THE ROMANCE OF A RIVER-II 



By J. LOMAS, F.G.S., A.R.C.S. 



"THE THAMES ITSELF . . . . 



SO far we have studied a small stream 

 from its birth m the hills until it loses its 

 identity on joining a large river. We 

 nf)\v have to compare the large example 

 with the small one and see in what respects 

 they agree and how they differ. Obvi- 

 ously the torrent stage will be the same 

 in both, for the mighty river is only the 

 result of the fusion of many small con- 

 tributory streams. The Thames itself, 

 the noblest of English rivers, begins as a 

 mere trickle rising from the Seven Springs 

 in the Cotswolds. The following inscrip- 

 tion has been carved on a stone near 

 the mossy pools from which the feeders 

 take their origin : — 



/'/Vf/r;,- "'/'' ':>' Tallin, Oxjord. 



BEGINS AS A MERE TRICKLE." 



HIC TUUS 



O TAMESIN'E PATER 



SEPTEMGEMIXUS FON'S. 



In the river proper the differences we 

 find are more of magnitude than of kind. 

 Like the brook, it swings in rhythmic 

 curves, but these, being dejiendont on 

 the volume of water, are naturally mucli 

 larger. In place of the tiny loops a few 

 yards in diameter they are sometimes 

 measured in miles. 



In the case of the Mississippi they are 

 from three to si.x miles across, and in some 

 instances the curves are so sharply foliled 

 tiuit in travelling down the river you may 



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