FARMER GILES COMES TO LONDON.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3139, 16 October 1922, Page 2

FARMER GILES COMES TO LONDON.

(By W. Pott Ridge.)

The time is hero when, the rumor having gone around that many Londoners are absent on holiday excuses, the visitor from the provinces conies to town, and the tourist from the Continent breaks the English language at Victoria. Apart from their accent, they can lie recognised by a Icisuroliness of movement, an open interest in statues. I heard a voice saying the other afternoon in turning away from Sir Wilfrid Law so n, on the Embankment ({aniens: "Eh, but it's a, grand piece of stone work- considorin' !" Many of our guests are unable to remain longer than a day, but even with/ these there is no suggestion of hustling. Their one chief anxiety seems to be that on ret inning home ' they shall be able to give a prompt and affirmative reply to the question put by Aunt Harriet: "Is then- any one new in the wax-works?" Accordingly, immediately on reaching Paddington. or Maiylebone. or Euston, or King's Crass, or St. Pan cms they march straight to the neighborhood of Baker street station, and in the large building there gaze in an awed, respectful manner at Horatio Bottomley and the other figures representing distinguished people. This over, they have, at a convenient establishment, tea, eggs and bacon. The knowing ones go on to the Zoological Gardens; the heroic make for the Tower. To reach the Tower is an undertaking, and the difficulties are in no way reduced if a group from one distant village, recommended to take the No. 18 omnibus, decides that a No. 16 or a No. 19 will do as well. Luck may bring them eventually to the City, and chance may provide a constable who knows their nearest market town, and, being assured that the landlord of the Throe Merry Cricketers has recovered front last year's cold, willingly gives all his services and the best of his counsel. When the Tower has been seen and the inventory checked by particulars in the guide book, the explorers find Mark lane, and order bacon, eggs and tea. • " "lis a biggish place, London," they remark, guarded.y, "for it's size !" The rule of the country.visitors is to give praise economically. You must expect nothing in the shape of general and rapturous enthusiasm; the few compliments are wrung from them. It is almost as though they had been formally warned that any statement made voluntarily would be taken down and might bo iised in evidence against them. The Londoner, when asked in Trafalgar Square to suggest the most direct means of journeying to the National Gallery, must not extend courtesy to amiability. The visitors have read too often and heard too frequently of the confidence trick and its practitioners. "You can get about your business," they remark, shortly. In my own case it is hard to rest ran; l offers of assistance, because I very much want to know what, in their heart of hearts, and their brain of brains, they think of it all. It would make mo Happy to lose my way about town, and be forced to appeal for directions, i can assure our visitors that we envy them the interest they take in viewing the notable sights of town ; the knowledge they collect in ;i brief period is often for greater than ours. For myself, I fully intend, one day this year (or next), to look in at the British Museum. 1 hear it rather well spoken of by tourists.