Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1919-11-01


favorite resort of American
tourists, not only because of its nat
ural attractions, but also on account
IF its literary associations.
First among recorded tourists to
Lakeland was Gray, the poet, author
of the "Elegy in a Country Church
yard" says Country Life. He visited
the Westmoreland and Cumberland
lakes in 1859, the year before Words
worth, the most outstanding among
the Jake school Of poets, was born.
He discovered the lakes, alike in a
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 a century Lake
land has been a greatly appreciated
touring ground. Scenery and the lit
erary associations with Wordsworth,
Southey, Coleridge, De Quincy and
their circle, have attracted every type
Of holiday maker. First came the
vacation reading parties of university
students, then the honeymoon couples,
to whom the Low Wood hotel, Amble-
side, was once, in a sense, sacred /;
and then the railways brought tour
lists from far and near. But not until
the automobile came upon the roads
was Lakeland comfortably or thor
Oughly to be explored.
The tourist by motor car here has
choice of every kind of road, or no
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. 1t is, all a matter Of taste
and inclination. The ideal way of
| seeing Lakeland is undoubtedly that
Of 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
lakes figure so largely in popular inn
aginatiOn that this will seem scarcely
credible; yet any reference to maps
will prove the truth Of it. But it does
not follow from this sheer matter-of-
fact measurement that this region ID
easily seen or soon exhausted.
Grasmere In the Center.
Exactly in the center of the lake
district is Grasmere, central geographic
Cally and in its 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: Windermere,
Ambleside and Grasmere, about equi-
distant, some four miles from one an
other; Keswick, thirteen miles further
north, and COniston, somewhat isu-
lated, seven miles southwest of AM
bleside. 1t would be a thankless task
to declare any preference among
these, but we will take Grasmere 90
the very focus of the lakes.
Grasmere village is a 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 his
earliest and best, has been preserved
as it was in his day, and is the resort
of literary pilgrims, while the UMPIRE
tending church beside the River
Rotha is much the same as he knew It.
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 Main
street. is still shown.
The way runs by Dunmail Raise 10
Wythburn, whose little church, one be
the smallest in England, is neighbored
by the Nays Head Inn, where the old
dalesmen and their wives put up their
horses while attending service In oldan
times. The road then runs alongside
Thirlmere, with the imposing noun
tain, Helvellyn, 3,11S feet, on right.
Keswick town comes next; a consid-
cradle place for this part OF the coun-
try, and with an oddly foreign appear
ance, caused chiefly by the church
like building Greatly the town hall) In
the middle of the street. The chief
industry is the making Of lead PEN
ellis.
DenWentwater LOVeIlest Lake.
But Derwentwater itself is the real
reward Of the journey. It is generally
considered the lovellest OF all the
lakes, and 1t is also the most aecessi-
bic, good road encircling it. Beyond
Keswick we pass Greta Hall, once the
home Of Southey, and come to Bias
Senthwaite Water. Preferably taking
the left-hand road, Sklddaw, 1864 feet,
ls seen across the water. Cocker.
mouth is some six miles further.