THE
PETF,RITE, VoL .I .
JULY, 18 79 .
No . 6.
A CYNIC'S HOLIDAY. E Nvill endeavour to suggest rather than describe a pleasant way of spending a holiday in summer . Let us take the train for Helmsley . Our two hours' ride will not be wasted . We pass through a pretty country all the way after the first few miles. Kirkham Abbey lies on our route ; and Castle Howard, which we may reach by stopping short at 1\Ialton, where we change trains, and taking the most delightful of walks. We hope our readers will some day try such an expedition. Of the old market town of Helmsley, our destination, the most noticeable feature is the old Castle overlooking the town from the hill on which it stands, formerly the residence of Dryden's "Zimri,"—" In squandering wealth was whose peculiar art," from whom by a natural transition it passed to Pope's " wretched scrivener. " From him, we believe, the present noble occupants are descended . We pass in the market place an old Market Cross whose glories are lost to the eyes of the " profanum vulgus " in the splendour of a monument commemorating those virtues which are so peculiar to men of rank that to be believed in they must be written in stone . What a thing is a title ! The Church is interesting in many respects . In it may be seen brasses dating from the wars of the Roses, as well as many ancient crosses, a font for holy water—but a truce with antiquarianism . Leaving on our left the castle-topped hill, on our right the Church, we will begin the ascent before us, not forgetting to lave in and drink of the spring that wells from the hill-side . The summit gained, a lovely view meets our eyes on all sides . In particular on the left-hand side of the road, spread in the valley beneath the trees of Duncombe Park, succeeded by others till the view ends in purple heather . Further on, until
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