The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-11-07
In the Tower of london.

made my first visit to the Tower of
London q few days since. It's afearlul
lei, I've run, that Of remaining in London
aver O year, and never seeing the inside
Of the Tower. The ~staircases are very
narrow. In ascending them ! had my
ave nearly poked out by and old American
Gentleman who would persist in carrying
lis umbrella on his shoulders. Ths
warders who show the place are arrayed
somewhat in tie costume Of Metamora.
They take visitors about in squads of
twelve to warder. Admittance one
shilling. From 800 to 1000 visit the Tow
er daily, AT this rate the establishment
ought nearly to run prince. Of course,
YOU have read all about the knights in ar
NOR, the guns and the swords, the
Instruments of torture, the headsman's
block and axe, the spears and shields,
and dungeons and names carved on the
wall, which are shown and explained to
YOU. | saw the crown jewels. Two
rusty, faded, sour-looking women have
them in charge. One delivers the ex-
planatory lecture, and the other takes
the tickets and watches to see that no
one runs off with the spoons. There are
spoons in the lot, gold salt spoons. The
CTOWu duu OtuSI ioyai SithSi oSnS 81 h0pe
under great glass case. 1t is merely
royal Jewel show. When the faded lady, vic
looks as If she had been dying by inches of
covetousness and envy, because-of her in
ability to own any Of the vast wealth around
which her daily life is passed, and which.
Tantalus-like, daily mocks her eyes when
she says, as she always does, at the close
of her Grafton: And that is the crown OF
Queen Victoria, and is worth 100000
sterling," everybody is expected to 60
down on their knees. Remember this
when you visit the Tower.
''No gratuities allowed to attendants is
conspicuously posted up in the waiting
room. This means simply that they do
expect fee. Sixty-five thousand stand
of arms are stored in the Tower, Snyder
rifles, which in few years more will prob.
ably be changed into some more improved
arm. They arrange on the armory walls
beautiful designs in swords, ramrods, mus
kets, bayonets, and pistols. For instance,
there is beautiful flower, all of triggers.
The trigger flower, Order Bellingerentia;
two stamins, six pistils. There is also a
blossom of bayonets, Order Langingentero
Apex Musketivus; Up Guards, and at
Them.
The axe which cut off Lord Loyats
head, in 1915, looked to me unsafe to rely
upon for chopping pumpkin in halves at
n single blow.
There are some interesting dents on the
head-block wherein three English lords
saw the last of their own criminal termi-
nations. would like to have stolen the
dents, but could not do so without bring
ing away the block.
Henry Wills armor is enormous.
think that Michael Reese and Mr.. Fried
lander might both get inside of it, and
there still be room left for some g live
paper" reporter to smuggle away in the
helmet, and watch whatever they might be
up to.
They showed us one queer weapon of
warfare--a sort of rake, eighteen feet long,
with curved claws, with which footmen
were in the habit of darling out at horse
men and "raking them in" or raking them
down.. Cor San Francisco Bulletin.