Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-24
ROMAN BATHS, BATH, ENGLAND.

| is 30, he will be pleased to know that in
many instances the Great Western rail-
way passes In close proximity to notable
British. Roman and Saxon earthworks or
intrenchments which have survived the
ravages of centuries and still retain much
Of their original appearances; that 1t is
alike the key to such celebrated scenes OF
medieval contest as Shrewsbury and
Evesham, and to the spots which wit
messed q large proportion Of the fiercest
fights and sieges of the civil war, such as
those which took place at Worcester,
Gloucester. Newbury, Oxford, Landsdown
Hill and elsewhere.
Bath Important Attraction.
, Bath is to England what Spa was to
Europe. Its literary and social history is
only an epitome Of that of England itself.
but 1t is by no means the only inland
health resort Of which the Great Western
railway can boast, for Cheltenham, Lea
mington, Malvern, Clifton. Droitwich and
Church Stretton present in turn powerful
attractions to the travellers Of all nations.
1t Is in the west that we must look for
the traces rapidly becoming fainter and
fainter) of many of those great men and
women whose talents and industry have
helped to build up the common language
and common literature of which all Eng
disappearing countries should be equally
proud. 1t is superfuous to speak Of Ok
FORD with Its muster roll of renowned
divines and famous scholars. Silent hon.
age to the enormous influence OF alma
mater from every point Of view Is offered
year after year by the thousands Of ap-
preciative visitors who throng its desert
ed halls. chapels and quadrangles each
succeeding long vacation. Bath also pos
sesses list Of worthless almost equally
lengthy and important; but there are few
localities in the west OF England, how
ever remote. which have not contributed
some notable addition to the ranks Of the
great statesmen, warriors, theologians,
philosophers, poets, painters, musicians
or scientists of the past. In the great
part Of these America and England have
community of interest and appreciation
In Cornwall, Devon and Dorset will be
found the homes of many Of the pilgrim
Fathers" as well as those OF the Arna-
da heroes of previous generation. In
Dorsetshire once lived not only the
Puritan forbears Of John Wesley, but
"Old Tom" Fuller, whose forcible and
caustic writings are still held in high es-
tenn by all American students. and in
the same county, but nearly century
and half later, William Wordsworth
penned some Of his earliest sonnets.
Wiltshire afforded home to that notable
Crabbe. Moore and Bowles: and at New
bury tthe scene Of two great civil war
struggles) Elizabeth Montagu, the once
powerful Queen Of the Blue Stockings,
held her court. 15s.
Windsor First Excursion Point.
To Brethren of the Mystic Tie" many
Of the old-world cities and towns Of
England offer a fruitful field both for
pleasant visiting and profitable research.
In the Masonic temples of Bath, Chester,
Worcester. Windsor Exeter. Salisbury.
Weymouth. Taunton, Yeovil. Bridport
and other places will be found valuable
and interesting collections Of pictures,
engravings and other relics connected
with the past history of that great cos
mopolitan confraternity which is today
equally powerful. equally popular and
equally far reaching In its influence for
good on both sides of the Atlantic. In
the ruins of the monastic houses OF me
dieva1 times, like Malmesbury and Glas-
tonbury. the thoughtful Knight Templar
congenial subject for hts Investigations
while the mark Mason and companion
Of the Royal Arch will gaze with some
thing more than mere curiosity on the
traces Of the bandiwork Of their operative
predecessors still plainly visible on the
walls of the magnificent cathedrals of
Salisbury, Wells, Winchester and Worces-
ter.
There are, however. many holiday
makers whose main object Is nothing
attended by a minimum OF discomfort and
fatigue. 1t would be difficult to ina CINE
any happier hunting grounds for those
who desire to appreciate and enjoy what
Motley most aptly called the varied
beauties OF English scenery" in spring,
summer or autumn than the pleasant
valleys Of the Thames and the Wye. the
romantic shores OF Severn sea, the wa
tering places Of Devon. Dorset and Som
erset, the breezy uplands of Dartmoor
and Exmoor or the western Riviera OF
Cornwall, where one can winter most
luxuriously without the trouble and ex-
pense Of further journeying to either the
south of France or the north Of Africa.
The first excursion for the traveller
who makes London his center or point Of
departure will doubtless be to Windsor
or Eton. to Stoke Pogis or to Chalfont.
BY the aid Of the Great Western railway
those who delight in the associations Of
the eventful past can visit In the course
OF single day the most interesting pal
aces, the homes OF Milton and Gray and
the last resting place of William Penn.