Holiday Haunts.

HOLIDAY HAUNTS .

. v LONDON AND SOUTH WESTERN .

THIS line serves admirably for visitors who make London their headquarters and wish to explore Surrey and a part of Berkshire . It covers all the interesting spots within easy distance from London , and leads to some wild and attractive places that aro known to artists but are not very generally frequented . The most familiar sights aro Kew Gardens , Wimbledon Common , Richmond and its Park , Bnshey Park , and Hampton Court , all these are well

known and deserve the fame they have acquired . Wimbledon Common is delightful for a breezy walk , and once a year it is tho centre at which assemble the crack rifle shots of the country , and sometimes also those of America and Canada . Kew Gardens has no rival , and Hampton Court is one of the finest show places in England . The Thames about Barnes loses the busy activity that

characterises its waters lower down , and some beautiful spots line its banks . The view from Richmond Hill is particularly charming , taking in , as it does , the valley below , with the Thames winding along through a richly-wooded country , past pretty villages , and well-kept lawns and stately houses , disclosing many beauties in its serpentine course . One of the greatest treats to those fond of boating , fishing , and

sketching , is a trip up the Thames . The river route is ever changing and picturesque , and facilities are offered which make preparations for the journey easy and pleasant . Without , however , seeking watercarriage , there are many places on the Thames that can be reached by the South Western Railway . Reference to the London District Map whioh accompanies the Time Table will show the positions of

the various towns and villages ou the banks of the river or near thereto . We shall leave the visitors to themselves to explore the country wo have briefly referred to , just remarking that Osterley Park , once the residence of Sir Thomas Gresham , and where he entertained Queen Elizabeth , is not far from Isleworth , and but an easy walking distance from Kew Gardens . Outwardly there is not

much to be seen , and we are not quite sure that the journey would be repaid by the chance of getting a sight of the interior of the house , now belonging to the Jersey family . There are some peculiar associations connected with Osterley that invest it with an interest its form and surroundings would not otherwise invite . On the south side of the district we are contemplating there is . the very pretty

country of Streatham , Tooting , Merton , Sutton , Morden , Cheam , Ewell , Epsom and Leatherhead for Boxhill , a delightful resort . At Merton Abbey Nelson lived with Lady Hamilton , but the old foundation is gone and nothing but memory remains . Starting from Twickenham along the upper line , the Thames is again reached at Staines ; here it divides , one branch going to

Datchet and Windsor , the other to Reading . This little line passes through Eg . am , Suuningdalo and Ascot , all places of interest . Egham was the scene of one of the greatest events in the history of freedom and the country . At Runnymede , a small island in the parish , and close by the Thames , King John signed Magna Charta . The place has no special attractions , but the associations that surround

it , and the country round about , make a visit to Runnymede very interesting . Above Egham is Eng lefield Green , one of those elevated patches of scenery that seem to drop from the skies to give a charm to all around . To the right lies Windsor Castle , a fine view of which can be obtained from this height . Keeping to the line , Virginia Water Station is reached . It is situated some distance

from the beautiful spot bearing its name . A day might well be spent here , and to meet the requirements of visitors there is a good hotel abutting on to the water . Virginia Water forms part of Windsor Park , and is really a charming and picturesque spot . The Park and Castle could be inspected at the same time , and a more interesting day ' s excursion could hardly well be planned . From Virginia

Water a branch lines goes south to Weybridge ; midway is the pretty town of Chertsey . There was once an abbey here , large in size and rich in treasures , but few remains are left , just sufficient to attest its age but not its grandeur . After leaving Virginia Water , the line passes through beautiful Sunningdale and Chobham Common , on to healthy and wild Ascot Heath . This latter is a grand

place for the Royal sport and has a world-wide fame . The country is very picturesque all about and the air exceptionally fine . We cannot stop to trace the country between Ascot and Reading . We have already referred to this place , and those who wish for a further acquaintance with the Thames could not do better than start from the biscuit town and go to the charming little village of Wargrave ,

on to Henley , and even round by Taplow , Maidenhead , Bray , Eton , Windsor and Staines . Nothing can exceed the beauty of the river in the district we have sketched , as is proved by the esteem in which it is held by artists . Starting from Long Ditton on the South side of Hampton Court we are taken to Esber , Walton , Weybridge , Woking and Friraley on

the borders of Hampshire . From Woking the line branches down to Guildford , and from Frimley another branch goes to Aldershot , which is joined here by the line from Guildford , and which continues on to Winchester . The main line from Frimley goes to Salisbury , with a break on the right at Andover Junction for Marlborough and Swindon . We have alluded to the middle route that goes to

Win-Chester , below that , from Guildford , the line passes b y Godalming and Haslemere , to Petersfield , from thence a branch goes to Midhurst , where Richard Cobden lived and died . He was born at a village close by , and was the son of a Sussex farmer . From Petersfield the route is continued past Hambledon to Havant , Portsmouth and

Gosport for Isle of Wight and Southampton . Harking back , notice should be taken of the very pleasant little village of Esher , where Wolsey once resided . Claremont House is contiguous , and here the Princess Charlotte died , in 1817 . Here also Louis Philippe and his ex . Queen resided for ten years , and died . They were buried at Weybridge . Between Esher and Weybridge is Walton , an agreeable spot

for a short excursion . The "Gossip's Bridle" in the church should teach a useful lesson to scolds . Those who are loyal to the memory of Charles I . will not like this little village any better for its being tha birthplace of the regicide Bradshaw ; but as a set-off we may state that Admiral Rodney , stont-hearted , gallant , and incorruptible , waa born at Walton . This valiant naval hero got into pecuniary

difficutties , chiefly throngh contesting that borough of evil repute , Northampton , and had to reside on the Continent . During the American war he was tempted by brilliant offers to enter the French service . He preferred hononr and poverty to wealth and position in foreign service . His Spartan exhibition of courage and honesty came to the ears of the government , and Rodney was recalled home ,

afterwards to vindicate his character as a commander and his patriotism as an Englishman . Near Walton is Oatlands Park , with a history and associations worth more than a passing thought . Leaving the comparatively near neighbourhood of London -we pass along the main line to Frimley , prettily varied with hills and dales , on the borders of Surrey , on to Farnborough , with Aldershot

on the left and a line on the right to Ascot . Passing Fleet and its lakes , and Winohfield on the left , are the ruins of Basing House . A very interesting history attaches to the old village of Basing . A severe battle was fought here between the Danes and the Saxons iu 871 , under Alfred and his brother King Ethelred , the latter being defeated . A castle was built at a very early period , whioh was

rebuilt by Paulet , the first Marquis of Winchester . This nobleman lived during four reigns , remarkable for changes , and yet he seems to have remained in favour during the whole of them . For a man of such importance to retain his head and his property during the reigns of Henry VIII ., Edward VI ., and Mary aud Elizabeth , showed that he was endowed with great skill as a courtier , and affords a

strong illustration of his own theory of " being a willow and not an oak . " He entertained Queen Elizabeth , who was so pleased with her host that she is credited with remarking : " By my troth , if my lord treasurer were but a young man , I could find in my heart to love him for a husband before any man in England . " The " Virgin Queen" evidently knew how to flirt . She visited Basing House

again in 1601 , and was entertained right royally by the fourth Marqnis . Forty-two years later the fifth Marqnis fortified tbe House against the Parliamentary troops . For four years he maintained his position against siege and assaults , and at last Cromwell had to undertake the work of conquest . He ultimately stormed the House and took the Marquis , Sir Robert Peake , and others prisoners . The

booty that was obtained amounted , it is stated , to the value of £ 200 , 000 , and consisted of money , jewels , furniture , and indeed the entire contents of the house . On the recommendation of Cromwell the building was destroyed , and little now remains to tell of the fierce struggle . The line continues on to Salisbury . Here the tourist can find enough to interest him for a time . There is the

Cathedral , with its noble spire 400 feet high , tbe loftiest in the kingdom . It stands in the centre of the city , upon a grassy platform , surrounded with trees , and is seen to great advantage . On the right of the line are the earthworks of Old Sarum , once a great city , and although not a house remained to warrant the title of a borough it returned two members to Parliament up to the time of the Reform

Bill of 1832 . The elm nnder which the elections took place is , we believe , still to be seen . Not far from Salisbury is Stonehenge , with its marvellous remains , at once a wonder to admire and a puzzle to solve . The line from Guildford passes through Farnham , where is situated an ancient castle , which has been in the possession of the See of Winchester for a thousand years . This latter city is one of

the most ancient in the kingdom . It was the seat of Government , and here were built at least two castles , one being for the residence of the Bishop and the other for the use of the King . ¦ The remains now in existence formed part of tbe building erected by William the Conqueror . There is a tradition that King Arthur founded the castle , and the celebrated painted table of this king which hangs on

the eastern wall of the County Hall is said to be " the identical board round which that monarch and his celebrated knights assembled in the fortress he had founded . " This is a myth , but it is a very pretty one , the belief in which can hurt no one . In Messrs . Warne ' s " Abbeys , Castles , and Ancient Halls of England and Wales , " a work we have before commended , the following description is given

of this table : — " It consists of a circle , divided into twenty-five green and white compartments radiating from the centre , which is a large double ( Norman ?) rose . In the middle of the npper half of the circle , resting npon the rose , and extending to the double edge , is a canopied niche , in which is painted a royal figure , bearing tbe orb and sword ,

and wearing the royal crown . Around the centre rose is a circle inscribed with black letter , except where it is broken by the base of the niche and the sitting king . There are also names inscribed in six of the white compartments , as well as in the circle around the compartments , of which , however , this circle is rather a continuation , in colour and form corresponding to the several divisions , each

bearing a name . . . . The table is made of very stout oak plank , and is larger than the roof and the floors of the rooms in the Eddy , stone Lighthouse , and considerably larger than the ground plot of the Parish Church of St . Lawrence in the Isle of Wight . " There is an ancient cross in Winchester , of the fifteenth century , of light and elegant design . Originally , no doubt , it was " one of the

high crosses where the laws were declared , proclamations made , judgments delivered , corpses rested , sermons preached , and some , times malefactors executed . " The greatest attraction , of course , is the cathedral , and a wondrous work of art and devotion it is . We find it almost impossible to summarise the history of this noble pile-It has a record that is not equalled in England ; its foundation recedes

into the dim vista of time , and he who could grasp the facts , would realise a great part of the history of the country . Another branch line from Guildford goes through Godalming , wild and beautiful Haslemere , Hambledon , once famous aa a cricket centre , on to Portsmouth . In fact , all the lines converge to this town and to Gosport and Southampton . We need not dwell upon Portsmouth and