The gold leaf., 1903-07-16
MERRY ENGLAND
Some Observations of a Hen
derson Lady Abroad.


Ca,hedral-Warwick Castle and Its
Surprising Beauty-A Lovely Coun
try Like Uunto Vast Landscape
Garden-Womsn Wearing Low Neck
Dresses Clad in Furs "Buffaio
Bill" Delighting Britishers With His
Great Wild West Show.
We publish this week the second OF
the series of letters written by Miss
Lila Tucker giving an account OF her
travels and observations abroad.
Last weeks letter was descriptive OF
the trip across the ocean. This one
is written from Englang a few days
after landing.
As stated last week these letters
were written with no idea of their
being published, but merely for ''pri-
vate consumption by the family.
However, at our request, her brother,
DR.. John Hill Tucker, consented to
give them to the GOLD LEAF for the
benefit of it's readers That they will
appreciate this the very favorable
comments elected by last weeks let
ter fully attest.
CHESTER ENGLAND. June 18th.
| am simply dazed and don't know
where to begin. cannot take in the fact
that we are across the ocean and in
merry old England. Yesterday morning
while at breakfast some one called out
Land in sight" and all sprang from
the table and rushed to deck to see the
rocks of Ireland in the distance rising
boldly out of the water. Ali day we
watched the beautiful Irish coast with
it's many lighthouses and signal sta
tiOns, which were mostly Oh rocky cliffs;
but occasionally we caught giimpses OF
green fields and trees-and such green as
YOU can never imagine.
When we neared Queenstown the
clouds thickened and it actually showed
for awhile 1t was very interesting to
watch the passengers for Queenstown
embark in little tender" a tiny boat
that came out to the big steamer We
saw very little of the town as we were
anchored outside the harbOr; but a
charming old Irish gentleman aboard
pointed out to us the points OF interest
there as we'll as all along the coast.
This morning after breakfast we began
to near the English coast. We passed
steamers, tugs. sail boats of all kind and
as we entered the river Mercy and
watched the coast on both sides | was
too happy and excited to realize where
we We're The Liverpool harbOr is SO
unlike the New York harbor. There are
no sky scrapers, but everything looks
substantial and the people busy as in
our own country. 1t was interesting to
watch from the boat people on the wharf
or stage. as they call it, The policemen
are all so soft spoken and gentle. And
everybody has such rosy cheeks. q hope
we will stay in the country long enough
| to acquire the complexion.) Conspicu-
GUS among those waiting at the boat
| were English soldiers Red Coats with
gold trimmings and the most wonderful
| little hats stuck on the left carlow
they stay on | will never know-and
with their canes and white gloves which
they are compelled to carry. \ Scotch
soldier was there also, with the same
uniform except Il funny cooked hat OF
blue
Well it was sad time when we began
to say goodbye to our steamer friends.
We landed and were driven to the Gus
tom house, where the officer, a soft
tongued, fat creature, unlocked my trunk,
felt around in it a little, then labeled it
20. X" Then for the train for Chester.
had wondered about an English train
and had no idea what it would be like.
You can imagine my surprise to find an
engine about one quarter OF the size OF
ours and the long line of tiny low blue
ears, divided into compartments for SIX
people We went third class as many
do and found it very comfortable. The
freight trains we passed were as remark
able as the passenger ones, the box or
fiat cars being so small four could be put
in one OF ours.
The guards always thank you for
everything and help with your bags. In
fact, the English are altogether an ador-
when our tiny little train went at such a
fearful rate. Through beautiful green
fields and lovely quaint villages-not a
spot of land uncultivated-and in the
fields red poppies and lovely English dai-
sizes, wee modest crimson tipped flow
| ers, and buttercups, and the red face
children playing along with the cows
and sheep.
In an hour we reached the quaint old
town of Chester, where we took a street
car for the Inn. They call the cars
trans They have a winding stairs
leading to the top story which we al
ways take on account of the view. Only
a penny to ride anywhere. We came to
this Inn (the Talbit) which some of our
friends had tried and liked so much. I'M
agine our horror on entering into cosy
bar-rOOm, where pretty bar maid was
making tOddies for Il crowd of old gen
tlemen sitting around a large fire place
with small blaze. Our first impulse
| was to retreat but we recalled Scott S
and Dickens description OF English Inns,
and the fat, Jolly landlady entered to
| take us in the coffee ROOM and gave
us delightful rooms with sitting room
Don, think we are in the wrong place,
for we are situated in a charming house
There is no drunkenness here 1t is SIM
ply a cosy English Inn; but we sit up
stairs in our dainty sitting room fur
nished with sideboard, a nice couch. din
ing table, writing desk. piano, &c.
Saturday, June 20th.-This morning
we caught an early boat and went down
the river Dee to Eaton Hall. the palace
of Lord Westminster. and for the first
time | saw the beautiful estate of real
English Lord and though his Grace
was not visible. we enjoyed wandering
around in the beautiful park watching
the deer i'll drOves and listening to the
chimes OF his chapel clock, which play
every quarter of an hour beautiful
strains The house was enormous but
we did not care to go in, as the paint
ings and furniture We're all covered up
Our sail up the Dee was on lovely boat
with a band of music on board. We
passed hundreds of pleasure boats and
the Chester Rowing Club out practicing
was interesting.
Chester is a charming old town. I'M
agine walking on a wall surrounding it
| in a two miles circuit that was built by
the Romans before the Christian era, and
standing in towers at it's corners that
Quenn Ann. Charles and other English
sovereigns have occupied The 'Rous"
OF Chester is also my daily wonder and
delight. 1t is just the projection of the
second story of houses forming covered
way and such attractive shops on either
side
Another first experience today was on