The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-11-17

able TO interpret and translate them, the
guinea is introduced into the transaction.
The guinea as not a pound, but u Shill-
lngS and confusion in itself Then
there are two and SKIES that look ex-
actly like the shilling piece But
when ! complained Of all these complica-
tons to an Englishman he said that our
5o-cent pieces were not easily distin-
gulshable from our quarters; that il took
him fortnight TO learn that a dime and
10 cents were the same, and that the fact
that our penny was worth an English
ha penny was TO our discredit, if any
thing.
After a dinner "off the Joint we took a
bus ride. We rode on top and talked to
the driver, as the guide books advise,
though at first we were SO sure that we
would fall off, or that the heavy.
rumbling old vehicle would turn over. or
that something would happen in the reck-
less driving through the crowded streets
that we had no time TO question the
driver. But VIC rode through Cheapside
and the Strand; we saw Oxford and Picca-
dilly streets; we had glimpseS Of the
Mansion House and The Bank, we saw
the Queens "stvbles''-stables we finally
translated il; for no matter how much
one reads OF this dialect in books il is
still Supplying in fact. 1t is told that a
smith OiIammersmith), but picks them
up again at The Hangel" CThe AneeD.
We saw scores Of soldiers in their scar
let coats, iaunty Scotch caps and Scotch
plaid pantalOonS. We saw young fellows
in long tailed black coats and silk hats.
who seemed from Thackeray's pages. We
saw white shoed damseis by the dozen
and as We saw Threadneedle street.
CheapSide, Little Queen street. Birdcape
Lane, The Strand, we felt that we were
truly in the city of so many of our beloved
heroes and heroines-in the town that
M " tyt1ax
When we finally dismounted from the
bus and asked the way To our hotel the
policeman said we would find il at "the
top II he had not waved his arm TO
further indicate the direction, we should
never have understood the top" But
we concluded to go the way he waved
until we got out Of his sight, then ask
again. London policemen always refer
one To the top" or the bottom +" and mean
suppose, the upper or lower end of the
street; but as we never could tell the
slope OF the town, anyhow, we were con
stantly puzzled.
AS we were walking home in the chill
gray twilight We came across a service
being held on the street. Three or four
we'l-dressed young boys wer singing
acd handed US hymnals, man was
playing tiny plano-like music-Eox and
an older man was leading the service
Gathered about them was a little crowd
OF all sorts OF reople-ragged and villain
Gus street urclinS, a slouchy bearded
man leaning against the wall and half
scorning the religion, a frizZed and he
ribboned servant, and a decent. quiet
rusty old woman or two. 1t seems this
little group OF churchmen come from a
nearby Methodist church and have a
hymn or two and short PRAYER in the
streets every Sunday. So a tall rather
ineiaced old gentleman said who saw ms
come up, and asked If We had found
Christ. We turned the question and
asked our way back To the hotel.
"Ah, you are strangers here: but Won
speak English; perhaps you will be from
Canada?'
No" we replied; from the United
States"
All" he said; II too have home in
America, for il was in Montreal that |
| found my Saviour, and il is a very dear
! land 10 me. Good afternoon, ladies'. we
Will meet again, i'll the next world perhaps.
but somewhere" And so he left US. and
we saw no more Of him. Wewere startled
of course. He seemed entirely gentlemanly
and spoke Of finding Christ in a calm
everyday way, and apparently in all sin
cerity.
1t was evident to US that London was to
be a greater interest than the Old World
cities, for all their beauty and quaintness.
This first Sunday was no disappointment
TO us who had anticipated much. And
there "ere The Tower, Windsor Vest
minister Abbey, the British Museum. and
many many things to see, and only "a
hours tn each day and only fortnight of
these short days.
-ELsTE PoMEIoY McELgoY.