The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1903-01-09
Some English Notes and Inn
preSSiOnS.
TIT

/ teenth it was with hopes that we would reach
London by the twenty-third at least. This would
| give us two or three days to get 'straightened
OUT and rid of our sea legs in order to properly
witness the ceremonies and pageants incident to
the browning of England's King. If you asked
any one aboard the ship if he was going "to take
| in" the coronation, the invariabe reply was to
the effect that little interest being felt in the
great event, and that it was not this fact which
was drawing so many people to that great metrop-
oils towards which the eyes of the whole civilized
| world were then turned. But as we neared the
historic shores of old England think every per-
son aboard had about made up his mind not to
miss any more than he could help of this great
English show.
But we were disappointed in our time of land.
| ing breakdown in midocean delayed us more
than day; a low tide at the mouth of the Thames
a few hours after nightfa; and thus it was on the
morning of June twenty-ffth that we were
awakened at Tillbury Docks AN hours train ride
from London-with the news that the King of
England was dead. You may imagine the ex-
element this caused among the passengers and
crew, and what hustle and uproar reigned aboard
for some time after this bit of news reached us.
We reached London an hour or SO later-about
ten o'clock-to find the report erroneous, and the
/
sick man.
Now this appealed to may of us as an interest
| ing position. We were to see and study the
actions of disappointed London populace; Lon-
don decked in holiday attire; draped in all the
gorgeous colors the East ever dreamed of, ready
in every way to take its part in the passing show;
we were to see these London people who had
| staked much on this great event, and we we're to
| see them on the eve of their great disappoint-
ment But as far as London was concerned there
was little to show in the life of the people that
anything out of the ordinary had happened. l
do not know what the American press put forth
in regard to the state of London at that time but
| do know that was surprised to find that great
city in such state of repose-on every side order.
| tranquility, quiet
| This leads me to remark on a very interesting
phase of English character If the average Eng
lishman is anything he is content with things as
they happen. This may be fault or it may be a
virtue, but whatever it is it is characteristic of
the Englshman. He never grumbles. He simply
takes things as they come. l noticed this
throughout the country. Doubtless you have all
heard the American citizen express himself when
he misses train or when train fails to make the
scheduled connection. had occasion to travel
with quite number of Americans last summer
and know how some of them act. One paltie-
ular instance impressed me. In compart-
ment going from London to Dover were four
young Englishmen and as many American chaps.
All were going to the Continent and all by the
same boat. Itseemed to me that our train would
never reach Dover; and at last it was given out
that contrary to custom, the channel boat would
not wait for US but that we would have to take
the boat leaving Dover for Ostend at about four
O'Clock. This meant a wait of over five hours.
During all that ride.-and it was a mighty
tedious one-during all that days disappoint-
ments and worriments, have yet to hear any,
thing from those four Britshers but good hum
ored banter and popularity. The things the
Americans said are not in that category ofremarks
which may be placed in public print. This may
seem trivial at first sight, it does sound so to me as
l reread it; but taken into consideration along
with numerous other incidents it seems that it
shows Il wide difference in character of the two
great English speaking nations,-a difference
both elements of which may have contributed
something in the building of both countries.
These little things which you daily see in a for
eign land impress you. Scenery, historic piles,
places with historic associations and monuments
which mark as milestones the onward march of a
nation to prominence and greatness please the
|
most what he longest remembers aud what are
after all the chief elements which enter largest
into the fabric from which the nation is made
are the various phases of character which go to
make up the very heart and soul of the social
body.
I have taken occasion to remark on the
Engishman's love of order. 1t seems to the cas-.
ual observer that this is evident in every phase of
English life,-in their legislative halls, their law.
courts their colleges, their grand military dis.
plays, their holiday makngs, their regattas their
cricket matches, their horse races their prize
fights. mnst say in justice to my honest and
sincere belief that the Englishman is pretty nearly
always gentleman. And after seeing them at
their various games, both local and International
feel that it is only fair to them to say that they
are thorough sportsmen-a few squabbles over
yacht'racing to the contrary Notwithstanding l
know this statement isn't exactly orthodox and Ia
far from popular; yet it is backed by observation
and by statements made personally by gentlemen
who have competed with them on their own
playground.
l saw the Australian cricketers play the Surrey
Eleven at the Lords grounds, just outside of
London, and grander athletic spectacle have
never seen. Our Army and Navy game is the only
thing that approaches it. Entirely free from all
and every trace of that rowdyism and too often
vulgarity which frequently creeps into our pro-
fessional matches of all kinds, and which l am
very sorry to say sometimes appears on the grid
iron and diamond of our colleges the Thousands
surrounding the two rival eleyens on that beau
tifu August afternoon made up a crowd that was
the most orderly have ever seen at an athletic
event. l know this is putting it strong And
would have it understood that 1 am not accusing
our American athletes Of rowdyism and vulgarity
in their various sports; but everyone who has
attended in this country professional base ball
game, horse race, prize fight, and even some
college games knows that, while careless behavior
is not the rule, the exception too ofteu happens.
| was in London at the time OF the famous re-
view of the Horse Guards. This is always mag
nihcent spectacle. The review during the summer
OF 1902 far surpassed any that has been held for
many decades. Held, as it was, on the first day
OF July 1t really took the place of the postponed
royal triumphal procession which was scheduled
for June ~. The Horse Guards is one of England's
crack regiments. CHARTERED in old Whitehall
famous as the palace of the Stuart Kings, the
palace from which the il.fated Charles walked
to the block on the day of his public execution
the guardsmen, richly uniformed and mounted
on superb chargers are familiar figures as they sit
like statues in front of the relic of that ancient
monument of departed dynasty. The King
being i'll in Buckingham Palace at the time of the
review, the chief duties of the day fell upon the
Queen and the Prince of Wales. The morning
was bright and clear. and as l walked across
| Green Park from Hyde Park Corner to the front
J OF Buckingham Palace, / shall never forget the