New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-11

TT AvING no motor car and dislik-
ing trains at so per cent extra
fare for so per cent smaller
seat, | saved shoe leather by Turkish
ing up pre-war bicycle, pushable by
human petrol only. and, with an Amer
lean leather knapsack, containing a
map, a toothbrush and pajamas,
negotiated 500 miles Of turnpike, COW
ering 5000 years Of history, in pre-
cisely ten solar days.
Here. at nine miles an hour-all over
military sge-was England. the very
essence Of England, which means Wilt
shire-in war time. yet everybody
cheerful. SORROW is modest, and It was
only oy accident that | learned how
from Glastonbury, in Somerset mere
village-there have been forty young
men killed. Or that the gentleman in
this other hotel, who limps, lay twelve
months pushing out gsngrene.
Threads of Empire Meet
Even Wiltshire wakes up. Girls
only stroll when they link arms with
soldiers Somewhere, which means
everywhere, industries are developing
Sawmills rend the air with hosrse
sound and forests are laid low. The
roads are still, on the whole, excel
lently psved-notably where needed
for the military; and while joy-riders
are not entirely obsolete, | was run
over less often than formerly by auto
mobiles. Food is plentiful, and rus
ITCHY ameliorates the restrictions OF
the correct metropolis. The bread IS
winter. One helps ones self TO sugar
instead of being helped.
And the only worry, for those who
feel it, is beer. The pubs are having
as thin a time as our national sev-
orages. As the empire grows bigger the
imperial pint grows more costly.
As everybody is busy, money soounds
especially az the postoffices, where wal
brides receive their allowances as I'M
blushingly as if they, with their fair
and rosy checks, were old age pension
ers. Once, by accident, | saw groups OF
German priscners-bronzed, well fed
leisurely, but, OF course, moody with
inevitable exile-otherwise obviously
content.
Going Back 5000 Years
What q land 70 defendl Run with
me over that five thousand years Of IN
broken history. Wells Cathedral-the
Museum-some Of you know 10. A skel-
eton is there from Hoo Key Cave, in
the Mendips, where primevsl men
fought with primeyal brutes-a lake
dweller. possibly, in the marshes Of
Glastonbury. Anyway the skull was
cracked by deliberate blows. The
bones were broken off, and why? A
cannibal feast, my friend. and marrow
for soup! Next, Stonehenge i, zoo
years before Bethlehem -Stonehenge
and the rock Of human sacrihce-can.
Eibalism now dignifed by astronomy
into worship-not flint stroke on the
head merely, but sunstroke at midday
on the heart when the shadow from
yon monolith falls on the rugged ALTA
end its victim.
Next see the Roman Occupation
Look at these camps GROWING a scor,
of grassy hills; these straight roads
these baths az Bath-spac.o tiled
with the leaden pipes still unworn
Then We have Christianity. driftinl
here along the phenician trade route,
across France 20 the metal mines Of IN,
Mendips. There on Glastonbury Tor
in the most ancient Of all apple or
chards, | should think, still gushes
deep and audible, the Druid Well. witt
It's Druid masonry intact, where was rio
the Holy Grail, the chalice brought By
Joseph of Arimathea. And the water,
stain the rocks red, as with blood-reC
wine. For days | drank those waters
bathed in them, for the Pilgrims Mon
sstery il now conducted by that mys
terry playwright, Miss Alice NJ. Buck
ton, whose Eager Heart is famou.
in two hemispheres.