Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-05-21

THE ANCIENT FORTRESS THROWS OPEN TO THE
rUBLIC-ITs PAST HISTORY.
Z. L l.. -..... D

rUBLIC-ITs PAST HISTORY.
From the London Morning Post April >.
A fresh chapter in the history Of the Tow
er of London was begun on Saturday, when
for the first time the grim fortress WAS thrown
open to the public. In future twice a week
on Mondays and SATURDAYS, the Tower may
be visited by all who come without the pay
ment Of any fee, the only fOrmality to be
gone through being that Of applying for
ticket at the entrance-lodge, which stands on
the side Of the old Lions Tower. The priyi-
lege thus conferred by the Government upon
the public cannot be TOO highly estimated by
those who value freedom of access to our few
historical show places, and the present Prime
Minister may be sure that when the people
come to consider his claims to their popular
ity his action in this particular matter will
not be overlooked. "lfprison walls could
only speak, what tales OF mystery and hor-
ror they would relate ~ We often hear such
a phrase quoted with reference to some dun
geon or castellated fortress whose gray stones
are mouldering into dust But we do not
ask that the walls of the Tower of London
might speak, for, thanks to such intelligent
students as Mr.. Dixon, we know almost as
much of the Towers history as the ancient
stone walls themselve+. From the DAYS Of
the COnqueror, the tyrannical Norman king
who caused the famous military architect
Gundulph, Bishop of Rochester. to build the
Middle Tower, down to Yesterday, we have
the complete story Of the Tower before us.
And what marvellous narrative it is Ii
should be written in blood. Every inch Of
the ground, every foot of masonry is associat-
ed with some cruel deed, some tvrannous act. =.
To use the words of that Countess of Somer-
set who, with her husband, poisoned Over
bury and subsequently occupied the prison
in which he had been confined, the place is
''full of the ghosts OF the dead" These
spectres confront the visitor at every step
and will not be shaken off. In the White
Tower, with its watch-towers at each angle.
and its walls fifteen feet thick, was imprison-
ed Maud, the third daughter Of Earl Fitz-
walter, that stout baron who, to avenge the
Kings treatment of his child, compelled him
to sign Magma Charta at Runnymede. Here,
in dungeon compared with which the Black
Hole at Calcutta would be palatial resi-
dence, was imprisoned Guy. or Guido Faw-
kes; and here was the prison home of the
seven bishops, at whose knees even the SOL
diers of the guard fell, imploring their bene-
diction, while the shore was crowded by
PROSTATE spectators asking blessing. The
prosecuted prelates were lodged in the Earl
of Leicester's Tower, where Heriot frs. OBJ
served the satellites Of Jupiter. The sun
dial of this famous astronomer vet remains.
and the story Of Ieriot and ''the three magi,"
Us his companions were called, is by no
means one of the least interesting episodes
Of the Tower, In the Bloody Tower, called
the Garden Tower until the murder of the
two little princes-perhaps the most tragic
and pitiful incident in the annals of the fort
ress-Cramer, Latimer and Ridley held their
conference, asking only Bible from which
to get counsel and instruction in their hour
70 need. Here, too, Sir Walter Raleigh
wrote his History of the World" his essay
entitled "Ths Parliament Of Man." and
other political treatises.
| Memories of those ill-fated great ones rise
| everywhere. and it does not require overmuch
imagination to copjure up those dread morn