Victory Parade

1878 Edmund Hill Diary (Europe)
 

1878 Europe.

Wed. July 10.

Left N.Y 1.55 P.M.

Father and Mother and Ray came to see me off. Sun very hot. Pilot left at Sandy Hook. Gave him a postal card to take home. Got sick about 4.30. Went down in stateroom. Sick about ½ h. My roommate is named Smith - comes from New York. 276 cabin passengers - about 100 steerage.

Thurs 10th.

Ate little breakfast. Made a good many friends. Saw the sun rise this morning.

Fri. 12th.

Good meals. Went down in stokersroom. Cost a quarter to get out. Mr Blackwell has not been sick. Mr Green has been very sick. Saw 2 ships

Sat. 13th.

Nothing special

Sun. 14th.

Divine service in saloon. Captain Hains, of our ship Scythia, had charge. Rev Mr McVicker of Phila. preached. Sang Moody & Saukey songs on deck after 6 oclock dinner.

Mon. 15.

Pools are sold every day. Concert in the cabin. John B. Gough lectured. Also had a telephone phonograph concert. The proceeds amounted to £60 or 300 dollars and were devoted to the Sailors Orphan Home at Liverpool.

Tues. 16th.

Sat on deck after dinner and sang college songs. Made friends with an Episcopalian clergyman and his little son Jack to whom I gave my pocket knife. They come from the Bahamas.

Wed. 17.

Saw about a doz vessels and steamers also got a glimpse of a whale. 

Thurs. 18th.

Had heavy fog at noon. Saw a steamer at night. Had a fine time signalling each other with red lights rockets and Roman candles.

Fri 19th

Was up at 6 ½ A.M. just in time to get the first fine view of the Irish coast. Was taken ashore in a lighter(?) at Queenstown. Missed the first boat to Cork. Took dinner at the Queens Hotel. Then took boat through beautiful scenery to Passage and rail to Cork with a party from the Scythia named Eldridge. Went to Imperial Hotel left my traps and took jaunting car to Blarney Castle. I kissed the Blarney stone.

Sat 20.

Expected to go on the 8 oclock train to Killarney but did not awake till 8.05. Rambled around Cork and saw much of Irish home life, saw the barracks and 300 red oats drilling. Took 3rd class cars to Killarney, at 2.45: Found 3rd class wretched. Went to Royal Victoria Hotel about 3 miles from the station and situated on the lake. Met a fine old English gentleman named Monnies (?) and his son Robert. Robert and I took a ride on the Lake after table de hote and saw an old ruin on an island

Sun. 21.

After breakfast joined a party and made a trip of forty miles by wagonette, ponies and boats through the Gap of Dunbar and over the Lakes. Saw Kate Kearneys cottage, was amused with the beggars, had a big tumble from my pony, and sprained my shoulder, saw Muckross(?) Abbey and Ross Castle

Mon. 22nd

Remained at Killarney to rest from my fall and get some washing done. Day was quite warm. After breakfast, borrowed an umbrella from the hotel keeper and walked over to Ross Castle, thence to the town of Killarney, thence to the Earl of Kenmares new mansion and back to the hotel, in all about ten miles.

Tues. 23.

Took the morning train for Dublin, reached there at 5 oclock, hired an Irishman to guide me about the city. We walked all over, and saw the Wellington Monument, Phoenix Park, Custom House, St Patrick Cathedral, Christ Church Cathedral the Castle, Nelsons Monument, Bank of Ireland, Trinity College, Grattans statue, and most all the public buildings  There to train to Kingstown 7 miles off and slept on the "Ulster" a mail packet leaving early in the morning for Holyhead.

Wed. 24.

 Holyhead Lost the key of my satchel. Rambled around the quaint old town Holyhead till 3 oclock then went to Bangor. Had a good view of Bangor from the hill top and went to service in the old Abbey.

Thurs. 25.

Met a party of Yorkshire men on a pleasure trip. Went with them to Menai Brige saw that, got caught in a heavy shower, then we all took the train for Carnarvon, some seven miles distant. Saw the Carnarvon Castle ruins, then went to Bangor and afterward to Chester. Stopped at Blossoms Hotel, the queerest I ever saw. Walked around the ancient walls. Came back to the hotel got acquainted with the landlord and a gentleman named Boynton who offered to show me the city tomorrow. The funniest town I ever saw

Fri. 26.

Met Mr Boynton, saw the Judge going in style to the Assize Court viewed the two Cathedrals, the Museum, the Roman Baths, and the Rows and old houses. Took the afternoon train to Liverpool. Rec. a letter from home

Sat.

Bought a package of Cooks Excursion tickets also hotel coupons. Arranged at the Cunard office to go home on the Algeria, Sept 21st Looked around Liverpool, then took cars to Glasgow. Reached there 11 P.M.

Sun 28.

Spent Sabbath in Glasgow. Took a walk to Georges Square, then attended Baptist Church and afterward looked through the old Cathedral. After dinner I saw the Green, the West End Park and met a clever Scotchman who showed me about the city

Mon 29th.

Started on the tour through Loch Lomond, Lock Katrine the Trossack(?) and so on to Stirling. The weather was perfect and the view all that could be wished for. Pushed on to Edinburgh the same evening reaching there at 10 ½ oclock.

Tues. 30.

Saw the Galleries and Monuments, and also the Castle and Parliament House. Saw almost all of Edinburg. Saw at the dinner table a young Wed 31 Swiss with whom I talked at Glasgow on Sunday. We got on the street car and rode to Portobello, the Edinburgh watering place

Wed. 31.

Found a book on America written by an Amer a Scotchman  Found it so entertaining that I read on till noon. Then visited the College Museum. After dinner visited Holyrood Palace and Chapel, and then walked around the Queens Drive on the Mountain.

Thurs. Aug 1st.

Saw St Giles Church and John Knox's house. Met a party of boys in the hotel parlor and sang Moody and Sankey songs with them

Fri. Aug 2nd.

Meet a young man named Jos Alexander who came over on the Scythia. We walked up to Arthurs Seat. Then I went down to Leith with him. Came back to the hotel, got dinner and went to Leith to take passage on steamer for Rotterdam. Got very sick on the steamer. The weather was very bad.

Sat. 3rd.

Was sick in the morning. We had a bad night but I slept very well. I laid abed till four oclock then went on deck, and sat till eight. Never want to cross the North Sea again.

Sun. 4.

Got up at two oclock and went on deck. Reached Rotterdam at 7 ½ A.M. Went to New Bath Hotel. Visited the great Cathedral, the Museum the statue of Erasmus and after table d'hote went to the Zoological Gardens and Park with a pleasant young man from London.

Mon. 5.

Went to the Hague with my English friend. We visited all the museums churches and so on then we walked out to the Park and saw the Palace in the wood. He returned to Rotterdam and I went on to Amsterdam.

Tues. 6.

Saw almost all of Amsterdam. This is the childrens week in Amsterdam and they have great fun in the Exchange where by accident I saw them.

Wed. 7.

Visited the Amsterdam Zoological Gardens, then took the train to Utrecht where I saw the old church and had a good walk around the ramparts. Visited the Museum. Could find only one other American name on the book. Went on to Antwerp.

Thurs. 8.

Saw the Cathedral with Rubens great pictures. Met Mr and Mrs Foster and Charley Steward gazing at Rubens paintings  Visited the Museum and the Zoological Gardens then rode to Rotterdam got my baggage that I left there on Monday, and then went to Brussels by the evening train

Fri. 9th

Saw the Cathedral, the Museum the Palaces, the Hotel de Ville, and after table de hote took a walk around the Boulevards with an Englishman.

Sat. 10.

Took a walk about the city and then went to Cologne where I visited the Cathedral and Church of St Ursala, going afterwards to Bonn for the night.

Sunday. 11.

Rested at Bonn. Took a walk about the place, and saw the University. In the afternoon I walked up to the white church on the hilltop and had a grand view.

Mon. 12.

Started up the Rhine. Reached Coblence and went to a hotel for the night. Met a good natured Englishman who invited myself and another American boy to take a ride which we did.

Tues 13.

Proceeded up the Rhine, got off at Biebrich and went to Wiesbadeu for the night. Attended a musical concert at the Kursaal.

Wed. 14

Went in the morning to Mayence saw the Cathedral, its cloisters, the Statues and also walked up the hill to see the fortifications and old Roman ruin  Met two clever Americans young men on the cars. Then proceeded to Heidleburg, reaching late at night.

Thurs. 15th

Saw Heidleburg, its castle big tun(?), and so forth and walked up the hill to the Restaurant  Returned and took train to Stuttgard. Met Decker there at depot.

Remained it Stuttgard seven and a half days. Roomed with him, and also dined at Frau Sieglin's. We saw the operas of Der Freischutz, Il Trooatore, and Lucia di Lamermoor. Had nice walks out in the country to little villages. Saw a great deal of German life.

Fri. 23rd

Went to Baden baden, saw the place and tasted the mineral water. Went to a concert at the Cursaal in the evening.

Sat. 24

Started early in the morning for Strasburg, saw the clock strike and then took the cars through the Black Forest, stopping at Triburg for the night. 

Sun. 25

Resumed my journey through the Black Forest and spent Sunday at the Falls of Rhine.

Mon. 26

Went on the first train to Zurick walked to Uethiberg and back, (10m), and went on to Lucerne.

Tues. 27th

Ascended the Rhigi by rail road, came down again, went to Fluelen, then rode in the diligence ten miles to Andermatt Amsteg stopping there for the night. 

Wed. 28th

Was up at six oclock. Walked to Andermatt (15m) over the St Gotthard, reaching there in time to take the diligence back to Fluelen. There I took boat and returned to Luzerne.

Thurs. 29

Crossed the Brünig Pass by way of Alpnach(?) reaching Meiringen Reieheubach(?) for the night. Sat down to table d'hote alone. Had my choice of rooms. Jolly time with guides

Fri. 30

Started to wards Grindelwald but got no farther than Rosenlaui on account of rain. Studied German. Visited the gorge.

Sat. 31

Walked from Rosenlaui to the Great Shideck, then attempted to go to the Faulhorn alone but got lost in the clouds and finally came down near Grindelwald. Saw the glaciers.

Sept

Sun. 1st

Wrote to Ben Phillips. Attended English church in the parlor. Then walked took through to Suterlacken, took steamer to Giessbach and saw illumination of falls

Mon. 2nd

Went by steamer to Interlacken, spent four or five hours there and then went by boat and rail foot to Wimmis. Wrote to Walter Knowles. Slept all alone in the hotel pension. Rather spooky.

Tues. 3rd

Ascended the Niesen, good view dinner on summit descended by Heustrich Bad (?) and walked to Thun in all 11 hours walk

Wed. 4th

Looked around Thun, went to Beun (?) saw that and went to Ouchy to spend the night.

Thurs. 5th

Went by boat and rail to Martigny Like Lake Geneva very much. Stopped on the way to see the Pisvasche and the gorge at Vernayez. On returning to the station at Vernayez to go on to Martigny I met Mr and Mrs Foster and Charley Steward. We stayed at the same hotel at Martigny.

Friday 6th

Got up early and walked over the Col de Balme. At the junction of the Col de Balme and Tete Noir roads I met the Foster party again. They had rode by carriage over the Tete Noir. I got in and road on to Chamoiur. (??)

Sat. 7th

Joined a party of twelve for nine hours walk up the Montangves(?) th across the Mer de Glace over the Chapeau and Mauvais Pau and then up the Flegere. Only five of us returned together. The rest gave out and went home earlier. Fine day. 

Sunday. 8th

Walked over the Tete Noir and new Vernayez route to Vernayez in time to get dinner and take train to Geneva, at which place reached at dusk. 

Mon. 9th

Looked around Geneva in the morning and took three oclock express for Paris  Reached Paris after an all night ride.

Spent eight days in Paris. Had a grand good time. Took Baedecker's excellent guide book and began at the beginning. Did not miss any places of interest of any importance except the Museum Cluny and the sewers.

Wed 18th

Left Paris for London. Bad passage from Dieppe to New Haven. Did not reach London Bridge till half past two in the morning. Got a Hansom cab and drove to St Pancras station and got a room in the hotel. 

Thurs 19th

Got up at 10 oclock, bought a Baedeckers guide book and started out  I visited a great deal, - St Pauls, the Post Office, Heolborn Viaduct, the Central Meat Market, Shakespeares house, London Bridge Billingsgate, Nelsons monument, Black-friars Bridge, Victoria Embankment, Cleopatras Needle, Underground railway to Mansion House, Bank of England, Exchange, Tower of London, Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, St James Park, Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park, the arches and monuments, and then returned to my hotel - A good days work.

Fri. 20th

Got up late, and then spent all my time in the British Museum, and afterward took the 3.30 train to Liverpool. Reached Liverpool late at night and put up at the Adelphhi.

Sat 21st.

Roamed around Liverpool in the morning, made a few purchases and embarked on the Algeria at two oclock.

Had a varied voyage. Bad storm for first two days and then had head winds all the way across the Atlantic. The passage occupied twelve days. Reached New York on Thursday Oct 3rd. Father met me at the dock. Was so fat he did not know me at first.

S/a/at = 390 = 63 s & 15 p

1878 Expenses from New York

Furness men
.25
Forecastle triat
2.
.48
Concert
2
.48
Boots
.6
.12
Steward table
7.
1.68
" room
5.
1.20
Queenstown Shamrock
03
Lunch
2.9
.66
Boat & rail to cork
1.
.24
Cork Jaunting car
4.
.96
Blarney castle
1.
24
Supper
.11 1/2
23
Breakfast
2.
48
Pocket Knife
1.
24
Note book
2.
.48
Imperial Hotel
4/6
1.08
Lunch
1/6
.36
Sundries
8
.16
Ticket to Killarney
5/1
1.22
Killarney Lemonade
6
.12
Boatman
.6
.12
Lakes gratuities
1.
24
Bog Oak Trinket
1.
24
" "
1.
24
Gift
.6
.12
Bog Oak Trinket
4.
.96
Hotel Roy Vic.
2.19.3
1500
Ticket
1.6.10
Dublin Guide
1.6
36
Ticket to Kingstown
.9.
.18
Supper
1.4.
.32
Ticket to Liverpool
1.6.6.
636
Breakfast on steamer
2
48
Steward
1.
24
Bus
.6
12
Trinkets
3.
.72
Hotel at Baugor
9
2.16
Key for satchel
1.
25
Lunch
8
16
Ticket to Carnarvaul
.5
34
Bus. Castle & c
1:
24
Fees at Chester
1
24
Hotel at "
11
264
Umbrella at Liverpool
4.6
108
Strap for satchel
1.6
.36
Hotel Liverpool
11.6
276
Ticket to Glasgow
1.5
360
Cooks tickets
32.2
15408
Carriage at Lochs
1
24
Stirling Castle
.7
14
Dinner Stronaclacker
.3
72
Holysood Palace
6
12
Edinborough views
1
24
" rock candy
.6
12
Lunch
8
16
Horse cars
6
12
Coffee on steamer
6
12
Rottendam sundries
21
48
Rottendam Hotel
38
Ticket to Hague
40
Carriage Amsterdam
75
Baedeckers guide book
1.50
Palace
40
Van der hoop Museum
20
Horse car
8
Palace of Industry
28
Macaroons
10
Old Bible Hotel eggs
10
Zoological Garden
20
Sundries at Ulricht
30

American Family House

7.9.11 Rue de la Bienfaisance, near the Boulevard Malesherbes, Paris,

  1. Lorraine, Prop

Mr. Jas Stevens

No 4 President st. E. Central st, City Road St Lukes, London,

Mem, Little soil.

                       

Joseph Alexander, Jr.

Carbondale, Pa

 
Transcribed by Alexis C. Kaelin 2003
 

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