Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1955-06-03
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there breaks the handbook.
We dash down to the Cafe de
la Paix for one last gaze at the
passing show before hurrying
to the railroad station to catch
the boat train for England.
Like so many millions of
others we are a little sad to
leave such a gay, indolent,
sexy and fashionable metro
polis-that lives in the past
for the most part although, on
the surface, it would have you
believe that it is modern in
every respect. The lack of
cleanliness except in the most
obvious places bellies this pre-
tense and the lack of up-to-
date plumbing in even the best
hotels bears this out. But Au
Revoir, Paree, and we did
think you were great even
though you do have a seamy
side. You are just like a drink
ing grandmother at a family
reunion - seemingly respect
able but socially dangerous.
The scene at the station is
one to jolt the American into a
state of nervous prostration
French porters running
hither and thither, hawkers,
sandwich sellers, wine sellers,
and lewd picture peddlers
everywhere and, even though
the train will not leave for al
most an hour, one would think
that the end of the world was
at hand. We lean out the corri-
dor window and buy a sand
witch and a bottle of rouge and
settle down to a sleepless
night. The toy train finally
pulls out on time amid much
shouting, waving and whistle
footing and we are on our way
to Dunquerque (Dunkirk) and
thence to Dover. Usually the
ferry carries the train across
the English Channel from Cal
ais but for reason of the tide
at this time of year we are
going the long way.
At about 2:30 in the morn
ing, great activity is noted as
the sleeping cars are put
aboard the ferry. Much clank-
ing and humping. 1t is a mys-
terry as to how they can call
these sleeping" cars as sleep
is an absolute impossibility.
Too, the compartments are so
small that they seem to have
been designed for Singers
Midgets instead of a mere
American lad like myself. AS
we shove off from Dunquerque
we roll about some as the
channel is fairly rough. and,
bye and bye, we sight the
white cliffs of Dover in the
dirty haze of foggy English
morning. At last we are back in
England from whence we
started our safari in March.
We suddenly get a suppressed
yen for home but in true
travel fashion we do not let on
to the others although we note
that they too have that hon.
ing expression on their faces.
The trip up to London from
Dover is jolly and gay and
green. The green English
countryside is even more green
than when we left it. A good
breakfast of oatmeal, eggs,
ham. toast, and tea makes us
forget the hectic night and it is
good to be alive. On to London!
Victoria station a beehive of
activity as thousands pour in
here from all over England for
the championship soccer mat
ches. Everyone wearing team
colors and I am reminded of
an American football crowd.
This is one of the great sport
ing events here and over 100
thousand attend. Piccadilly
Circus is like New Years Eve
at 3 o'clock in the morning.
We are privileged to attend
a special luncheon at the Brit
ish Trade Fair here and pose
for a picture with Mr.. Sinclair
Weeks, u. S. Secretary OF
Commerce, who is visiting the
fair. Also I am pleased to
spend a few minutes with Mr..
Weeks learning the low-down
on developments in Washing
ton while I>have been gone.
This is all very pleasant.
London is very gay even after
Paris. However, we confine
our own activities to seeing a
few shows out of seeming hun
dreds here. We see three alto
gether and must say that the
English productions are of
very high quality. We saw
"Kismet," "Anna and the King
of SIAM" and Cole Porter's
Can Can" Wonderful and un-
forgettable all.
We like the huge London
theatres - especially at inter
mission when tea and cakes are
served in your seat or you car
60 into any one of the convent