PICKWICKIAN CENTENARY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16340, 14 May 1927, Page 15

PICKWICKIAN CENTENARY

COACH JOURNEY TO ROCHESTER

(Australian and N.Z. Cabib Association.) (Received May 14, 3 p.tn.) LONDON, May 13. To-day is exactly a century after tile famous jouritey, when Mr. Pickwick, with Mr. Snodgrass, Mr. Winkle, and the remainder of his friends, boarded a. coach at the Golden Cross hotel in the Strand, and drove off to’Rochester. Attired exactly as tile, originals, Pickwickian 'enthusiasts to-day made the journey. A horn blew, four horses i clattered, and lunged, and the crowds cheered. Their progress from Whitehall to Westminster Bridge, thence to Southwark, wliCrb at the 'junction of the new and old Kent roads, the Mayor, in robes anil chains, greeted the party. Everybody laughed and cheered anil waved them through Eltliam into the countryside with sweet-smelling hedges. The horses were changed in Blendon, Where the party was jerked into the present with the announcement “ After hours.” Thereafter (lie merry rollicking party made its way to Rochester, where, the robed Mayor and corporation and thousands cheered. 'fatfkards of ale were served at the Bull hotel, after which luncheon was partaken. Thence file Pickwickians and members of the Dickens Fellowship of London and Rochester proceeded to service in the cathedral.