The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-09-19
Out of the CattIeship
Over England.
IN IA BELLE PAREE"
The Fountains of Versailles. A Rush
Into Switzerland. Moonrise On The
Iungiran. The City Of the Bear.
Agonies of the Dutch
vernacular.


In a former letter / described the
trip across the Atlantic on cattle
boat, landing at Liverpool on June
25th, 1906. This trip cost me nothing
as I worked my way over and was
given a free passage back. There were
three young men who took the trip
with me, VIM. Richardson, Jr., of Sell
ma, N c.. Glenn Wrenn. of Mount
umbus, Ohio We reached Liverpool
about nine O'Clock at night and being
tired went directly to hotel and re-
tired We were up early the next
morning and began our sight seeing.
A ride along the docks on the eleva-
ted road was great. We passed close
to the great ocean liners, each In a
separate dock, some loading. others
unloading some preparing to sail
with the next high tide, while others
were waiting in the river to enter.
There are about seven miles of these
docks and the flags of every nation can
be seen floating from the masts of the
thousands of ships which are always
in Liverpool AS the tide i'm Liverpool
has a rise and fall of from 10 to 25
feet, a great floating dock, three quar-
tiers of mile long. is used as a landing
stage and thus enables the ocean liners
and ferries to land at all times. This
floating dock is connected to the main
wharf by bridges which move up or
down as the tide rises or falls. In the
afternoon we took a ride about the
city OH top of street car, there being
seats on top of all cars. At night we
went to the Olympia Theatre a varie-
~ show which we enjoyed very much.
What we in America term call orches-
ira. the English call the pit.Well, we
had seat in the pit. The best in the
house for only shilling. THUS ended
our first day in Europe. The next
morning we boarded the train for
London via Midland Railway. The dis
lance, 220 miles, We covered in exact
ly 4 hours. The scenery was grand.
Every inch of level ground was in the
highest state of cultivation. The towns
and cities of England are so close to-
gether. and speeding along at the rate
We did, 1t seemed that we were pass
ing through one large city, parts of
which were thinly settled.
The roads of England are of the
finest made. Thousands Of tourist
make trips all over the country on
wheels. We were struck by the fact
that these roads do not cross the rail-
road. They must either go above or
beneath the tracks. 1t is Sc l$25) fine
for a person ito walk the railroad
track and the law is strictly enforced.
The engines presented a very peculiar
appearance to us. as there were no
cow-catcher nor headlight.
In the afternoon We were walking
down the streets of London as though
we intended buying half the town.
Soon firing we caught a blue buss for
Trafalgar Square, from whence all the
buss lines radiate. / took front seat
on top of the buss and slipping a two
pence to the river asked him to point
out the places of interest which he did
in a very authoritative manner Being
amazed at the great number of busses
which filed the street l asked how
many there were i'm London. 'Well,
sir. l can't tell you, but my company
has fifteen thousand, and there
are five other companies
In LA Belle Paree."
We only remained couple of
days in London to get our
bearings and then. left for
Paris. Paris. the one Paris and the
only Paris was our stopping place for
ten days. We went about to see the
city in a systematic way giving our
selves plenty of time as we had more
time than money Getting a good
motel near the center or the city we
were well fixed for sightseeing. You
will wonder how we talked French.
Well. it was this way. we could most
always find people who could talk Eng
lish and when these could not be
fopnd we made signs and expert sign
makers we became. too. / could ask
the price with my fingers and nod ac-
cent just about as quick as the
Frenchman could with his words. We
learned the money the first thing and
soon forgot the old American eagle
Our first Sunday i'm Paris was July
End, and as the fountains only play at
Versailles on the 1stf and 3rd Sundays
of each month we spent the day at
this magnificent place. Versailles, the
royal palace of Louis 14th, is magnifi-
cent. No one to this day knows the
price of this enormous building. pink
marble being used in it's structure.
The court aid park surrounding this
mansion are laid off most artistically
into grass plots and beds of flowers
the best that human hands can make.
But the fountains were to play at four
o'clock and so we gathered with the
moving throng to see the display.
They were right on time and at the
hour set the water from the fountain
tips began to flow slowly. and then as
If urged I'm some magic way there shot
forth hundreds of streams. some