Connecticut western news., 1873-07-11
RecOllectiOns of London.

On Saturday night. in the month of June, we arrived at the Charing Cross Ho- tel, finished in 1865, an immense structure situated on the busy thoroughfare called the "Strand," in the open place callsd Charing Cross5 which takes it's name from the old village of Chsring, where stood d cross erected by Edward I. A statue of Charles l. now stands OF this spot, and be : ing central point for the west end of town. is desirable place to stop.
 The Golden Cross Hotel-formerly the old rendezvous for travellers enroute for different localities in England and the Con- tinent by stage, is still standing in good preservation this stage hotel many will recollect is mentioned by Dickens in "D,- vid Copperfeld." Until the great London Exposition, in 1852, the hotels of this me tropolis were surpassed by New York and Paris, both in size and elegance. But since that date some elegant and mammoth ho- tels have been built adjoining the railway termini, SD that the tourist only has to pass from the lower saloon of the hote! to a car in an adjoining ap urtmeut
 The following railway first-class hotels are jotted down for the benefit of those who are projecting tour abroad: The Euston and Victoria Hotels, near Euston terminus; the Great Northern Hotel ad- joining the Kings Cross terminus; the Great Western Hotel, at the Paddington terminus; the Grosvenor Hotel the Lon don Bridge Terminus Hotel; and the Westminster Palace Hotel, Victoria street, near the renowned Westminster Abby. These belong to the railway companies. Almost all of the new and desirable hotels, unconnected with the railway termini, are erected by joint-stock companies. The same system has been adopted in Paris and other Continental cities.
 It is we'll known that the largest hotels in America, especially in New York city, are owned by single individuals. To di- gress 8 moment, the following hotels of that city are given with their owners :- The Astor House, owned by Wm. B. As. tor; the St. Nicholas Hotel, owned by R. K. Haight and A. T. Stewart-the latter being the renowned silk merchant; and the Fifth Avenue and Metropolitan Hotels, also owned by MT. Stewart.
 To return to the subject of London ho- tels, built by joiut-stock companies, we will mention that the Langham Hotel, in Portland Place, is quite a rendezvous for A kho c., serie was opened on the American system, with an American manager. Those who have stopped here will ever recollect with pleasure, the popular manager, the late MT. J. M. Sanderson. formerly the proprietor of the College Place Hotel, the Brevoort House, and New York Hotel, in this coun- try. He is a brother of Harry Sanderson, ''the eminent pianist" Female clerks, in hotel offices. are in vogue abroad, which, We may suppose, accounts for the air of quietness which peryades these institutions
 We arrived at our hotel in the evening, and after satisfying the inner man, took a walk up the Strand, through Temple Bar, now demolished, into old London proper, to get view of the famous St. Paul's Ca thedral by star and gas lights. Its immen- sity surprised us, but were disappointed in its surroundings, as we had imagined and inferred from numerous plates, that this Cathedral stood in large open space. But instead, it seems cramped by the narrow streets on all sides, and filled with high buildings, so that the visitor only gets a view until within few hundred feet or so of the immense pile. On our approach, the deep tones of the enormous bell announced the hour of o'clock, F. M., and indicated by the hands of the town clock, which with the mammoth proportions of the dome piercing the air to the height of 375 feet, and looking down upon the city, inspired us with awe. This old and dingy building is the noblest in the Kingdom, and stands isolated at the top of Ludgate Hill it's ex- treme length is GOA feet, and 2s6 feet in width. It was opened in 1897, and finished in ITO, and cost $3, 800, ,OOO, the whole work 35 years in construction-being done under the supervision of one architect, the great Sir Christopher Wren, and one master mason, Thomas Strong. The ball and cross, reached by more than 600 steps, are at the summit of the building the bal, about six feet in diameter, is reached with some difficulty. The pendulum of the clock is IA feet in length, while the mass at it's ex- tremity is one hundred weight. The great bell, which is only tolled when member of the royal family dies, weighs four and a half tons, and is ten feet high. St. Paul's is open every day free to the public. but no place is exhibited during divine service.
 One of the great shows of London comes off annually at this Cathedral in the shape of childrens festival, on the first Thurs day in June, when thousands of charity children are congregated together The late Dean was the very Rev. H. N. Mil man, D. D., the author of the "Latir Christianity" and other works.
 Passing through Temple Bar. down the Strand, to Trafalgar Square, on that same night, Nelson's Column, with bronz. statue of that naval fighter surmounting it Qhe whole 1so feet in heighD appeared grand on that calm June evening.
 St. Paul's and Nelson's monument should be seen at first by moonlight. But calm bright evening in old England is appreciat ed both by natives and foreigners, as tn damp and foggy atmosphere is the rul rather than the exception.
 Of the Dissenting Chspels in London, b. far the most remarkable is MT. Sturgeon Tabernable, built at cost of about 930 900, or $15o, ,0OO, at Newington, on. tn sunny side of the river Thames. near tn gilt Elephant and Castle, situated in iron of a hotel close at hand. It stands about mile from the Westminster and Waterlo bridges. and may be reached by the Metro politan railway, or by omnibus, cab an hana0Fn as.f