Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1936-04-09
scenes of rural England surrounded

it.
Orton, or Overton- -Waterville is
typical medieval village. Here my
dear friend was born, who was with
me, and we visited the house, with
carpenter shop in the rear, where he
toiled by candle light in his youth
when wages were about so cents
day. His early home is now the
village postoffice, and rents Tor
about four pounds year. The roof
Of ancient reeds, has been repaired
many times through the centuries,
but the thatch is as picturesque as
ever. Stone walls separate the
homes and gardens from the none
too straight streets of this ancient
village. We visited the wheel-Wr1ght
who still makes the old-time solid
English wagons, and we watched
him fit the red-hot tire to the fin
ished rim of the heavy wheel, then
dip it in water to shrink it. The
Manor-House, home of the thane or
lord, dates back to 1871, as inscrib-
| ed over the door. 1t is somewhat
pretentious for such a small place,
the walls three feet thick, and there
is a great long hall where they met
| for their feasts. The fire was Of
charcoal, burned in the middle of
the floor, and the smoke went out a
hole in the roof, where the great
black rafters are seen. In the
stately old church, the rector min
istered for Sc years, and was fol-
lowed by another who finished out
| the hundred The former gave the
great Bible which has been in the
church for 230 years. The manse,
or rector's home, is quite beautiful
lyet, though built in 1870. He
/ showed me records of christening
running back to 1929. There is a
mammoth dove cote, twice as large
as garage, which furnished the
minister with choice dove meat,
| for only the mayor and the rector
were allowed to raise doves, and
/ they fattened on the whole country
| side, on the wheat fields Of the par
| ish.
Oundle, very ancient has quaint
church of the 18th century, the
| first recorded rector being in 1853.
One of the finest schools in the
world for boys is here. Lady Scott,
widow of the explorer who died at
the south pole, has carved in marble
a fine statue of boy stark naked,
with uplifted hands in prayer, and
the motto beneath is Here Am l.
Send Me-" In ancient days the
boys studied in out door rooms, like
stalls in a row, five by five feet in
dimension They were open In
summer, clad with ivy, but closed
in winter, heated with pipes.
One day l was introduced to a
famous lord, who has at least Is
titles conferred on him, and who is
this very month 90 years of age
He is as spry as boy, very active
in parliament, has written some
most engaging books, and has a
magnificent estate here. This we
visited at his request, and founo
the drives shaded by hundreds ol
sequoia giganteas, which must have
been planted a long time ago; they
are two or three feet thick now. He
was a fine conversationalist and II
would require pages to describe TINS
visit. He married late in life {
Standard Oil heiress, an American
lady who presides like queen III
this magnificent abode. When ask
ed if she had settled down in Eng
land, she replied, mot quite, for
have done nothing since coming
here but settle up"
William Laws library is at King:
Cliffe His ''Call to the Unconvert
ed' made a great impression OF
John Wesley in his youth. l asked
for this book and was told it wa!
stolen. In a short time / found it
rare and priceless book, and s.
that day 1 achieved some notoriety
with our company.
, st. Aidan landed at Holy Isle
1900 years ago last summer, il
brief, July 10, A. D., 635. This an
: niversary was celebrated by pill
grimage to Holy Isle, led by yer.
= truly great man, the Archbishop o
York, VIM. Temple, in tall hat ant
priestly robes. They crossed tht
half mile of tide washed sand il
carts, or on foot, some rolling III
their trousers and crossing bare
foot, as no doubt the venerable
, saint did SO long ago.
ORTON AS DESCRIBED IN THT
IDOMESDAY BOOK. (About 120t
A. d. In Ouretoune the King ha!
ISOke (authOrity as oWner) over