have taken turns in jumping for five
minutes at time on the chairs and
couch to loosen them. A moments
walk brings us to the shops where we
get our supplies. Such bread and de-
icious fresh butter brought in every
day, The vegetables beggar descrip-
ton. Think of us feasting on cauli-
flowers at Sd C cents) apiece; cucum-
bers, we buy by the yard, actually. they
measure eighteen inches. and are near
ly seedless: we are trying every new
species of fish and find all 10 our taste.
The memory of our first tea in our new
lodgings-when we returned from mar
ket where each chose what she wanted
will be Joy forever" 1t being
chilly evening. Mrs Davis had laid the
fire; it is impossible to give an idea of
anything so infinitesimal out of Curl
osity we measured one stick of kind
ling, il was exactly the length of our
middle finger and as large around as
our thumb. Five of them were laid on
piece of paper. and on top of thes
rested three or four tiny pieces of coal;
it was burning to be sure, but ii was
our eyes only, not our bodies that real
lied the fact There" said Mrs. Davis
depositing the scuttle and looking at
the feeble blaze with satisfaction. that
coal will last you two days" We held
a solemn consultation as the door closed
behind our landlady.the result of which
was that in five minutes we had about
emptied our coal scuttle. had a real
New England blaze, and decided that
we would increase our coal bill.
London from the top of bus! There
is nothing comparable TO il, and If
seat can be secured directly back of the
driver one needs no Baedecker. We
started from Charing Cross, one sunny
afternoon. for our first drive. After we
had looked long at famous Trafalgar
Square. guarded by the four immense
lions. the two fountains sending up
great columns of water the beautiful
national gallery at the back-"of what
does it all remind you?" queried r..
"'rhe Worlds Fair at Chicago, we
cried promptly. Think of being on tn
Strand in Lunnon' exclaimed Mrs.
Tapley Il have been pinching myself
all the way. and saying Am |. or am
/ not L." We left our first bus at the
Bank of England, and later took an
other for our first view of the Houses
of Parliament and Westminster. We
are perfectly conscious of our limita-
tons so made a VOW before leaving
home that we would not attempt de-
scription, knowing what a failure 1t
would prove. but what we omit in
length and breadth, we shall endeavor
to supply in personal sensations. AS
we gaZed at these magnificent build
ings. we realized as never before the
youth, the newness, of America. No
pictures, no words, can give an adequate
impression of them, and it is only as
we look. and return to look again and
again, that we can family appreciate
their antiquity and the wondrous
meaning of it all begins to dawn upon
U.S. We are positive that the working
class of England must be the kindest
hearted and most polite in the world.
Since we landed in Liverpool we have
made inquiries without number. which
have been most courteously answered
and in response to our thanks we have
been repeatedly told we We're most well
come, and fervently assured that II
was a pleasure to give us directions
We are convinced that we carry our
nationality not only in our faces and
speech. but in the cut of our handbags;
for one EnSlishman told us anyone
would know we were Americans from
our bags, they are made so differently
in England. While crossing Lombard
street, we heard some men excla m
Those ladies are Americans and as
we wore wells, and--difficult as it may
be to believe---wcre not talking the
bags must have betrayed us. We have
determined not to tire ourselves at the
beginning with too much sight seeing,
and are trying to take things slowly
and deliberately; but we confess we
find it somewhat difficult, it is all so
new, so wonderful, that we long to see
everything at once, and feel like true
daughters of Eve as we wander through
this English Eden.
While we realize that it will be utterly
impossible for us to visit all the theatres,
we made beginning by going last Sat
| urday to the Savoy and found His
Majesty most amusing; it is a bright
comic opera. the stage setting pretty. the
costumes very beautiful. All the voices
were fresh and the music-whle not par
ticularly catchy-was very melodious
We inquired of policeman about our
seats and he explained how they were
situated. even going with us to the door.
and as We came out inquired most po-
litely if we had enjoyed the perform
| ance The constant use of please and
| thank you is certainly noticeable. Bus
conductors invariably thank you for
your fare. You make a penny purchase
and the acknowledgment is a cordial as
/ If you had spent a pound Occasionally
| there is a mutual puzzle about words