The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1910-09-23
Miss Parker S FoIeignLetteT.
S. S. Columbia, Sept. 10, 191

S. S. Columbia, Sept 10, 1910
Dear friends once again:
The last week of our land journey
ing is now memory and soon even
the sea trip will be over. Then we will
have to adjust ourselves to the routine
of life once more and settle down
But life will never be just the same
again because we have seen a bit OF
the world and realize that it is big
one after all, even though our own
little corner sometimes seems to fill
most of the space. There are many
people worrying around this ball and
along about the same fundamental
lines, but the variations are marvel
Gus to behold. The value of the trip
abroad lies as much in seeing the point
of view of the different people as in
seeing their art galleries and cities.
If we have grown a little less sure
that our American way is the only
way, and that others may have even
gone ahead Of US in some minor par
ticulars, We are none the worse for
the trip, as we are still convinced that
America is the one place we want to
live in.
When we left Ambleside for Keswick
by coach, we did not realize that it was
going to seem so much like home. The
nd 10
carry the similo further, boys and
men we're sweeping them clean early
that morning, all along the way. What
wonder that the country appears so
tidy, with every piece of litter picked
up when a nearly continuous rain
washes the trees and fields and brooms
are used on the highways. Here the
mountains come close and the clouds
and mist hover over them, while ir-
regular and fascinating little lakes
reflect the frowning peaks in their
dark waters, but a rift in the clouds
shows a st. Johns vale as shining
and verdant as any in sunny Italy, |
which is far more beautiful if New
England's mood is the criterion. |
There is character in every little
bunch of tufted oak leaves on the
old English oak and there is the cour- |
age of battle in every surrounding
protecting mountain, while content
ment is to be seen in the luxuriant |
fields of grass or wheat, and happi- |
ness in the little houses in the val
leys.
Even the Lion and the Lamb, that |
bold mountain with its rocky repro
duction or anticipation of the time
when the end Of the world shall have
come does not look as peaceful as it's
name indicates The lion and the lamb
lay there together on the top, but
side by side, instead of inside the
other. Perhaps the lion was so sur
prised by the advent of the lamb that
he was petrified too soon, and so lost
the meal.
Natures mood is heroic here, still
as we passed WORDSWORTH grave in
the churchyard at Grasmere and his
home of mature manhood, little lat
er, we remembered that he wrote into
verse all that birds and flowers, noun
tains and fields had shown to him in
this paradise spot-Wordsworth's seat,
huge rock with stone steps cut into
the side to the top, overlooking Ry-
dali lake OF Rydall waters, as they
say. Poetry did not seem a difficult
muse to be wooed, but one to be won
almost for the asking We did not
wonder that he sang of Nature and
her charms as we quoted softly
The rainbow comes and goes,
And lovely is the rose;
The moon doth with delight
Look round her when the heavens are
bare.
Waters on a starry night
Are beautiful and fair;
The sunshine is a glorious birth
But yet l know, where'er / go,
That there hath passed away glory
from the earth"
AS even the longest road has turn r
ing, so even the most delightful ride :
has an ending, so, after visiting the !
church in all England, WITH Q
burn, we drove soon after to the Kes- :
wick Inn for luncheon, which was 6
hurry-up one, for trains do not wait .
here any more than at home and they 4
are seldom late when you are 1t is
very picturesque to see the stage :,
coach whip up to the door, the four a
horses coming up with a dash, the q
portly driver in his tall hat, bright u
red coat and brass buttons, cracking u
his whip and holding the reins high, a
while the eighteen or twenty passen- f.
gers scramble down from their seats Il
on top. This scene is repeated every h
few minutes, and time speeds by on u
/