Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-10-12
An Augusta Teacher Abroad.
NO L. The English Lakes.

away, but we only vert short dis
tancc~before we found ourselves in Il
sheep pasture, where the sheep were So
aStoniSied that they looked ut us for
Il full moment, then fled to the other
end of the field. Crossing two or three
stone walls we came to the Lodge.
followed the driveway and were soon
standing before the stately door where
we rahg the bell and then wished we
were anywhere else but there. We had
wild desire to run, but as there WAS
no turning back we waited until the
maid came, and we were very much
relieved when she told us that Mrs.
Severn, Ruskin's adopted daughter was
rot at home. IT took only Il few mini
utcS before she was persuaded to let Us
into the grand old halI, out of which led
the library which remains just as Rus
Kin left it. Even his armchair is
drawn up to tn" fire in comfortable
manner. and when the maid had occa-
sion to turn away, we showed our
reverence for Ituskin by sitting where
he must have 50. 50 often. viewing with
pardonablc pride his treasured VOL
unles, the paintings on the walls and
his collection of curioS.
Frnm brentwood Euskin had a fine
view of Coniston Lake and the "Old
Man Coniston" Although the other
rooms were interesting. we wanted our
last impression to be of the library
and grounds, so bidding farewell to the
sacred spot, we were on the lake once
more. and thence on cur way back to
AmblCSiIe. 1t was on that ride that
an English lad Informed Us that he was
going to America next year. and he
wanted to know if he could get from
Boston to san Francisco in a day.
Rydal Mount the home of Words
worth was but two miles from our hotel
and although We were told that en-
trance there was impossible, yet we de-
ci,lcu to try it, even if it ncceSsitatcd
our rising ut an carly hour so that we
could get to GraSmcre in time for the
coach IT, take US to keSwick. twas
a lovely morning and we were prcpar-
n- to enjoy our long walk, when sud-
denly a lane leading up to our goal
appeared before us. before we thought
VIC had gone half mile, but we had
forgotten that an English mile is Il
very short American one.
AS the road was marked private. We
were cont"ntinG ourselves With a look
through the fence. when the gardener
came up. and cOurtcouSly touching his
hat asked il we would not like to enter.
Delighted of course. we followed him
through the tcrraced gardens. enjoying
one flower bed after another and
thought ourselves favored as he picked
two English tea roses from bush
Wordsworth had planted, and gave
them to us. From the garden We fol-
lowed Il bypath which led us to Il rus
tic summer house Wordsworth himself
had puilt.,,a, We Immediately sat down
there. but our guide only smiled
hcnevolently and said, con, everybody
that comes ,heH does that" He in
formed US tfiat tht house had been
changed since W7vrdsworth lived there.
SO we saw. enough fran the outside and
were satisfied with looking in through
the long low windows III such rooms as
arc typical of any English country seat.
From Rydal Mount we walked past
Itydal Lake and reached Grasmere with
only few minutes to spare. Seeing
a ccachman standing in front OF a
mouse. VIC asked him if We could have
time 10 visit Wordsworth's grave be
fore the keSWick coach came Break
ing into Il broad grin he replied: 30,
yes. the coach doesn't come along for
fifteen minutes and you Americans can
do everything in that time Tnfor-
tunat"iy that is the reputation we have
acquired over there. This time though
he was mistaken. for the coach bein,
late. We had plenty Of time to visit the
churchyard where Wordsworth and his
sister sleep side by side, as we'll as to
enjoy the scenery around US, which was
the inspira zion Of that simple yet clo-
Gucnt verse which Wordsworth has left
the world as his legacy.
Even when the stagc-C bore us
away from Grasmcrc, we were not out
of the poets region. for We drove up
Dunnail Itaisc the favorite walk of
the poets. where Colcridgc often stood
to enjoy the view when he returned
home from Il visit to Wordsworth
Father along we passed Wythburn
church. the second smallest church in
England, and while the ladies of the
party stepped out to visit 1t. the gentle"
men went to Il tavern Opposite. ON
and on We went passing Thirlmere lake.
the Lady at the Organ" and 50 on in
to keswick.
In spite of the fact that it was market
day in the city til" station was desert
ed, and there MAS no one on the long
platform. Not wishing to tug our mod
est bags around with rs w. simply
dropped them in front of tn" station.
trusting to find them on our return. and
when six hours later We came back,
there they Wcr" untouched.
Once in the city W" SAW the town At
its liNtIie st. There in the square wera
Vegetables ana me rchan1iSc OF all kinds
for winch the people were bargaining
amidst Il great deal of confusion. LcaV-
ing ell that excitement We went w y
hill to Greta Hall the home of SCuth"N.
A gate marked private did nos prevent
lis from entering the grounds and cN-
ploring the walks. but the place was
so gloomy that We did not care to stay
there long, and we easily understood
WHY Southcy wrote the poetry he did.
The same gloomy mystical spell that
breathes through the Curse of ke-
hama" and "Tha1aba" still hovcrs over
Greta Hall.
Returning to the village we passed the
church of St. Kentigern CrOsthwaltc,
built in the old Norman style. with its