The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-10-08
A HONOLULAN
IN ENGLAND
Rev. Alex. Macintosh
Writes.
OF SOMERSETSH|RE
He Met Dr. Sioggett's Father in
Devon and is Enjoying
Himself.

WELLS, Somersetshire September o.
1 have visited nearly every part of the
United Kingdom and good deal of the
European continent. gone through the
United States and Canada; yet have
neS err seen more beautiful or more varied
scenery than is to be found in Somerset
shire. From little knobs the charming
landscape rolls out, green fields, bordered
by hedges and dotted with shapely trees,
ia which are peacefully feeding cows and
ripe to harvest, now and then an intense
~ green copse, ancient ruin appears
darling little regret across the exhila-
rs ted brain, then the pretty farm house
with it's well-kept garden blooming with
flowers and bursting with fruit, altogeth-
Ter producing that thrill of pleasure which
makes one rejoice to be alive. But mount.
as we did, to the top of the Tor, peak
six or seven hundred feet in height and
take in one view several counties, part
OF the Bristol channel, several towns.
winding rivers, the Mendip Hills clothed
in verdure, and then imagine our costa
cy, Here we were in the midst of his
tory. The Isle of Athelney, famous for
King Alfred's exploits, Glastonbury Alb
hey, where Dunstan reigned, a Roman
camp which has yielded to the antiquary
heaps Of treasures showing in the safety
pins, the hair-curling apparatus and
tools generally, the truth that there is in
deed nothing new under the sun. Near
by are the wonderful Cheddar cliffs and
caves. Under 500 feet of rock we descend
ed and traced the bed of river now dis
al pc ared leaving excavations some times
hi fhnt nlyaf fired nf
reach the roof. Side caves abound in
stslactites and stalagmites of carbonate
los iron, which glisten like diamonds in the
electric light. Sometimes they are In
regular rows like the pipes of an organ,
ard when raped with piece of iron
produce chimes like bells. This marvel
lCus freak of nature extends about mile
VI Ger the cliff and was discovered about
seven years ago by gentleman named
Cough, who makes quite a good income
by the visits of tourists There Is an
other wonder In the neighborhood of the
81 me nature, but much smalleBn which
was discovered by Mr. Cox number of
years ago. This we had not time to visit.
! Imagine being in the '1ong-drawn aisle
and fretted vault" of a cathedral at II
o'clock at night, with only one ghoStly
Hight in the organ loft. Thus were we
listening to the glorious organ, played for
our especial benefit by the organist
deed. The statues and monuments of the
Bishops and other worthless stood out In
! bold relief, and their spirits seemed to
hoy er around us. In a moment of death
ly silence, the knights of the ancient
clock began their tournament, and until
| we remembered this mechanism we
thought some of the departed were show
ing their resentment at our intrusion. The
| time has now come when l must leave
this dreamy old city and plunge into the
busy world Some people think Honolulu
! Is a slow place. 1t would be well for
| them to pitch their tents for a week or
two in Wells. They think two morning
papers and three evening journals too
many; what would they think of one
weekly periodical. which gives about two
columns to local news? OF course the
London and Bristol papers reach there by
neon, and seem to satisfy the inhabitants.
There is no theater and as far as we could
! learn no other place of amusement of
| like nature. The tradesmen close their
, shops on wednesday afternoons and the
town seems asleep. This in the summer
tinei We don't know yet what is done
| in the winter.
| 1t was grand sight when the nave OF
the Cathedral was filed with people al
Beth services on Sunday In the morning
we were too far away from the preacher
to hear a word he said, but in the even
ing we were fortunate enough to get near
the pulpit and to hear fine sermon from
Canon Edmonds of Exeter. The choir OF
the Cathedral being absent on their va
cation, the students of the Theological
College, amongst whom was Aeneas
Macintosh, rendered the service in good
style and with great precision 1t Is
pleasant to note how the great congrega-
items respond in the services. especially
| In the Psalms and suffrages. The fear OF
hearing their own voices seems to have
greatly worn off,
Starting on Monday morning, we reach
led Paynton in Devon, about four-thirty
the same day, and were met AT the sta
ton by DIR. Sloggett, the father of DR.
Slcggett of Honolulu, who warmly well
coined us and drove us about this pictur-
lesGue town to view it's beauties. On our
way we called on our friend Mrs. Benson
who visited Honolulu with Lord Ellibanb
last year, and who gave us q hearty
lgreeting, and a kind invitation to spend q
day at her lovely home. Then we viewed
the parish church. the pier and Torquay
in the distance, after which we drove tc
the Doctors house and met his charmine
wife. who was glad to see us and tc
learn all we could tell about the HonoluI-
lu relatives We were Joined at dinner
by an old friend of our DR.. Sloggett, the
Rev. Arthur Evans, r. N. and q merr,
evening we spent.
| My visit here was interesting. DR.
Sicggett, senior, had visited the Island.
- AVE- Sdlypo III the IIteS, anC
brought away with him a number of Ha
waiian curios, amongst which was
feather cloak, given to him by Kameha
meha. III. This was carefully preserved
In glass frame. Like every one else who
has visited Hawaii, the Doctor retaine!
TIE pleasantest "reminiscences of the plac,
and people. The evening was far spen
WREN we retired. The next day the Doc.
tor and I wandered along the pier a
Paynton and watched the innumerabl,
promenaders and bathers. The day wa,
Exquisite, very like one of our own Feb
ruary or October days. After lunch
took my departure from my delightful
nests and made my way to Primley I.
pay my promised visit to Mrs. Benson. Ir
her hospitable home I spent the greater
part OF two days. The house Is beauti
fully situated in spacious grounds, which
rise to good height to overlook the tovvr
OF Paynton, Tor bay and the opposit,
town of Torquay. and several villages.
me orchard teeming with fruit of al
KINGS ana much of rarer kinds. unde
glass. lay at one end. and to which I hat
lee access. We visited several places O