The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-07-10
LONDON[RS TRAVEL
BY ROAD TO RACES
Annual Pilgrimage to the Derby
at EPSON Downs is Pic
turesque Sight

The morning broke fair and fresh,
and glorious high wind drove the
clouds fast across the sky, which, how
ever, bore a threatening aspect. Soon
after breakfast the scene on the south
side of London was one of hustle and
gayety. From London bridge to Clap
ham and EDWARDS every one displayed
some kind of bunting to attract way
farers on their way to EPSON or on
their return. At Remington Gate the
scene was particularly animated Trav-
elers from east and north and south
meet at this point. Here the traffic
DIVORCES, the more leisurely folk going
by way of Brixton and Sreathann, and
so avoiding the heavier vehicular
traffic. In that case, however, pedes-
TRANS have a steep hill at Brixton to
mount, but the great stream of traffic
pursued its way by Chaplain common
and the main road to the downs.
At the ordinary breakfast hour the
roads were not so busy as usual, but
there was a great change in the GUS
tonlary procession. It is true there
were the coster's turnout, the trades
mans van, the wagonette and even
the hanson cab still to be seen, but all
in diminished degree.
TAxICABs DOMINANT
The really noticeable feature was the
dominant taxicab The taxidriver was
the man of the moment because he
could drive from town and be on the
EPSON course in Just over an hour The
vast number of these vehicles on the
road was really surprising. From the
spectacular point of view the taxicab
does not, Of course lend itself to deco
ration like the old fashioned vehicles,
and to this extent the picturesqueness
of the usual crowd suffered.
1t was odd that while there was such
a stream of traffic making for the races
there was also large stream proceed
ing cityward, the vast majority of whom
were really going to EPSON by train
after doing business for an hour or
two. The decorations on the vehicles
were not so profuse as usual, but one
or two parties. who had discarded rib
bons and rosettes, displayed Teddy
bears on the horses heads. At Ken
nington, the Plough, Chaplain and at
Chaplain common there were the usual
costers and street musicians.
Just before 10 o'clock there was
sharp shower of rain, and many taxi
cabs were promptly closed. although
the more venturesome of the travellers
missing an uninterrupted view of the
sights on the road. The downfall con-
tinued, however until about noon but
the weather afterwards cleared and the
sun shone.
SPORTSMEN EARLY ON ROAD
From early morning parties of
sportsmen and pleasure seekers, the
latter greatly preponderating started
for the downs in charabancs, wagon
cites, and, indeed. in every description
of open conveyance, the scenes along
the main thoroughfares which lead
from the east end of London to the
Derby course being Enthusiastically
animated The passage of the Thames,
via the Blackwell tunnel, had no ter
rors for the passengers and the strains
of bugles on the box seats apparently
helped TO inspire the prevailing happi-
ness. Once on the south side of the
river the stream of traffic was in
creased In volume by large contingents
from Woolwich and Greenwich, and the
procession along the Bromley road i'm
parted much liveliness to that usually
quiet turnpike.
There were the usual scenes of bust
ling activity at the railway stations
and at the principal suburban stations
serving the course. At Waterloo and
elsewhere large forces of police en-
trained for EPSON, and in the crowds
were to to be seen numbers of timer
ant vendors book makers with their
paraphernalia and musicians with
harmonious, banjos, cornets.-London
Globe.