Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1956-05-04
e OUR
"a Town


The tiny town of Charlwood
in the district of Surrey is
delightful place, we find. Sur
rey is among England's most
beautiful and quaint districts
and the life here is some
thing out of this world.
Churches 700 years old, hous-
es just like in the story books
and people living a life of
greatest ease. This is rural
England at its best. The coun-
tryside is positively beautiful
and we have it lucky in that
the weather is bright and sun
ny. Almost the entire place is
covered with flowers and the
grass is green as Paddy's hat.
Our hosts, the Trueloves,
are without doubt the most
hospitable people we've had
the pleasure of knowing
Nothing is overlooked to make
our visit memorable.
Typical day sees us up
early and, after a breakfast of
wonderful English bacon, eggs,
juice and tea, we are off to
some place of interest. Per-
haps a hotel like the George"
in nearby Sutton. Inscription
ON the fireplace shows that it
was built in 1927! However,
the food is much like ours
and we delight in the fact we
are under a roof which has
housed many great English
men in days of yore. Visiting
places like this is an every
day thing with the English
but it is a real treat for us.
Must make mention OF what
our service men liked the
most about England the Eng
lish Pub. The Pub is head
quarters for life, gossip, poll
tics and everyday doings of
every English community. The
great, the small, male and fe-
male, doctor, lawyer, merch-
ant, chief all support and
enjoy the local pub.
The pubs we have seen US
ually consist of two rooms with
q connecting door SO that both
rooms can be served from a
central point between. One is
marked Public bar" and the
other Saloon Bar. The first
is for men only and the Sec
ond for men and women.
Prices are little cheaper in
the public room. English beer
is the most popular drink al
though one may have almost
anything he wishes at any of
them. All, but the hours they
keep! Seems that the pub
keeper (or Publican" as he
is called) just lets nature de-
eide the hours. He may open
for a few hours (say from
11:3O to 2:OO) and then close
up when the mood moves
him. Usually he closes until
600 in the evening and then
stays open again until 1890
or HOO. In no case however
does he stay open all day. OF
course, he has the same troub-
le as we do at home when he
attempts to close in the eve
ming. Customers always want
lone more" or lone for the
road" and the publican pa
tiently tries TO please every
one without offending anyone.
Very polite is the publican
and usually one of the COM
munity's respected citizens.
One advantage of living in
Surrey is that it is but an
hours drive to England's
south coast. The other advan-
tage is that we are but a half
hours time from the great
city of London. One day we
tourney down to Brighton for
a look-see and come away
pleased with the whole thing.
Brighton is one of England's
real resort towns and Sunday
at Brighton is a must from
time to time for every boy and
girl. The entire bay area is
brightly lighted and the scene
reminds one of our Atlantic
City. "A pretty place is Bright
ton.
The English are over-taxed.
Tobacco is far more expensive
than at home. English cigar
cites cost the equivalent of 48
cents and a good cigar about
rs cents. And then there's a
government ginmick called
purchase Tax" which just
about knocks everyone cold :
it Is a cold-blooded tax of over
50-per-cent! For instance, an
English Ford selling for 420
Pounds Sterling Isl, ,176.00) is
taxed $691. 80! All this for a
car so small that you can
WEAR it! Gasoline costs over
so cents per gallon and Scot
ch whiskey over S7.00 a bot
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