n it were
planted, about fifty years ago, a quantity of the flowers which are
mentioned in the plays of Shakespeare, and the result is a very lovely
mass of brightly-colored, old-fashioned flowers.

At the Shakespeare Hotel, they were served a typically English
luncheon of mutton, peas seasoned with mint, greens, and afterwards a
"gooseberry tart." John and Betty were in gales of laughter when the
shy, rosy-cheeked maid asked if they would have some "jammed fingers."

"What in the world does she mean?" inquired Betty, between her
giggles.

"I don't know, I am sure. Do you, Barbara? Oh, yes I do! Probably she
means 'jam fingers.' I have heard the name. Please bring us some,"
Mrs. Pitt requested.

The "jammed fingers" proved to be long strips of pastry with jam
between. They were very good, and John and Betty much preferred them
to the sour gooseberries, to which they had not taken at all kindly.

The Shakespeare Hotel is much like its neighbor, the Red Horse, except
for the fact that each room bears the name of one of Shakespeare's
plays.

"How lovely it would be to sleep in the 'Romeo and Juliet' room,--if
there is one!" Betty sighed. "I almost wish we had planned to stay
here, although I do want to write letters on the table in Washington
Irving's room at the Red Horse!"

Very near the Shakespeare Hotel is what is known as the "John Harvard
House,"[B]--more accurately, the girlhood home of the mother of John
Harvard. It is high and narrow, but fully as picturesque as is the
nearby Tudor House, which is large and square. Both are excellent
examples of Elizabethan houses, and are very quaint and pretty. The
lower floor of the Tudor House is a most fascinating shop, in which
one may find a really astonishing number of post-cards, books,
pictures, and little souvenirs relating to Shakespeare.

[Footnote B: This has just recently been restored and presented to
Harvard College. The old house will in the future serve as a
rendezvous for visiting Americans.]

"Seems to me, everything, from the hotel to the cheapest post-card,
has the name of Shakespeare attached to it somehow!"

"You are quite right, John!" agreed Mrs. Pitt. "The modern town has
grown up and literally lives upon Shakespeare! Without him, and the
immense number of visitors which his memory brings, Stratford could
hardly exist at all, as there are no factories or important industries
here."

A long, beautiful afternoon of sight-seeing followed. Fi