Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-01-20
HOME FROM ENGLAND.
Mr.. and Mrs. A. J. Hopkins at Home
After Trip Abroad.

Mr.. and Mrs. Albert J. Hopkins of
Is Cedar street returned Saturday
night from trip to England. A Jour-
nal reporter called on them Sunday
and was told a very interesting story
Of the trip across.
We left New York. said Mr.. Hop
kins. ION the steamship Lusitania of
the Cunard Line Dec. IA at go p. NJ.
Our pilot went over the side at the
Sandy Hook lightship at AS p. NJ
My notes show that we passed a
transatlantic liner going West the
same day, also that 1 felt sick. The
days run was Ji1 miles, Gil miles from
Sandy Hook
For the next few days Mr.. Hopkins
said that he felt quite seasicll the most
of the time On Dec II the weather
was so rough and the ship rolled to
such an extent that the musicians
could not stand on the deck to play, so
the concert had to be dispensed with.
On Dec. is the weather was very
rough and the steamer was 1443 miles
from Liverpool, the days run being an
even 500 miles. On Dec. 90 the engine
was stopped for the first time and land
was seen at A. NJ. At $50 A. NJ. the
ship was stopped again to permit the
steamer America to come alongslde
and take off the mail, $500 sacks. Ar
rived at Liverpool at 2.25, from when
place Mr. and Mrs. Hopkins took train
and arrived in London at 7.30 T. NJ
While in London Mr.. and Mrs. Hop
kins visited many friends and noted
many changes in the city. Mr.. Hopkins
saws that the city has grown much III
the last 25 years, spreading out into
thc country. He investigated the Lon
don pavements in view of the agitation
over wood pavennents in Augusta, ana
found that wood was considered the
best material for the purpose. A Lon
don bus driver told him in his opinion
wood was the ideal material for pave
ments. as it wore we'll. was easy foi
the horses to travel on and made little
noise.
After visiting in London Mr.. ana
Mrs. Hopkins took a trip to the west
of England where they visited Mr..
| Hopkins old home in Frome, Somer-
setshire. 1t has been 25 years since
Mr.. Hopkins left that town for Amerl-
ca He found it changed in many ways.
On the return trip they left London
at 1905 p. NJ. and Liverpool at $50.
One Of the amusing features OF the
trip home was when the steamer
Nauretania arrived off the Irish coast.
A short stop was made and several
woman peddlers came aboard with
Iaces and other articles for sale. The
officers Of the ship warned them off
but they threw up ropes to the passen-
gers and were hauled aboard by them.
They had good sale Of souvenir cards
among the passengers and after they
had finished their selling they went
the same way they came.
Mr.. Hopkins said that the Irish coast
looked bright and green in the sui.-
light. the cows feeding peacefully On
the hillsides.
The trip home was rough one, the
sea being so rough Jan. Is that door
was broken from it's hinges by the fu-
rious impact of the waves. Jan. II at I
o'clock in the morning Nantucket
lightship was passed, 232 miles from
New York. On this day a ship was
sighted, the first that Mr.. Hopkins had
seen on the trip home.
| Mr. and Mrs. Hopkins arrived in
New York Friday afternoon and left
| New York for Boston about midnight
| arriving in Boston at 7.15 A. NJ. Sat
urday and in Augusta at 40 p. NJ
| II tell you" said Mr.. Hopkins to the
| Journal man that we are mighty glad
to get back to this country. l find that
the laboring man has better chance
here than i'll the old country. that bet
ter wages are paid. they have more To
eat and get along better in every way
The heating systems in use in Eng
land are out of date and poor After
all the old State of Maine is good
enough for me