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Article A WATER PARTY. Page 1 of 1 Article A WATER PARTY. Page 1 of 1 Article THE RETIRING MASTERS OF THE BOYS' SCHOOL. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Water Party.
A WATER PARTY .
TJESIDENTS on the quiet banks of the Thames at JLX Eichmond or Kew are accustomed , at this season of the year , to receive a large influx of visitors resolutely bent on enjoyment . They are not indeed of the class who care to inspect the rare botanical treasures of the latter named place , nor are they at all disposed to ramble in Richmond
Pai-k , and eat sandwiches under the shadow of its noble elms . These people are of the well-to-do classes , "who know how to dine , who have acquired the art of spending what dear old Charles Lamb called " a shoemaker ' s holiday" in the most agreeable fashion . A stranger who should stand
on Kew Bridge about eleven o ' clock on any morning in July might wonder what Royal craft was moored in the stream . He would hear the agreeable " tooting" of Dan Godfrey ' s band stationed on the ample deck of a noblelooking vessel , gay with the bright dresses and brilliant
bonnets of the ladies . If onr stranger desired accurate information , the youngest inhabitant might possibly be able to tell him that the frigate-like craft is the so-called " Civic Barge , " and the people on her decks good substantial citizens with their wives and daughters . He might learn
that the dear old craft had made a score or so of trips up the river this season , and that the City Companies , who know what it is to dine well , the Corporate Authorities , and , perhaps a Masonic Lodge or two , had figured amongst her passengers . A trip on board the " Maria Wood" is , indeed ,
regarded by many people as the very acme of pleasure . Some of our acquaintances , who are great men amongst the Fishmongers or the Goldsmiths , boast of having " gone up the river" every year for the last decade . For our own part we should vote a repetition of any pleasure , however
sublime it might be , as rather slow , but the " Maria Wood " is a unique craft of her kind , and if the caterer does his duty , or rather , if cash be no object , one may spend a whole day on board in the most gentle of all imprisonment withoutrunning any risk of being drowned . As no guest has evei
yet voted the civic barge a prison , or has run any risk of a watery grave through her agency , she does not come under Dr . Johnson ' s definition of a ship . If she grounds at low water in the upper reaches of the stream , the most nervous lady on board never feels the least alarm , and her stabilit y
JSSO great that the paddles of the most troublesome of river steamers never have the effect of disturbino- her equanimity . Many of our Masonic friends are no doubt fully acquainted with the merits of the old craft , and indeed wo may venture to say that she never makes a
pleasure trip without carrying a goodly sprinkling of the fraternity . Masons are supposed to be skilled in the art of dining out , but doubtless at this season most of our brethren would rather partake of a cold collation on board "the Barge" than they would sit down to a more ambitions
spread at the " Star and Garter , " or the " Trafalgar . " Let us imagine that we are favoured guests of some Civic Company , and that we have stepped upon the deck of the old craft in time to partake of a late breakfast . The " providitors " are at their posts to receive us as we reach
the gangway ; we dive down to the spacious saloon , with appetites sharpened by our journey from town , and at once make serious inroads upon the good things placed before ns . The barge casts off from her moorino-s at twelve
o clock , and proceeds slowly up the stream with her gay freight , who drink their coffee and discuss their ham and tongue to the accompaniment of delicious music . A gentle breeze enters the windows , and plays around us as we pass along amid some of that characteristic
A Water Party.
scenery which has so often excited the admiration of our transatlantic brethren . We pass green banks and gay gardens gemmed with flowers , and bright sunny villas , the abodes of wealth and fashion . Noble trees almost dip
their foliage into the stream , which scarcely ripples under the bows of the slowly gliding craft . All is gaiety and animation . The old gentleman opposite tells you that this makes his twentieth annual trip , and that he never enjoyed himself so mueh in his life as on this occasion . He has
made the same remark for the last twenty years , and it is therefore evident that he is rapidly reaching a climax , and will , some day or other , sink under the influence of his highly wrought feelings . Your next neighbour is a
distinguished Mason ; you always meet him where Masons most do congregate , and he tells you that he is here by virtue of his position as Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Frying-pan Makers , who are the hosts of the day .
The Worshipful Company never dines or goes up the river with out its beadle , and that worthy , arrayed in gorgeous robes , his venerablehead roofed with an enormous cocked hat , stands behind the master ' s chair , the observed of all observers .
He looks uncommonly like a fossil man , and you imagine he has been dug up from some deep limestone formation , and decked in gay habiliments merely to give an air of respectable antiquity to the whole affair .
Breakfast over , the younger portion of the guests at once commence the mazy dance , under the influence of the magic strains of the baud . The thoughtful providitors have provided neat gilt programmes of the dances , and the
young ladies book their engagements under the ample awning of the barge as coolly as if they were about to foot it merrily on the boards at Freemasons' Hall . Staid gentle , men of middle age , whose dancing clays are over , retire to
the attendant shallop to smoke a morning cigar over a quiet glass of soda and brandy , and discuss the politics of the week . The shallop , indeed , is a great favourite with the lovers of the fragrant weed , who , reclining at their case and
watching the cool stream as the boat glides over its clear depths , or rather shallows , or following in imagination the blue smoke wreaths that carl up into spiral rings iu the still air , may dream to their heart ' s content . A cold
collation at three o ' clock is the great event of the day , and at this the guests assemble with appetites by no means impaired by the previous inroads they have made upon the breakfast . One can feed quietly off cold lamb and a salad ,
washed down with hock or iced champagne , or more luxuriantly , but perhaps not more agreeably , off the numerous good things under which the table groans . There is more dancing after dinner , and when tea has been handed round
the ladies are called up to the cuddy to participate in a lottery concocted by the Master , and at his own personal expense , where all the lots are prizes . One wishes one were a member of the female persuasion as one sees the exquisite
cut scent bottles , the expensive Russia leather purses , and the other treasures disappear into the pockets of the fortunate winners . This little ceremonial over , the barge turns
her bluff bows homeward , and amid the sounds of musio and the measured tread of active dancers she takes up her old moorings off Kew Bridge long before the shadows of night have descended upon the river .
The Retiring Masters Of The Boys' School.
THE RETIRING MASTERS OF THE BOYS' SCHOOL .
IN our recent article on the Boys' School we mentioned , as one of the subjects in connection with it which had
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Water Party.
A WATER PARTY .
TJESIDENTS on the quiet banks of the Thames at JLX Eichmond or Kew are accustomed , at this season of the year , to receive a large influx of visitors resolutely bent on enjoyment . They are not indeed of the class who care to inspect the rare botanical treasures of the latter named place , nor are they at all disposed to ramble in Richmond
Pai-k , and eat sandwiches under the shadow of its noble elms . These people are of the well-to-do classes , "who know how to dine , who have acquired the art of spending what dear old Charles Lamb called " a shoemaker ' s holiday" in the most agreeable fashion . A stranger who should stand
on Kew Bridge about eleven o ' clock on any morning in July might wonder what Royal craft was moored in the stream . He would hear the agreeable " tooting" of Dan Godfrey ' s band stationed on the ample deck of a noblelooking vessel , gay with the bright dresses and brilliant
bonnets of the ladies . If onr stranger desired accurate information , the youngest inhabitant might possibly be able to tell him that the frigate-like craft is the so-called " Civic Barge , " and the people on her decks good substantial citizens with their wives and daughters . He might learn
that the dear old craft had made a score or so of trips up the river this season , and that the City Companies , who know what it is to dine well , the Corporate Authorities , and , perhaps a Masonic Lodge or two , had figured amongst her passengers . A trip on board the " Maria Wood" is , indeed ,
regarded by many people as the very acme of pleasure . Some of our acquaintances , who are great men amongst the Fishmongers or the Goldsmiths , boast of having " gone up the river" every year for the last decade . For our own part we should vote a repetition of any pleasure , however
sublime it might be , as rather slow , but the " Maria Wood " is a unique craft of her kind , and if the caterer does his duty , or rather , if cash be no object , one may spend a whole day on board in the most gentle of all imprisonment withoutrunning any risk of being drowned . As no guest has evei
yet voted the civic barge a prison , or has run any risk of a watery grave through her agency , she does not come under Dr . Johnson ' s definition of a ship . If she grounds at low water in the upper reaches of the stream , the most nervous lady on board never feels the least alarm , and her stabilit y
JSSO great that the paddles of the most troublesome of river steamers never have the effect of disturbino- her equanimity . Many of our Masonic friends are no doubt fully acquainted with the merits of the old craft , and indeed wo may venture to say that she never makes a
pleasure trip without carrying a goodly sprinkling of the fraternity . Masons are supposed to be skilled in the art of dining out , but doubtless at this season most of our brethren would rather partake of a cold collation on board "the Barge" than they would sit down to a more ambitions
spread at the " Star and Garter , " or the " Trafalgar . " Let us imagine that we are favoured guests of some Civic Company , and that we have stepped upon the deck of the old craft in time to partake of a late breakfast . The " providitors " are at their posts to receive us as we reach
the gangway ; we dive down to the spacious saloon , with appetites sharpened by our journey from town , and at once make serious inroads upon the good things placed before ns . The barge casts off from her moorino-s at twelve
o clock , and proceeds slowly up the stream with her gay freight , who drink their coffee and discuss their ham and tongue to the accompaniment of delicious music . A gentle breeze enters the windows , and plays around us as we pass along amid some of that characteristic
A Water Party.
scenery which has so often excited the admiration of our transatlantic brethren . We pass green banks and gay gardens gemmed with flowers , and bright sunny villas , the abodes of wealth and fashion . Noble trees almost dip
their foliage into the stream , which scarcely ripples under the bows of the slowly gliding craft . All is gaiety and animation . The old gentleman opposite tells you that this makes his twentieth annual trip , and that he never enjoyed himself so mueh in his life as on this occasion . He has
made the same remark for the last twenty years , and it is therefore evident that he is rapidly reaching a climax , and will , some day or other , sink under the influence of his highly wrought feelings . Your next neighbour is a
distinguished Mason ; you always meet him where Masons most do congregate , and he tells you that he is here by virtue of his position as Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Frying-pan Makers , who are the hosts of the day .
The Worshipful Company never dines or goes up the river with out its beadle , and that worthy , arrayed in gorgeous robes , his venerablehead roofed with an enormous cocked hat , stands behind the master ' s chair , the observed of all observers .
He looks uncommonly like a fossil man , and you imagine he has been dug up from some deep limestone formation , and decked in gay habiliments merely to give an air of respectable antiquity to the whole affair .
Breakfast over , the younger portion of the guests at once commence the mazy dance , under the influence of the magic strains of the baud . The thoughtful providitors have provided neat gilt programmes of the dances , and the
young ladies book their engagements under the ample awning of the barge as coolly as if they were about to foot it merrily on the boards at Freemasons' Hall . Staid gentle , men of middle age , whose dancing clays are over , retire to
the attendant shallop to smoke a morning cigar over a quiet glass of soda and brandy , and discuss the politics of the week . The shallop , indeed , is a great favourite with the lovers of the fragrant weed , who , reclining at their case and
watching the cool stream as the boat glides over its clear depths , or rather shallows , or following in imagination the blue smoke wreaths that carl up into spiral rings iu the still air , may dream to their heart ' s content . A cold
collation at three o ' clock is the great event of the day , and at this the guests assemble with appetites by no means impaired by the previous inroads they have made upon the breakfast . One can feed quietly off cold lamb and a salad ,
washed down with hock or iced champagne , or more luxuriantly , but perhaps not more agreeably , off the numerous good things under which the table groans . There is more dancing after dinner , and when tea has been handed round
the ladies are called up to the cuddy to participate in a lottery concocted by the Master , and at his own personal expense , where all the lots are prizes . One wishes one were a member of the female persuasion as one sees the exquisite
cut scent bottles , the expensive Russia leather purses , and the other treasures disappear into the pockets of the fortunate winners . This little ceremonial over , the barge turns
her bluff bows homeward , and amid the sounds of musio and the measured tread of active dancers she takes up her old moorings off Kew Bridge long before the shadows of night have descended upon the river .
The Retiring Masters Of The Boys' School.
THE RETIRING MASTERS OF THE BOYS' SCHOOL .
IN our recent article on the Boys' School we mentioned , as one of the subjects in connection with it which had