New Britain herald., 1917-08-09
LORNA DOONEs VALLEY.

Where Strong John Ridd Met His Sweetheart and Fought the Brigands.
 One of the prettiest seaside resorts in all the south of England is Lynton in Devon, says a writer in the Chris tian Science Monitor Once arrived there, perhaps coming either by old- fashioned coach or motor down the steepest of steep hills which drop down into Lynmouth, you may choose whether you will find lodgings in the lower town or mount another hill and enjoy the view which the higher town affords. For. you see, the blue ocean is at hand. bordered by high heather covered moors; yet. if you turn your back upon the sea you have before you what seems to be a village of the hills, It's little terraced houses, With thin blue smoke curling upward from their chimneys at tea time, edg1ng rushing, gurgling mountain stream which tumbles into the sea. This is the little river Lynn, as picturesque and lovely a stream as was ever seen, and, if you like, you may stay at tho inn which overhangs it. After all, it Is a simple matter to climb up to glorious Lynton either by road or railway, and it is delicious to come back again to sleep at the inn where the sound of rushing waters is always in your ears. More than that the landlord has the key to the valley of the Lynn, through which the stream flows. and, if he Is pleased with you he will loan you the key; you may <I1 lot in lock the gate behind you, and have the place to yourself for an entire afteroon It is a steep little valley. full of paths and big powders over which the stream breaks or around which it finds its nasty way; overhead are lea.fv trees in the freshness of ear lv summer, and all about you there Is no one, no sound except the rushing brook.
 Then, when you tire of the charms of the Lynn Valley-if such a thing is possible-there are other excur- sions which you may take about the country; in fact.-there are many of them. You may climb that steepest of steep hills and wander over the n11rple moors; you may visit Dunster and Dulverton, both quaint, Qld-world villages of narrow, twisti1B streets and matched cottages; then, of course, you may explore Exmoor-- that corner of it, rather, which is called the Doone Valley
 If you have read Lorna Doone, don't expect to find just the sort of place which the book describes. Tor if is really not so wild as Blackmore paints it. Still. after. you have pas sod the village of -Oare and Bag
 Podrarv) Wafar and come to the farmhouse which stands at the beginning of the Doone Valley, it may seem to you a wild enough place. after all. It's beauty is rather bare and lonely; there are not any friendly trees-on1y wide, bold, rolling hills inclosing the valley, the stream in the middle, the rough paths and rickety little footbridges here and there All day you may wander through the valley meeting no one, listening to the brook. and the birds picking the wild flowers, thinking about Lorna Doone and John Ridd and those fearful brigands, the Doones, who were the terror of the countryside. If you continue your walk as far as the very end of the valley you will come upon a ruined stone hut, which is supposed to have been one of the cabins in which the Doones dwelt. It will make you want to get out your old copy Of Lorna Doone," and read it all over again, with the pictures of the place fresh in your memory.
 Tn the beginning of the book you may read how John Ridd first met Lorna, on the day when he was toil- ing up along the brook, searching some loaches for his mothers dinner. John had walked far through the clear mountain stream. his fishing pole over his shoulder; farther and farther up stream he went far beyond the point to which he had ever been before. His feet was cold. 1t was growing dark and he wished that he might turn and go home to his mother, but he had not finished his errand so he went on. The way was very steep. 'The water was only six inches deep. or from that to nine at the utmost. and all the way I could see my feet looking white in the gloom of the hollow. and here and