The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1880-01-01

baronal castle or stately hall, dis
pensing prncely hospitality. X he is Of
the class OF new.rich, he builds spacious
mansion aud endeayors to rival ''my lord
These large estates have grown out OF the
feudal system and the law Of primogeniture,
which DR.. johnson rather justified, because
sthat It makes but one fool In a family, =
and constitutes one OF the peculiar features
OF England. Among the most magnificent
we remember to lave seen, during long
residence in the country, may be mentioned
In passing-those Of the Marquis OF Breadal-
baue, whose property extends on straight
line from ilis mansion distance OF 100
miles, and the Duke Of Suther]and's, which
covers whole county in Scotland, extend-
ing from sea to sea. The Dnke of Norfolk
park in Sussex, l. fifteen miles In circuit,
and the Island OF Lewis, containing 1900
acres, is owned by single individual The
process of absorption is still going on, he
larger domains growing larger aud larger,
as the number Of proprietors decrease. "A
hundred years ago there were go. 900 pro-
prietors in England, and now there arc. emily
10000. This IL great evil certainly and
must be remedled. Urgent necessity there
Is Of n0tionalizing the land, as the present
state Of affairs both in England and Ireland
show. Against this increasing evil John
Bright, the late j. s. Mill and the MancAes.
ter party generally, have raised their voices
aud are proceeding to ''agitate'' the coun-
try.
The English nobemen then only knows
London during the season. What the met
ropolitan mansions lack, however, in exte-
rior ornament is more than compensated by
the expensive and luxurious style OF their
interior decorations and furniture. In the
inside, everything is of a snmptuous and
elegant description. Nothing is wanting
which refinement and cultivation can suggest
or gold purchase. Costly paintings adorn tho
walls--they are often more costly than merito.
rlous. Every niche has its statue. A sim
pie list OF the h uses OF the principal nobil-
ity and gentry where valuable collections Of
art treasures may be seen by any one taking
the trouble to make application, would
cover pages. The finest Of these is Stafford
House (St. James Park), which was built by
the Duke OF York, second son Of George III.
1t is at present owned and occupied by the
Duke of Sutherland, who is little else than
titled BOBBY. In Bridgewater House, the
residence OF the Earl OF Ellesmere, the col.
lection OF paintings at the death of the Duke
Of Bridgewster in 1903 were valued at $780,
900. The collection now contains three
hundred and twenty-five paintings OF the
estimated value OF l,500,0 If offered to
competition of connoisseurs this collection
would doubtless fetch larger sum. In no
country in Europe are the arts so patron
lied and encouraged by the wealthy classes.
1t is impossible for the stranger, amidst
the confusion produced by the multiplicity
of objects and images that dance before his
eyes and glide away, to take a comprehen-
sive view Of the whole capital. A descrip-
ton of each quarter and all the wonders
presented TO his contemplation, would ex-
coed our limits, require volumes. va
shall content onrself with giving the result
OF coup dell of the capital from the most
commanding spot in the city, the summit,
Of st. Paul's Cathedral. Beyoad question:
this is the most eligible position for seein{,
the metropolis aud the stranger ne soouaG
mounts to the dizzy heights than he is dazY
zled aud bewittlered by the extent and ya>'
riety spread out before bis eyes---one illimit.
able expanse OF streets, courte, alleys,
squares and parks, alive will, restless actig-
lily and teeming millions. In the section
Immediately surrounding this centre, all the
financial transactions oil tae country are
carried on, principally in Lombard street,
che resort of the bankers, and Capel Court,
the haunt of the money brokers and stock
jobhers. Here. beneath the surface OF the
streets, the private bankers have their vaults,
which with those OF the Mins and the Bank
OF England contain the treasure of the
Kingdom. In tbs circumi acelt streets the
wholesale business is conducted. La word,
it is the head or core OF that busy world OF
Tendon, belonging to the toiling millions,
and in which lrone is rara arts IN teqris.
Sweeping across the southern horizon the
eye takes in those populons districts to the
south Of the river, CamberweI, Lambeth
and Peckliam. These are crowded with
artizans and the laboring classes generally,
and it is from the lofty chimnies OF this re-
gion that thick volumes OF smoke constantly
arise and spread like pail over the scene.
70 the East ave seen the lofty spires and
gilGcd domes OF Greenwich. surrounded by
the deep green of the wooded heights, while
midway between the Northern and South
ern limits Of the city the river flows. This
is crowded with forests OF masts, smoke
stacks and tunnels far as the eye can reach
Along the Thames the eye wanders from
Westminster Bridge TO Victoria Docks, a
distance OF mere than ten miles, which COM
prchends the entire line connected with the
harbour and the naval and commercial oper-
ations OF the kingdom. All the streets and
wharves on the line are crowded with vehi-
Giles carrying off the goods which have been
landed, or bringing down carsocs for vessels
to be freighted The busy crowd which
gathers here is entirely different from that
seen around the Bank and Exchange, and
is composed of another class of those enter
prising men who contribute so much by
their labor to extend the commerce and add
to the wealth and glory of England. This
is the peculiar haunt OF shippers and i'm
porters. About midway in this line stands
that huge editice known as Somerset House,
where all accounts of the King dom are
audited and affairs connected with the inter-
nal revenues of the Empire are settled, and
on line with it, but further down the
river is the Custom House, the never failing
barometer Of the national prosperity, on
which fleet after fleet bears down and whose
ponderous cranes are perpetually at work
tranferring to the gauut and dreary looking
ware houses, which co YER this quarter, the
immense stores contributed by the world to
the wealth and energy of the British people.
Also the coal exchange and Fish mongers
Hall, the latter the head quarters Of one
of ti,n noat ancient and oifhu r,r,;Idc ~,