Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1873-12-23
For the Spectator.
THE TOWER OF LONDON.
FROM NOTES ABROAD.

presented to the readers of the Spectator, un
der the title of ''Westminster Abbey" have
thought that it might not be at all inappropri.
ate to offer next in order, some thoughts and
facts, upon subject that possesses great inter
est to the student as we'll as the general reader
of English history. 1t is true enough, that 1,
has very different history and awakens an in
terest quite unlike that of the old Abbey, yei
it is one of the old land marks, still defanty
standing in all the pride of its ancient strength
and its massive secursness. 1t is very grand
and wonderful'old Castle, having dark record
with many stain of blood 1t has served as
Fortress. Prison and a Palace, and now il
is England's armory, and also safe depository
for her royal treasures. The Tower of London
is one Of those strong. secure. unbroken links
in that mighty, indiSsaiuble chain, connecting
and binding as it does in warp and woof, much
of the past so inseparably with that Of the
present. Whilst contemplating this gloomy
old pile, the mind spontaneously reverts to the
Norman conquest, an event which. although it
burst upon that land like devastating storm,
we can but look back upon it now with an un-
limited degree of interest, as contributing to
the subsequent more vigorous development OF
national character. Those fierce and warlike
men that met the disciplined veterans of Caesar,
and for a time kept those Roman egions from
planting upon their native soil their invincible
Eagles, furnished noble race that thou
sand years after at the battle of Hastings,
we're compelled to succumb to the power OF
William the Conqueror. The Normans or
'Northmen, were noble and a gifted al
though fierce race of men; and this last of
the scions, destined to be ingrafted on the par
ent stock from the surrounding nations, that
mixture of strength and might, Celt, Dane and
Roman, would not have been complete and
polished without the Norman element helping
as it did to form the perfect Britain of after
ages. introducing into it many additions of ex
celence. 1t was with the beginning of the
Norman rule that William determined to pro-
vide stronghold adapted at once to shelter
himself and to awe the rebellious feelings OF
the patriotic citizens Of London, whom the
Conqueror expected to have trouble in subdu-
ing and it was amidst the terrible conflict
which spl ung from the Norman's ruthless en-
deavor to quench that spirit of liberty iu the
bosom of the Saxon which has ever proved in
domitab!e the Great or White Tower arose
There is an interest awakened, whose limit is
not prescribed In the breast of any one, who
speaks the English language as his mother
tongue, and he cannot approach with indltfer-
ence this royal castle of our forefathers. As
we descend Tower Hill. the hoary walls OF the
ancient pile rise before US amidst the sur
rounding mass of more modern buildings, grim
witnesses of a bygone age. They remain as
symbols Of the rugged times, when, during the
struggles resulting from ill-defned rights and
uncontrolled passions, were laid the mighty
foundations of EngIand's present prosperity
and peace. Deep, dark shadows of the cruel
past, enshroud, with mystic spell, the be-
gri",ed and silent walls of the gloomy fabric !;
but they serve to throw into stronger relief and
bolder prominence the justice and liberty, the
intelligence and the refinement, which illumln-
ate our day. The massive grandeur, the i'm
mense proportions Of the powerful structure
erected by William, fitted it we'll to forward and
accomplish those ends which that Monarch had
in view.
The site, too, was wisely chosen; just with
out the city. eastward. on the northern bank
of the river Thames, where the ground Is gent
" elevated above the neigh boring marshes of
Essex and the low ground of Surry. Thus, the
Tower of London was the offsnring of England s
empestuous morning AS the storms gradu-
ally subsiled, and constitutional freedom shone
forth with steadier and brighter ray, the frown-
ing Donion of the Normans occupied less
prominent place in that nations history. And,
now, in the zenith Of Britain's prosperity and
peace when the various races are perfectly
blended into one harmonious whole, and the
Norman and the Dane, the Roman and the
Celt are best known to the student of English
history as having impaired grace and spirit to
Saxon vigor, the time stained, the age-dark-
ened old pile is almost lost amidst the all-per-
vading light Time hallows and softens, and
often with gentle hand smooths out the most
rugged features, that 10 their youth IN an un-
enlightened past were only too cruel, fierce and
forbidding We regard the Tower with its
long record, so mixed and varied, as but me-
mento of past conflicts and Of weathered storms.
For some centuries, it was a favorite object
with William descendants to fortify with walls
and towers the mighty citadel. The continual
adding to it from time to time, make 1T now
present to the stranger an appearance that Is
quite complicated and anomalous.
It was bright morning in the middle OF
June, one the lovliest days that we spent in
the great city of smoke and fogs, the streets
were crowded with people, and the thousands
of vehicles were going in every direction, Lon
usual. It was the day that our party had ap-
pointed to visit the Tower. so about 10 o'clock,
A. NJ, we ordered our cabs and telling the
cabmen Tower of London" in twenty min
utes we arrived at that famous locality, and
then entering the office at the entrance gates,
we paid a sixpence each for tickets of admission,
and seated ourselves for few minutes to await
the arrival of a dozen persons, as each Warder
is required to act as guide for this number of
visitors, and Walder and his dozen had just
left for the tour as we entered. There were
six Americans in our party and we had a most
excellent guide-a jovial, hearty fellow, a sharp,
witty, waggish chap; one OF the Queen beet
eaters and an old veteran, who wore some halt
dozen medals of b. nor upon the breast OF his
coat. THE Warders were anciently the ser
wants of the Constable of the Tower, employed
by him to guard the prisoners and watch the
gates but through the influence OF the good
Duke of Somerset, Protector during Edward
Wis minority, as reward tor their attention
to him whilst prisoner In the Tower, they
were appointed extraordinary yeomen OF the
guard and they have ever since worn the llv-
cry of that body, which was instituted by Hen
nv VII. The honor of the appointment is gen.
erally bestowed on veterans who have distin-
guished themselves in their country's service
We found that our intelligent warder contrib
uted no little to our enjoyment and apprecia-
ton of everything we saw, and his explanation,
remarks and general comments were very apt
and felicitous We were shown through all
the rooms and places of principal interest; to
mention all of them in detail would be quite
impossible in this brief article. The different
towers are known as the White Tower, the
Middle Tower, the Bell Tower, the Devereuz
Tower. the Byward Tower, St Thomas Tower,
the Beauchamp Tower, the Bloody Tower, the
Flint Tower, Brick Tower, Jewel Tower, &c,
and there are number of other towers in the
various wards. The largest and most conspic-
uous of all the towers named, is the Great Oh
White Tower this was built nearly eight hun
dred years ago; it is a most magnificent speci
men of Norman architecture: This massive