Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-04-19
A SUMMER in EUROPE.
II-Side Glimpses Of London.

threading our way carefully through q
tangled maze of booths, we at last
came suddenly upon scene of splen-
dor and revelry.
Before us, cleaned myriads Of lights
from the brilliantly illumined courts OF
honor, and to our ears were waited the
enticing strains of pleasing melodies. II
was one living mass out there, and we
did not wonder that the crowd had for
saken those cold exhibits for liveliel
atmosphere of lights and music. One
grand exposition building after another
fairly shone. while the Irish building
cleaned green like an emerald set In
that diadem of briliants. From one
band stand we wandered to another
each turn leading us on to the some
other radiant scene. We recognized
the national French gayety in all this,
and enjoyed as much as any one the
alluring scene before us. Nobody was
in a hurry, there we recognized the
English characteristics. Each looked
as If he had been there all his life, as
if those splendid corridors were his
home. No one had any intention OF
leaving and yet in all that immense
crowd there was always room for one
more.
When at last we were obliged to
leave the Exposition it was like say
ing farwell to London for we were to
so the next day to Canterbury. Lon
don will be the same tomorrow as it
was yesterday, the same steady going
deliberate metropolis as she has always
been, the same steady current bearing
it's burden majestically but serenely
to the sea.
Even the telephones here move slow
~. One day we wished to telephone
and as we CHANGED to be in the Amer
lean Express Office we asked to use
their telephone. They We're Mortified
said it could not be thought of. We Of
fered to pay, but no, it was entirely
out of order. The telephone was strict
" for the employees of the company
AS they We're English clerks they were
amazed when we told them that in
America we used the telephone where
ever we happened to be. They told us
that we must go to the public telephone
office opposite, so off we went. The
method was tedious. A girl at the desk
found our number. called up the party
there and wait. My friend sat down
and waited We thought of giving it
up. but the girl at the desk said every
time in answer to my question How
long before the party will answer
"Oh not long now" and we believed he1
and waited The English are very con-
siderate. They have in every booth a
prep for the elbow, SO that one will
not become tired. We needed it that
day for it was twenty minutes before
we had any response. One becomes pa
tient by living in England. We Won
dered if they charged by the minute
When we asked the clerk the price we
were surprised to find that all that
business had been transacted for four
cents
1t was not a very dignified party
that went to Charing Cross Station one
morning. A porter walked in front of
use with out three suit cases, for Aun-
tie still persisted in carrying her carpet
bag. and she carried it in a manner as
if she feared that every pasSer-by
meant to wrench it from her hands
However the valise and herself and the
rest of lis were at last made comforta-
BILE in a roCmy compartment of a train
that was about to start for Canterbury.
MABEL FRANCES KNIGHT.
Letter No. 3, Across to the Cont