The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-11-19


tas lock). into which vessels of all
sizes are floated at high water and se-
curely moored within. without being
subjected to the influences OF the tide.
The most serious trouble upon landing
Is to discover the whereabouts of your
luggage, which. having been hastily
discharged from the vessel. lies scat
tered about over the extensive floor of
the large shed When at length 1t has
been secured and inspected by a polite
customs official an obliging porter.
with a small truck, carries same to the
luggage van. answering to our baggage
car.
The train, which consists in addition
tn the engine and luggage van, of
number of carriages having the doors
on the side and each divided into four
compartments, with seats crosswise
and capable of seating five persons on
each. All regular trains are divided
into three classes, first, second and
third. An American on his first visit
here will naturally draw conclusions
| favorable to his own progressive land
as regards the mode of travel i'm each
country. As a prominent railway Of
| fcial said to me on one occasion when
conNersing upon this subject: I'VE are
| doing the best we can with a bad sys-
tenn" He admitted our plan of check
ing luggage Is the only proper way to
Facilitate the handling and transporta-
| tion of same, but said: "If We were to
| attempt such an innovation here the
average Englishman would surely OBJ
| 1ect. He is only happy when he Is sur
rounded by his belongings.
TRAVELLING IN ENGLAND.
The fact remains that from whatever
cause the visitor from Old Glory land
VIII have to submit to the conditions
as they exist here and be prepared by
having his name and address securely
and prominently affixed to his belong
ings SO that upon arriving at his desti-
nation he may the more readily dis
cover them as they are unloaded from
the van and turn thClt over to Cabby
There are here no uniformed bagga ge
agents to call upon you on the train to
exchange your baggage checks for
receipt which relieves you Of all fur
thcr thought or bother in the matter,
with the knowledge that your effects
viii be promptly delivered at your ad-
dress. as we are accustomed TO-
one item Of information I wish to
| furnish any Of the readers of The
Tribune about to visit the old country
| for the first time. is to he particular
| to direct your luggage when having it
| sent in advance to the sta
! tion, care of the cloak room
| equivalent to our baggage
| roomD I have known serious results
| occurring from n failure to do this: for
the officials will in no case receive it
| from the carrier you have employed
| unless so marked directed OF course
| if you accompany it this is not neces-
| sary
| DIFFERENCES
The ticket office is here called book
ing Office: technical points of rail-
! way, also way stations are all called
! stations, there are no depots. Freight
trains are called goods trains. Instead
| Of a conductor Englishmen have a
| guard one Of them sits by himself in a
| small compartment in the rear of the
| train and signals the engine driver Cen-
! gineer) from the platform of the station
| by waving a green flag. Tickets are not
| collected on the train but as you pass
| through door or gate at your destina-
| tiOn point.
! The city of Chester. our first stop-
| ping place, is one of the Oldest and
most interesting places in this land
| so rich in medieval history. Among
| It's interesting features are it's quaint
| ola houses. | wish could describe them
SO as to give YOU an idea of their pc
| cullarity. There is hardly a street in
| which they are not to be seen, one
| was built by Bishop Lloyd in 1906: an
| other bears the inscription God 9
| providence Is mine inheritance" said
| 10 nave been placed there by reason
or its being the only house in the city
| that escaped the plague.
| NaterEate row comprises a number.
| Of unique avenues situated over the
| shops at the height of several feet
! above the street having another row
| or shops above the first i'm the omen
| gallery communicating by steps with
| the street below. The ancient city is
surrounded by a wall varying from
| IL to 40 feet in height built by the
Romans 1000 years ago. it is still in q
| good state of preservation. Here, also
| are to be seen relics of the ancient
| Roman baths. We We're fortunate in
| being permitted upon the payment OF
| small fee to examine one of these
| baths located in the basement Of what
! seemed equally as old a house so il
must have belonged to it. The grouni i
! moor iS now used as a small shop.
IN AN OLD BATH.
| Candles were lighted and We carefully
| and with somewhat queer sensations
| descended the aged steps and explored
| this musty relic of bygone age. A
| promenade extends along the top of the
| wall above referred to its entire length
| surrounded at intervals hy towers in
| one Of which register in which the
| names Of visitors are recorded The
chatty old gentleman in charge. recog-
| nizing our nationality pointed out TO
us among these the autographs of
! Major General Nelson A. Miles and
| wife