The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-05-02
THE TOWER OF LONDON.

THE TOWER OF LONDON.
THE ANCIENT FORTRESS THROWN OPEN TO THE
PUBLLC-ITS PAST HISTORY.
[London Morning Post, April 81
A fresh chapter in the history OF the Tower
of London was begun on Saturday, when for
the first time the grim fortress was thrown
open to the public. In future twice week,
on Mondays and Saturdays, the tower may be
visited by all who come without the payment
of any fee, the only Formally to be gone
through being that Of applying for ticket at
the entrance lodge, which stands on the site
of the old Lions Tower. The privilege thus
conferred by the government upon the puo!lc
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 popularity his &C.
ton in this particular matter it will not be
overlooked.
"If prison walls could only speak, what
tales of mystery and horror they would re-
late !" We often hear of such phrase
quoted with reference to some dungeon or
castellated fortress whose gray stones are
moldering into dust. But we do not ask that
the walls of the Tower of London might
speak, for, thanks to such intelligent students
as MI. Dixon. we know almost as much OF
the Towers history as the ancient stone walls
themselves. From the days OF the Con-
aueror the tyrannical Norman King who
caused that famous military architect, Gun
dulph, Bishop Of Rochester, to build the Mid
die Tower, down to yesterday, we have
the complete story of the Tower before
us. And what q marvellous narrative 1t Is
It should be written in blood. Every inch OF
ground, every foot of masonry. is associated
with some cruel deed, some tyrannous act.
To use the words OF that Countess of Som
erset who, with her husband, poisoned Over
bury, and subsequently occupied the prison
in which he had been confined, the place IS
!" full Of ghosts Of the dead" These specters
confront The visitor at every STEP and will not
be shaken of. In the White Tower, with its
watch-towers at each angle, and its walls if
teen feet thick, was imprisoned Maud, the
third daughter of Earl Fitzwalter, that stout
Raron Who. to syenge the Kings treatment OF
his child. compelled him to sign Magma
Charts at Runpymede. Here, in dungeon
compared with which the Black Hole at Cal
cutta would be palatial residence, was I'M
prisoned Guy, or Guido Fawkes; and here
was the prison home of the seven Blsnops AZ
whose knees even the soldiers Of the guard
fell. imploring their benediction, while the
shore was crowded by PROSTATE spectators
The prosecuted prelates were lodged in the
| Earl of Leicester's Tower, where Herlot first
observed the satellites Of Jupiter. The sun
dial of this famous astronomer yet remains.
and the story of Heriot and '.the three magii,
AZ his companions were called, is by no
means one Of the least episodes OF the rover
In the Bloody Tower, called the Garden
Tower until the murder of the two little
princes -perhaps the most tragic and pltifui
/ A. of ho f0pf n.
mer. Latimer and Ridley held their confer
ence. asking only for Bible from which to
oct counsel and instruction in their hour OF
need. Here. too, Sir Walter Raleigh wrote
his History Of the World" his essay emit
tied "The Parliament of Man." and other
political treatises.
They show you the wall upon which he
used to walk-that wall upon which on Satur'
day stood group of visitors. drinking IN
creedily all that Mr.. Dixon told them about
the celebrated navigator and chemist. ''Fuil
of the ghosts of the dead" Memories o.
those Inflated great ones rise everywhere, and
+ does not require over much Imagination tt
coniure up those dread mornings when Raleigh
PASSED out of his little room to the block
T and when the executioner waited with hi
differing axe on the green for patient Lad!
Jane GREY. who was lodged in the house
where now resides Mr.. Hughes, the yeomai
taller. Up the narrow staircases and into tn.
little rooms Of this house the curious Grove
poured on Saturday and heard With astonlsh
ment the story of the chivalric Earl OF Essex
whom some aver cut his throat IN the yeo
man iailer's house, but whom We know q
| have been priva ely beheaded on the green 2.
, order of Queen Elizabeth.
The force Of contrast is sufficiently remark
, able everywhere, but nowhere is it NOR
. strongly marked than in the little Church Q
, St Peter ad Vincula, whittier used to reso!
/ all not privileged to enter the Royal Chapel
: Tie Easter deca rations are up, and while L.
woman taller, in his middle age costume,
. Informing visitor that the church is open t.
a all corners at II and on Sundays, Mr. Hep
2 worth Dixon outlines the past history OF 81
8 Peters, and tells how that underneath tn
: flags are buried Anne Boleyn, Lady Jan
Grey, the Earl Of Essex, and nearly all wh
9 were executed for treason
!: Indeed, we walk upon stones which cove
q niles of royal and noble dust, that of the un
fortunate Earl Of Monmouth among the res
L md then, issuing into the fresh air again, v
find ourselves gazing at q little slab IN tn
j center Of q rallied off space, placed there
the Queen in memory of Anne Boleyn. 1t wa
4 on this green that royal and illustrious pei
1 sons we're executed Now the Constables I
: the Tower are installed there, and yer
shortly such ceremony Will be Witnessed
4 OF the bloody scenes enacted within the pre-
4 cincss Of the Tower, century after centur.
v nothing now remains but their memory. :.
The scaffold. the masked headsman wit
n his shining white ak poised on his shoulde
d the little knot Of soldiers, the priest. an
doubtless cruel eyes gazing from some turr'
. w;ndow mon the grim scene, the sharp c,
Of agony from the victims lipsnOs the
e rial and The stored walls Of the tort tres
J, Reared when feudalsm was rampant pnnrs %ne
!. world the Tower was for centuries name
t sGr to sa ALL for it meant cruel imprsonms'
r Of the gultless, torture Of the innocent, al
If untimeiy death in the hands Of the exec
er toner. .. ,ob,
Is purest and best Of England's sons al
daughters have passed beneath the iI ,a no,
Is Gate and left the sunshine Of life and hoei'
ID behind them forever. In those days ne1en
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