Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1878-03-06
Westminster Abbey.

old Abbey Of Westminster, in Lon
don, aud many would be glad 10 ylsi
this famous historical place, ! ha(
often been there In my thoughts an(
dreams, aud had often wished that
might really walk through It's quieI
aisles and ohapels, when, at last,
should make n trip to Europe And
my wish was granted,
1t was Oh November morning
one oi those dark, gloomy mornings
peculiar 10 London, that | started
irom my lodgings TO walk 10 the
Abbey,
Ailer little walk, | came IN sight
OF Westminster Bridge aud The Houses
Of Parliament, aud then, on my right,
| noticed the two tall towers OF the
Abbey so ! quicGened my steps un'
til had gained the entrance door
What change from the busy, crowd
ed streets to this old scpulchcr and
its relics OF the dead ! II almost
made me shudder, Tor the interior OF
the building was dark aud gloomy,
aud | saw many cold, white figures
towering high above me. The original
Abbey was built many, many years
ago, aud has been restored from time
to time by tue succeeding kings ahd
queens OF England, until we find it in
It's present condition, safe aud sound,
and one oi tho greatest objects Of in
tercst IN London.
Westminster Abbey may certainly
be called a tomb, for we could sperd
a whole day in simply counting its
There were 30 many
of these that l hardly knew which TO
look at first, but thought it best TO
follow my own inclinalions, and so,
instead Of procuring guide (men
with long gowns, who take visitors
around and point out objects Of great
est iutercsO, | roamed about at my
will. The first monument that AZ.
tractcd my attention was the venerable
shrine of Edward the Contcssor, in
the chapel OF st. Edward, once the
glory Of the Abbey, but which has
been much detaced by persons who
were dcsirous of obtaining y bit Of
stone from this famous tomb. la this
chapel | saw also the old coronation
chairs. in which all the reigning
,overeisns OF England, since Edward
I. have been crowned. They are
lueer, old.tashioned chairs, made of
wood, and not very comfortable, l
imagine The older of the two chairs
vas built to lnclose the stone (Which
hey call Jacobs pillar) brought from
Scotland by Edward, and placed in
his chapel. Many other interesting
ombs are to be seen here, and the
loor Of the chapel is more than six
hundred years old !!
next visited the chapel of tlslip,
quilt by the old Abbot OF lslip, who
dedicated it to St. John the Baptist.
)ne very interesting monument there
Vas to the memory of General Wolfe,
Who fell, you remember, at the battle
Quebec His monument Is very
beautiful piece of art. 1t represents
lin falling into the arms of one OF his
'wn soldiers, who is pointing to Glory,
which comes in the shape Of an angel
rom the clouds, holding a wreath
With which to crown the hero. A
Highland sergeant looks sorrowfully
N the dying warrior, while two lions
leep at his feet. The inscription
eads as follows: "To the memory OF
ames Wolfe, Major.General and Com.
lander-in. Chief of the British land
orce on an expedition against Que
&c, who, after surmounting, by abili.
y and valor, all obstacles OF art and
ature, was slain in the moment of
ictory, on the 18th of September,
759, the King and Parliament of
treat Britain dedicate this monu.
lent."
now walked on to the north tran
ppt, and the first monument l noticed
,as one erected to Sir Robert Peel,
ne grea. orator and stateman. l
eated myself on an old stone bench
, rest, and looking around, saw a
statue of William Pitt,
'ho, you may remember, was also q
reat statesm an, and accomplished
lore for the glory and prosperity OF
.ngland than any other statesman
tho ever lived. In this transept
le,e is a beautiful window, which
.presents our Savior, the twelve
postles, and four evangelists. As
'as sitting quietly in this secluded