Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-05-15
EUROPEAN LETTER.
The Maine Party Land at Liv-
erpooI from the Partisan.
The Funniest Things Seen Are the
Liverpool Baby Carriages.
. nsmorable Waik-Trip Up River Oee-M
Hawarden Castle.

Iondon. April 21.-"Ladies, 1t is $50.
.ha rising bell will ring Immediately.
NJ ora at Liverpool and breakfast will
be served at 6.30.'' All this was said on
Easter Monday morning by the obliging
s,ewardess on the Partisan, in voice
which blended encouragement, persua-
s;veness and command. in way Who'll
10 ;ndescribable. But what was Liver
mol to us orwe to Liverpool? The ship
was steady, and sleep the one thing de-
s;rah,e. but in waking doze, we
realized that shortly after seven the
steamer would move to her own dock;
co we made hasty toilet, and still
more hasty breakfast and prepared
for the grand scramble of luggage
claiming and inspection. All our traps
were in our stateroom, marked with a
h,g big X, and our business as we
walked ND the movable pier, which
risas and falls with the tide, was to dis
cover and claim said traps, which had
heen removed to the inspectors room,
where the alphabet, in large pasteboard
letters is suspended above ones head,
and where all luggage is placed under
the letter with which it is marked. 1t
takes time and patience to drag out
ona.s belongings, and the earnest, APP
healing way in which we denied having
cigars. tobacco. or perfumery must
have touched the officers heart, for he
simply unlocked the steamer trunk,
lifted the tray, which he at once re-
placed, and obligingly relocked the
trunk. not even opening our bags. Mr..
and Mrs. H.. friends of one of our party
met us with the greatest cordiaiity,
and showed us the sights; the first OF
course being the docks, for which We
took the elevated eleetrics, riding north
and south by seven miles of dock, and
forty of anchorage, something one can
see nowhere but in Liverpool. We had
intentionally left our rush in Port
land. and were sauntering along With
what we considered proper English re-
pose. Suddenly the electric began to
move. and we were left on platform.
Mr.. II. demonstrated with the guard,
and we were surprised to hear him say
hurry up" but it did sound homelike.
Before leaving home wewere advised to
money. We now realize the wisdom of
the advice. And here let us say, if there
is woman in Maine who is expecting
to visit England, and is not familiar
with the currency of that country, If
she will invest $40 in silver pieces-half
crowns, shillings, threepenny pieces, &c.
-praeticing every day for a week or
more. making change, and will accus-
tom herself to think lbs, shillings and
pence, we know that when she reaches
this side of the Atlantic we shall win
her everlasting gratitude for the sug-
gestion 1t was a novel experience to
mount the narrow steps that lead to
the top of the trans primitive look
ing horse cars), but the sights one sees
from this elevation are far more in
teresting than those obtained in car
rage drive. Two street gamins, recoS-
nizing at once that we were daughters
of Uncle SAM" followed the tram
turning summersaults and hand
springs, hoping for "ha'penny.
Easter Monday is Bank holiday, and
also Primrose day." Beaconsfield' S
statue, fronting St. Georges hall, was
covered from the base of the pedestal
nearly to the top; wreaths and shields
With appropriate inscriptions beng
sent by different societies; while every
man. woman and child we met wore
bunch of the bright blossoms. When
we attempted to see the interior of st.
Georges hall We were told it was closed
to the public. I'VE have only one day
IN Liverpool, and have just come from
America we cried in chorus. Under
those circumstances &C." was the cour
teous response, and in we went.
The very funniest things we saw in
Liverpool We're the baby carriages; how
can We describe them A little box
seemingly just large enough to squeez
In a moderate sized infant; this is
mounted on four wheels so close to-
gefher they almost overlap; the whole
surmounted with black leather COW
err this affair is propelled from the
front, and so accustomed to the young
britishers become to this style of To-
comotion that throughout life they
prefer riding backward. AT 2.15 in the
AFTERNOON we left Liverpool for Chester.
Van We ever forget our first peep at
English country out of the window Ct
our compartment. Look at that dear
little church," cried w. did you ever,
ever see such green grass? and those
cunning lambs" almost shrieked T..
fortunately Our eight" filled the COM
partment, and we were at liberty to act
IKE iunatics. We were so absorbed in
watching the lovely landscape and en-
Joying the easy motion of the railway
carriage that before we had the least
ihumation from the guard that our
oestination was near, we read Chester
upon the station. Eight sprang stimuli
.aheously for their bags, and we
found ourselves in the most ancient OF
Englands cities. A short rest at the
nrosVenor hotel, and we were ready for
'he 4l5 Easter Monday choral service
q. the Cathedral. There certainly is q
never to be forgotten sensation on en-
sering for the first time an English
Cathedral; and when the first is also
one Oh the oldest it brings to mind
many a forgotten bit of history. The
.naiieei was beautifully decorated with
spring 1owers, and while looking at the
'"osaics and carvings, the organ softly
sahs,and far off we heard what seemed
IKE angel voices. Nearer they came,
a,iu as we rose to our feet the sur
p.iceu choir passed. triumphantly
e'dntihg Christ's resurrection. AS the
amman words of the service fell on our
dis' our hearts throbbed and we felt