Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-04-27

lpompously Haunting their faces fol
Admiration. From a distance it looked
las if scarlet mantle had been spread
lover Mother Earth, or as if Nature hae
succeeded in catching the crimson
lhues of the glowing sunset, and hat
painted here and there patches OF tins
land in the most gorgeous colors. II
was a glorious sight to watch theii
unfailing temperance, after a stretc'
Iof woodland green had heightened tht
Icontrast. Nothing occupied our at
Itention so much as those smiling
bright-eyed poppies, and as the wavef-
ling masses were stirred by gentle
IbreeZe they seemed to be breathing
Tout to us farewell as we left the
train at Canterbury.
Quaint old Canterbury, in it's rura
simplicity, consists Of one main
lcrooked street threading it's way
Through picturesque lanes, lined witf
low roofed cottages, until it comes [,
the gem of the town if not of all Eng
Hand. that historical and architecture
monument. the Canterbury Cathedral
looming up in all it's grandeur above
the modest little town. We were con-
tent to sit and ponder on its rare
Ibeauty during the "Even-Song' and
listen to the new organ. whose tones
Titled all those vaulted arches, awaken
ing the echoes of the sleeping ages.
We did not try to dissert it, we pre-
ferred to carry away with us the i'm
preston of that perfect whole, the
elegance and grace of which con-
fronted us on matter where we
turned We saw the spot where
Thomas A. Beckett fell. and the
Martyrs Chapel. The stone steps
leading to this latter are much worn us
the pilgrims used to walk up there on
their knees. The crypt is an under
ground cathedral of itself. with It's
aisles and sections Here it was that
| in 1861 Queen Elizabeth permitted the
Protestant eXiles to set up their SILK
looms, and their descendants still use
the side aisle as a place of worship.
| Returning to the main street after
our visit to the Cathedral. the shops
were all closed, and the town deserted.
1t was a holiday and the people were
at the baths, where exhibitions were
being held to raise money for a
widow. who was left with six children.
We spent the time sauntering through
lanes until the train should take us to
| Dover.
| There we were in a hotel overlooking
the Esplanade The season had hardly
begun, yet it was interesting to watch
the ships come and go, for Dover has
a government harbor, and way off III
the distance, we could see the coast Off
France dimly outlined. Turning
around we could see the old castle
| 1nft
turned into barracks
| 1t was restful there, and / was con-
| tent to remain at the hotel during our
short stay, but as it came about l saw
a great deal of Dover. We were to
sail for Ostend the next morning at
| nine O'Clock. Auntle in her enthuSl-
asnl for the invigorating climate, had
risen early and had gone OFF, no one
| Knew where. AT quarter past eight,
we were so alarmed lest we should miss
our boat, that | was dispatched to find
"Auntie" as being the fastest runner.
| was very thankful that the society
folks were still sleeping soundly. AS 1t
was, / startled many an innocent maid
as she leaned over the gate, wondering
where l could be going at that break
neck speed.
! [ questioned one or two and they
knew where the object of my search
was a half an hour ago. Almost in
| despair ! was about to return to the
hotel, when look ing up a side street, l
saw Auntie coming along as lelsurely
rs possible. 1t Was eXasperating to see
| how slowly she came. When at last
she was near me. ] could only stammer
| they're waiting for YOU" but she calm
| Nv looked at me and remarked You
needn't ever bother to wait for me, for
| snail never get lost. Just go right
along"
| That fairly took my breath away but
I jerked out Don't you understand.
the boat leaves in just ten minutes"
those words uttered. had hard work to
keep up with tie vanishing figure of
Auntie who reached the hotel first. We
were just in time to sink in our steam
err chairs when the boat left the dock.
| The first part of the four hour trip
was sunshiny. Bt fore Dover was left
| behind. we could see those famous
white chalk cliffs and Shakespeare
| Cliff which, so the story goes is that
| formidable summit described in King
Lear:
~ whose high and bending head
Looks fearfully in the confined deep"
ont we steamed into the English
Channel, and thence into the North
sea- AL first the great paddles extend
ing from the sides of the boat caused
no disagrecaEle sensation, but toward
the latter part Of the trip, there was
an ominous silence on the part of some
of the passengers. l was the only che
of cur party who minded the distur-
Dances caused by almighty Neptune. !
wondered how anybody felt like talk
ing. and it seemed marvellous to see
people walking about. AS l looked at
the rest eating their luncheon, I was
astonishnd at their being able to keep
themselves from rushing to the rail-
ing. 0 what relief to see King Leo
polds palace looming into view, and
soon to be again upon the firm earth
Not until then did I dare speak.
The customs We're not at all dreadful.
AS the Flemish people speak French
/ Informed the officials of our innocent
purpose to stroll through Europe until
our money gave out. Not any of our
| baggage was even opened.