Scenic Surprises-An Inviting Road-A Ruined Windmill-- Rooks Little Waltham-Broomfield-An Old Friend -Rain versus Dust-Writtle-Picturesque Essex--Curious Mist Ef- fect--Nearly an Accident-Chipping Ongar-An Old Saxon The Pleasures and Advantages of Driving Tours-An Ideal HolidayUntravelled England-Speed, the Curse of our Century-Rural Inns -The Country as seen from the Road and the Rail-'The Highlands of Essex'-A little-visited Land-A Country of Old-time Buildings and Historic Spots-Our Programme-Highways and Byways The Langdon Hills-How Guide-books are sometimes compiled A Grand Prospect The Opinion of an Experienced Traveller. T Of all the various ways of spending a summer holiday, of all the many modes of travel, where pleasure, not speed, is the chief consideration, commend to me a driving tour, with all its charming independence and the exceptional opportunities it affords of leisurely seeing and thoroughly comprehending the rare charms of our beautiful English scenery-scenery of its kind unequalled in the world. The fortunate traveller by road, how enviable is his lot! He is delivered from the bondage of timetables, the pleasure of his outing is never marred by weary waiting at dismal junctions, or hurried rushing to catch certain trains—or miss them, as the case may be. Haste and bustle form no part or parcel of his programme: his is rather a quiet, restful progress; being master of his own time, he can rise and breakfast when he likes, can start on his day's journey just when he chooses; he knows nothing of the worry of luggage, for his belongings always go with him, he leaves his hotel door in his own carriage and arrives at his night's destination in like manner. Having full control over his conveyance, he can stop at any spot by the way that may take his fancy, he can loiter or make haste, just as his inclination at the time may dictate-in fine, he travels in the truest sense of the word, he is not simply conveyed from place to place, as is a passenger by railway. An ideal way of spending a summer holiday this surely? Storing one's mind with a gallery of lovely landscapes and beauty-spots, never to be forgotten; acquiring at the same time an intimate knowledge of the rare charms of rural England; gathering pleasant experiences each day, and gaining health and strength besides. What a happy combination of good things! One of the most attractive features of such a journey is its perfect freedom. The driving tourist, if he be wise, will be careful not to bind himself by any precise or pre-arranged plans, but will hold himself untrammelled to wander whither he will; thus may he explore by-country lanes leading to out-ofthe-way unfrequented spots, and perchance discover for himself many an odd nook and corner undreamed |