The Newark journal., 1919-10-30


 favorite resort of American tourists, not only because of it's nat 0ral attractions, but also on account of its literary associations.
 First among recorded tourists to Lakeland was Gray. the poet. author of the "Eiegg in u Country Church. yard says Country Life. He visited the Westmorelaud and Cumberland lakes in lT69, the year before Words worth, the most outstanding among the lake school of poets, was born. He discovered the lakes, alike in q touring and literary sense, and being essentially of the eighteenth century. he fled from them and the grandeur of their scenery in dismay. For not then had the picturesque been in- vented. The beauties of wild nature were not appreciated. and had they been the roads of that age and the lack of proper accommodation were powerful deterrents
 But for close upon century Lake land has been a greatly appreciated touring ground. Scenery and the lie erary associations with Wordsworth. Southey, ColeridEe. De Quincey and their circle. have attracted every type pf holiday maker First came the vacation reading parties of university students then the honeymoon couples. to whom tho Low Wood hotel, Amble= side, ZWas once. in sense. sacred and then the railways brought tour ists from far and near. But not until the automobile came upon fhe roads was Lakeland comfortably or thor eughty to=be explored
 The tourist by motor car here has choice of every kind of road, or h0 road, and may. If he will, take his sport in paSs=storming with the most adventurous. or take his sightseeing along roads as good as any in this country. It Is all matter of taste and inclination. The ideal way of seeing Lakeland is undoubtedly that ef selecting some central spot at which to stay and taking from it daily, out and home, excursions. This Is so for several reasons; chief among them that of the somewhat limited area of the lake district which may be stated at about thirty miles square, The =s..--. t's@z. =-5 tdttvl. If9Ft.4sz. agfn1if6n that this will seem scarcely credible; vet any reference 10 maps will prove the truth of it. But il does not follow from this sheer matter-of- fact measurement that this region k easily seen ar soon exhausted
 Grasmere in the Center.
 Exactly in the center of the lake district is Grasmere, central geographi- cally. and in it's interest. for it was Wordsworth's home. and in it's church yard he lies
 There are five recognized centers for tourists in these regions: Wndermere, Ambleside and Grasmere, about equi- distant. some four miles from one an- other: Kcswick. thirteen miles further north. and Coniston, somewhat iso- lated, seven miles southwest of Am bleside II would be q thaniless task to declare any preference among these, but we will take Gfasmefe us the very focus of the lakes.
 Grasnere village is q sweet and gra- cious place. Here Wordsworth resided for more than fifty years. His later homes here are not accessible but Dove Cottage. where he wrote hls earliest and best, has been preserved as 1t was in his day, and is the resoFt of literary pilgrims while the unpfe- tending church beside the River Botha is much the same as he Knew H. That is an interesting day trip, along excellent roads, which takes us north to Cockermouth, the old market town at the extreme northerly edge Of Lake land. where his birthplace, in Malh street, is still shown.
 The way runs by Dunmall Raise 10 Wythburn. whose little church. one ol the smallest in England, Is nelelooreu by the Nag's Head Inn, where the olu dalesmen and their wives put up their horses while attending service Ill oiuei times. The road then runs aiohsslue Thirlmerc with the imposing noun tain. Helvellyn. BIS feet, on riehl' Keswick town comes next; eohsiu- erable place for this part of the eooh- try, and with an oddly foreign appear ance. caused chiefly by the elluren' like building Greatly the town haii1 Ill the middle of the street. The chiel industry is the making of lead pen cils.
 oerwentwatcr Loveliest Lake.
 But Derwentwater itself is the real req, reward of the journey. It is genera,Iy considered the loyeiest Of all the lakes and 1t is also the most aeces'i, ble. good road encirclng it. Beyond Kesvick we pass Greta Hall' once the home of Southey, and cone to nas, , senthwaite Water. Preferably tahih5 the left-hand road skiddaw, 3'o94 rec. , is seen across the water. ooeA''' louth Is soa.e si1 niles further.