Page:Three Years in Europe.djvu/182

148 streets are cleanly and spacious, its houses are fine and comfortable, and its history is associated with the memories of the greatest names in England. For Bath was the great health-resort and the fashionable retreat of the last century, and Dr. Johnson and his friends, Sir Walter Scott and some other eminent Scotchmen, the great Pitt and Lord Clive and a host of other great men lived here.

Bath was a fashionable health-resort in Roman times, and the citizens are deservedly proud of the ancient Roman Baths and antiquities which have recently been discovered and which were explained to us at great length. The Abbey Church of Bath is a fine structure, and is known as the "lantern of West England" for its many beautiful windows. When coming out of this church I met an old acquaintance of mine, an Indian Civilian whom I had not seen for fifteen years! He is making a home for himself in the healthy and beautiful suburbs of Bath, which are a favorite resort of retired Indians, and he introduced to me his son whom he intends, of course, to get into the Indian Civil Service.

Wells is a much smaller town but is famous for its Cathedral. There was a long dispute (the history of which was explained to us at great length!) as to whether Bath or Wells would be the cathedral town, and the dispute was at last decided in favour of the latter; and the magnificent structure of Wells certainly deserved the honor. Close to it we saw the Bishop's palace,—once an ancient moated castle. From Wells we took a drive to the ruins of the ancient Glastonbury Abbey, which was built on the spot of a more ancient place of worship