HOME SCENERY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1691, 19 October 1887, Page 2

HOME SCENERY

All tho way from Oxford to Bfohmonc the river (Thames) presents scenes of faultless loveliness ; but the greatest continuous stretch of beauty Is from Ueuloy to Maidenhead, and this is the headquarters' of fashionable life on the river. Maidenhead was first discovered by blase guardsmen quartered at Windsor, who, not knowing what elne to do with their time, took to shoving the heavy and arohalo punts of the fishermen — a feat requiring considerable training and skill. It was found that a trip to Maidenhead, and back to Windsor, 13 mllea, about filled up a day In a heavy punt, and at Maidenhead Bridge the Household Brigade establiihed a clubhouse for itself, whbre it entertains twloe a week its neighbor's wife and its own sister. As time went on, It ocourred to some guardsman of more aotlve mind than the rest, that there was no nectsiary rea■on why a punt should be heavy and unsightly, and he caused a pant to be built for himself of elegant proportions, with oodarwood for its material. His example was followed first by all other guardsmen, and since then by the rest of the world. Rowing is going out of fashion except for shopboys. Everyone, whether man or woman, who " fancies himself " or herself, either punts, or oanoes, or uses a steam launch. I was at Maidenhead Regatta, where, amongst about 500 craft oontalaing ipeotators, there were hardly a d< z n rowing boajtn. The advantage of the new fashionelln iuch a crowd was obvious. — "Argus."