OLD COUNTRY INNS. 219 



Through the introduction of the rail, a great 

 saving has been effected, both as regards time 

 and inn bills. Some of the " old school" still, 

 as far as is feasible, stick to the road ; but 

 declining accommodation must diminish their 

 numbers every day. Nothing is now so forlorn 

 as a great, rambling, half aired, half appointed 

 country inn ; waiter acting boots, boots acting 

 post-boy, or, may be^ all three ; and cook acting 

 chambermaid, barmaid, and all. The extinction 

 of the old posting-houses is, perhaps, the only 

 thing connected with the establishment of rail- 

 ways I lament. 



There certainly was a nice, fresh, cool 

 country air about the old road-side inns that 

 was particularly grateful and refreshing on 

 a fine evening after emerging from the 

 roasting and stewing of a long London season. 

 The twining roses, the sweet-scented jasmine, 

 the fragrant honeysuckle, the bright evergreens, 

 the flowers and fruit in the trim gardens ; above 

 all, the real rich country cream, fresh butter, 

 and new-laid eggs. These — the inns — are now 

 mere matter of history; and the Irishman who 

 travelled with his eggs " because he liked them 

 fresh" is no longer a subject of ridicule. More- 

 over, these inns were often prettily situated — 



