00llj0p^ ^attxraltsts' fhlh Oltelb. 



THE LADIES' DAY, 



July 18th, 1878. 



FOREST OF DEAN. 



Pretty were the sight 

 If our old halls could chang*; their sex and flaunt 

 With prudes for proctors, dowagers for deans, 

 And sweet girl-graduates in their golden hair. 



Teftnyson. 



*TTND pretty was the sight when a goodly array of lady-graduates in science 

 rj[ joined the members of the Woolhope Club on Thursday, the 18th July, for 

 an excursion to the ancient Forest of Dean. Special trains had been 

 provided, clouds tempered the burning rays of the sun, a gentle breeze made itself 

 pleasurably felt, and all went well, as it should do on a " Ladies' Day." 



Let us take up the tale at Lydbrook Junction, on the very borders of the 

 Forest itself, situate in that district of Gloucestershire " twixt the Severn and the 

 Wye," so long renowned for its interest and beauty. The special train gradually 

 left Wye Side, and with just a peep at the woods of Symonds Yat and the Coldwell 

 Rocks, wound up a steep ascent by a wide curve, and crossed the vale of Lydbrook 

 by a viaduct so lofty that the scattered houses and busy population of Upper 

 Lydbrook, were quite looked down upon. Here the true forest was entered, 



Ye sylvan shades, ye bowery thickets, hail I 

 and the ride for about four miles from Lydbrook to the Speech house Station was 

 exceedingly rich and beautiful. Several published accounts of Gloucester.shire have 

 described the Forest of Dean as being in great part denuded of the timber that once 

 covered it : around Coleford and in the southern and eastern parts this is the case, 

 but for all the distance explored by the club on the present occasion the native 

 luxuriance of the Forest has been fortunately preserved. Hill succeeded hill, 

 valley followed valley, far as the eye could reach, and all were densely covered 

 with oak timber some three-parts grown, and as these were seen from the high 

 level of the railway the sea of foliage was wonderfully refreshing. The sun 

 obligingly shone now and again to hght up the brows of distant hills, and show 

 more clearly their varied outline and the great extent of the Forest verdure. It 

 is indeed a sj'lvan ride of unusual interest and beauty. 



At the " Speech House Station " the visitors alighted, and took their way 

 for the inn denominated the " Speech House," which occupies a central position in 

 the forest some half mile from the station. The way was steep and the road was 

 dusty, but those who knew of it took the shady path under the trees by the side. 



