New-York tribune., 1906-08-18
THAMES AND AVON.
Records of Tzco Boating Trips on
the Historic Streams.


Of the nesh Pe6b p 5H S TeT TT4 so LfS
and Romantic shrines. the Whole Forming a
complete Guide 70 the Thames Valley. BY
map ana one hundred iilustrations svo pp Xxx.
sS9- G. P. Putnams Sons.
TIL. IpYLLIc AVON; Being a Simple Description scrsption
f&9Tdon-AHyOTn & la r. 1th Songs and Pictures 7nS qf the
TTe+t aG WIS ItS 9Dd Jon T 1s
tratons svo po. xvi. 2SS. g. P. PUtnan's Sons.
Probably no better way to gain IN the same
number Of days an equivalent appreciation OF
what England is and has been and what it
means 20 Americans. could be devised than the
trip taken by AIr. Wack and described by him
in an entertaining book. Starting from the very
source Of the Thames, he followed its course
down TO the point where, at Cricklade, it begins
TO be navigable by canoe. There. enbarking
in a wee craft rejoicing in the name Of Fuzzy
Wuzzy, he pursued the wtndings Of the stream
between its picturesque banks and past fits many
places OF notable interest as far as Kingston
From there, however, the force OF the tides and
crowded condition Of the river rendered It ad-
visable to complete the journey to Thames Mouth
in a launch.
The author divides his story about equally be-
tween his personal experiences on the trip and
his descriptions Of the places he visited, many
Of his excursions afoat taking him to places at
some distance from the river The interest in
fers 10 other travellers to follow the authors
example. and in the personal note that he
sounds. rather than in anything that he
has TO say on the subject of English history, or
in his descriptions OF often described places and
events It would certainly be hard for an Amer
lean 70 find anything novel to tell about Oxford
Dorchester, Reading, Windsor, Eton. Hampton
Court or even London, and It is to Mr.. Wack's
credit that he does not attempt the impossible
What he does attempt however, and very well
succeeds IN, is TO convey the impressions made
upon receptive mind by the charm and beauty
OF the river and by the 'thickly clustered memo
ries that hang about almost every furIong Of its
course all enlivened by his accounts Of the peo-
PIE he met along the way and Of the incidents
characteristic Of such voyage
One thing which may surprise American read
ers, who have been led by their reading to ex-
pect great things Of English inns, is the criticism
which the author makes Of most Of those that
he visited. To him 'the chief excuse for the ex-
istence Of many inns in England is the tradition
history which attaches 70 their names-names
often emblazoned upon the page Of living lit
erature." Even the advent Of the motor car
seems not to have raised the standard Of rural
hotel accommodations IN Mr.. Wack's experience
Somehow, they remain the same from one
decade to another-rusty. inefficient. comfort
less and proud. disdaining modern hygienic ap-
paratus the art Of cooking. the wisdom Of con-
forming to modern taste" Fortunately, there
are exceptions. such as The ConpIeat Angler"
made famous by Sir Izaak Walton; and these
exceptions he is careful TO note for the benefit
OF those who may make similar trip and who
would do well to conform their itinerary so far
as possible 70 that followed by Mr.. Wack The
author appears to have taken a camera with him
and to have ''snapshotted" freely on his way;
but the many illustrations in the book have in
most instances wisely been chosen from collec-
tions OF pictures made by professional photogra-
pliers who have had the leisure to seek their sub
jects under the most favorable conditions.
In his description of a boating trip the Avon
from Tewkesbury to stratford Mr.. Garrett re-
verses the plan followed by Mr. Wack. and
makes his voyage upstream. Although the dis
tance traversed far shorter-hardly more
than forty miles-Nr Garrett moved at far
more leIsurely pace than Nj. Wack spending
the entire summer in accomplishing his inconsid-
era BILE journey. In this way he is able 10 give
his readers a very intimate view OF the valley
of the winding stream associated with Shake
speare's early and later years, and he also finds
time frequently to drop into poetry" when
moved thereto by his impressions of the scenery,
by incidents Of his trip or by the recollection Of
ancient days. Mr. Garrett, indeed, seems to fall
harmless and can be easily skipped by those not
capable OF approaching it. The literary plan
followed by the author in his prose descriptions
is much the same as that Of Mr.. Wack, the DIFF
ference lying largely in the personal equation
He is more dlscursive in his illusions and his
ranbles take him further afeld- Some Of his
rroralizfng on the manners and customs of the
,a+ives especially on their reprehensible ten
aency to seek relaxation from their days labor
in the bars Of public houses. might we'll be
SHARED Nevertheless, he succeeds well in con-
vevine the charm Of the valley and the river and
IN unearthinE its riches Of literary and historic
associations.
The Avon was at one time commercial water
v-ay Of some Importance. and a series Of locks
was built around its many weirs, through the
efforts Of a citizen who appears unfortunately,
not 10 have reaped the due reward Of his enter
prise. But with the coming Of the railroad in the
valley the corporation bought up the rights in
these locks. and, by way Of discouraging conpe-
tition. allowed them to fail into disrepair. AS a
raeult the navigation of the stream necessitates
freouent carries" over and around the arti-
6ciaI obstacles in its course. Still, for one who
IS not in a hurry. the trip UP or down the river,
with Mr. CARROTS volume for a guide should
prove as enjoyable and suggestive as the
longer. passage Of the Thames.
resuits its fame, the Avon is far less generally
we'll known than its neighbOr, the Thames, is
far less freQuented. and the voyage will reveal
much more that Is likely TO be unfamiliar to the
traveller. Tewkesbury mustard. mentioned by
ralstaff in Henry w." IS no longer purchas-
abIe commodity, but the old abbey is still there,
and so is the site OF the last battle OF the Wars
Of the Roses Evesham. which al active oars
Iaf1h TFa ant fnnF