Page:Notes by the Way.djvu/86

16 NOTES BY THE WAY. The poem is given in full. The passage quoted by Capt. Kelso on June 25th should read as follows:—

So I have known a country on the earth, Where darkness sat upon the living waters, And brutal ignorance, and toil, and dearth, Were the hard portion of its sons and daughters; And yet, where they who should have oped the door Of charity and light, for all men's finding, Squabbled for words upon the altar-floor, And rent The Book, in struggles for the binding.

'BRADSHAW'S RAILWAY GUIDE,'

In The Athenæum for the 17th of January, 1874, will be found a letter from Mr. Kay, 'Who invented Bradshaw?' and on the 24th of January a reply from Mr. Henry Adams, the eldest son of Mr. William James Adams, giving full particulars as to the origin of the 'Guide.'

In the notice of George Bradshaw which appears in the 'Dictionary of National Biography,' vol. vi. p. 175, Mr. G. C. Boase states it would appear that Mr. Adams, who was the London agent for 'Bradshaw's Railway Companion,' was "the first to suggest the idea of a regular monthly book at a lower price as an improvement on the 'Companion.' This idea was taken up by Bradshaw, and the result was the appearance, in December, 1841, of No. 1 of 'Bradshaw's Monthly Railway Guide' in the well-known yellow wrapper."

Previously to this the little 'Guide ' appeared only occasionally, and was supplemented by a monthly time sheet. ' Bradshaw's Continental Guide' first appeared in June, 1847.

George Bradshaw died at Copenhagen of cholera on the 24th of September, 1853, at the early age of fifty-two, leaving two sons, Christopher and William, who are both associated with the present large business of Blacklock & Co.

'''THE FIRST LONDON HALFPENNY NEWSPAPER: THIRTIETH BIRTHDAY OF 'THE ECHO.' (December 8th, 1898.)'''

The celebration by The Echo of its thirtieth birthday deserves record. The first number was published on the 8th of December, 1868. Messrs. Cassell, Fetter & Galpin were the originators; Mr. Galpin had special charge of the enterprise, and I well remember his calling upon me and telling me of his plans for the new paper; he was full of enthusiasm, and determined to make it a success.