The Minneapolis journal., 1901-05-25
WoMENS REST TOURS ABROAD
Boston Association Which Aids and Encourages Travel by Advice
and Valuable information England LotusEaters
Paradise

that grow constantly more beautiful and
ideal in memory as l add to it bits from
my reading and the experiences OF my
friends. 1t can scarcely be questioned
that for leisurely travel and a restful
vacation, nothing can surpass the British
Isle. 1t possesses enough that is new to
satisfy the most travelled and still pres-
ents no difficulties, such as sometimes
give rise to disagreeable experiences on
the continent.
To quote again the handbook, Every
foot of ground has, indeed, its uncounted
memories; almost every name is Instinct
with historic interest. Add to such in
tellectual charms the fact that, in sum-
mer, the climate is full of sweet sereni-
ty, the days long, melting into soft twi-
light, the scenery rich in beauty, and that
the daily life flows like a great stream,
and one who has never set foot in this i,
gracious motherland may guess what its
soothing influence must be. Even in busy
London, the mental atmosphere has
Bits of Rural England.
An interesting feature of the handbook
is list of the English counties, classified
as positive, comparative and superlatiye.
Opinions differ on matters of beauty and
interest. of course, but the list is sugges-
tive and valuable as being well considered
by competent judges The superlative list
he
Devon, Kent, Surrey, Derby, Cornwall,
Westmoreland, Cumberland and North
umberland But three of these are much
known to the average American traveller,
Warwick, Kent and Cumberland, which
with London, the cathedral tour and pos
sibly North Wales, quite fill the usual
itinerary. These are all well worth the
time spent on them, but there are many
people who enjoy unbeaten paths and ter
ritory untouched by the tide Of American
travel, which leaves its influence strongly
impressed upon certain popular centers-,
Thus, in London, these seekers for the
real old England shun the popular, con-
venient, comfortable and moderately
cheap pensions in Bloomsbury, where Rus
sell Square and it's surrounding streets
have been given over almost wholly during
the summer months to Americans, choos-
ing in their stead lodgings in some of the
short streets opening into the Strand, out
in St. Johns Wood, around Kensington
or in Chelsea.
Outlines of Trips.
/ No one need hesitate to make out her
own itinerary with the aid Of guide books
and the usual volumes of suggestions, for
even the places less familiar often AFFORD
the most delightful experiences. II COW
ering a given amount of territory is not
the object, 1t is often best to decide only
perhaps deciding the several centers from
which certain territories are to be ex-
plored. This will leave one free to study
the many advantageous and interesting
short trips offered on the spot, and to IN
corporate them into her plans The list
of gala days in the handbook gives all the
permanent and general festival occasions.
These and other special public gatherings,
such as fairs and militia training days
afford interesting glimpses Of national lie
and often give access to places commonly
closed to the public. The reading or the
local newspapers and the placards OF rail-
way stations afford much information on
passing events.
"a Summer in England" gives the itin-
erary of several interesting tours OF
varied length, both in England and on the
continent Some of these are specially for
walking tours that afford many delights
obtainable in no other way, The pest
equipped traveller is she who is prepared
with short skirt which will serve admir-
ably for either walking and for wheeling.
to avail herself Of whatever method OF
locomotion seems best adapted to the time
and place Trips by water should not Do
overlooked for England is traversed Dy
q network Of streams and canals, ana any
large enough to float a boat are regaroeo
as navigable and used accordingly.
boat trip available to all is by steamer
from oxford to London, stopping along the
way at some of the quaint old towns, and
fol, a peep at the popular resorts of Hen
ley, Goring, etc.
In conclusion the list of books on travel
in "a Summer in England" spreads out
the materials for feast only exceeded In
It's delights by a personal visit to the
spots to which they refer.