The Portland daily press., 1897-07-10
ALONG THE THAMES.
Objects Of Interest Which Attract
the Viaitor.
AN HOUR In THE WHITECHAPEL
DISTRICT.

The Kew Gardens-House Boats ON the
and Dramatic Matters in the Metropo-
| London, June 1S-In all lives special
days, certain events, forever stand out
sharp and distinct amid the succession Of
weeks and varied incidents of ones ex-
perience. Such red letter day was the
Monday 1--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 to-
gether to make the journey over waters
which recall much of Englands story,
and whose banks have been the meeting
place of men and 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 nothing could have excelled it
in tempered warmth of sunlight, fragrance
of blossom, joyous carolling of birds;
earth and sky were united in one match
less vision of loveliness; there was not
one cloud too many, not one breath of
wind too much. From early morning
until late twilight deepened into night it
made from London Bridge, the pictur.
esque beauty of the Thames is not seen at
its best until we reach Kew whose mag
nificent gardens we passed their entire
length, and where, later, we saw all man.
ner of trees and flowers. From there
until we come to the final landing at
Hampton Court, one charming scene sue
ceeds another; stately houses surrounded
by carefully kept grounds whose fine old
trees bend down to the water, and beyond
the curve of the river many swans glide
by, coming 50 near us we can almost
touch them. We gain view of Richmond
and the celebrated 'Star and Carter
where Dickens, Thackeray. and scores of
other noted men were won't to go in days
of Aud Lang Syne; we pass Twickenham
and Teddington. Here for the first time
we realized what is meant by "house
boat The cabin extends along the mid
die 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 Persians-'' afternoon
tea" Awnings made in graceful shapes
are raised high above the top of the cabin,
shielding the upper deck from sun and
rain and here are more flowers and sing
ing birds in cages making veritab1e
earthly paradise; light draperies screen
the cabin windows, on the upper deck sat
a pretty woman idly holding piece of
fancy work, and beside her the lord of
the house boat busily reading.
| AS we made fast to the pier we discov-
cred that we were at Hampton Court
Palace, we saw all its wonders and gazed
at Lely's famous court Enthusiastically
pooh-poohing- Portland beauties are SO
superior. We peeped through the glass
| door at the one hundred and thirty year
old grape vine, loaded with fruit, every
bunch of which is sent to Her Majesty.
After walk of a quarter of a mile
| through Queen Mary Arbor, formed of
| witch elms-stubby trees whose short
bunchy foliage meets overhead-and
which only lacked two Gus" to make
most romantic spot, we drove in a
wagonette through "Bushy Park This
is certainly no misnomer, for there is not
a foot of ground which is not covered by
spreading trees. The driveway, a mile
in length. has on either side overlapping
lines Of gigantic chestnuts, which were
in their glory of blossom, forminglas it
were one huge bridal bouquet, and be-
meath, a snowy path of fallen petals. All
natures handiwork is so much more sat-
| isfying, more restful, than even the,
grandest creations of man, that we were
South Kensington Museum, prove some
| thing Of WEAKNESS to spirit as well as
| flesh. We acknowledge that we have no
| fondness for museums, and our expert
ence, although limited, has already
taught us that to visit them not only en-
joyably, but proftably, one should select,
before setting out. not more than half
dozen objects of which to gain definite
I idea, conscientiously combining the atten-
ton to those. AS Ulysses of old stopped
his ears with wax against the voices of
the sirens, SO we having fortified our
selves against temptation with opaque
glasses, shutting out all distractingly
towards the special curios we wish to see
We thoroughly enjoyed looking at the
beautiful Albert Memorial, where
''noble army" of inventors, painters,
poets, sculptors and musicians, in
chiselled marble surround its four sides,
and whose rich coloring and harmonious
designs from the long flight of marble
steps leading up to it, to the very top of
the golden cross which seems to pierce
the sky, is certainly a fitting tribute to
a wise and noble prince.
Ever since reaching London we have
been anxious to see something of the
Whitechapel district, and learning that
Sunday was the most favorable time for
a 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 portion,
and as all the inhabitants are Jews, Sun
day is their day for buying and selling.
Both sides of the streets were lined with