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

without awakening In the mind the recollec-
ton Of memorable scenes and tragic stories
| dsrd by Is that lofty monument erected in
remembrance Of the great fire OF 1850, Of
which Pope said, in allusion to the inscription
| 1t bears, accusing the Catholics of burning
this Protestant city,
I "Londons high column, pointing to the skies,
Like tall bully, lifts It's head and lies"
On this line also, ARE found those extensive
docks constructed upon scale to accomo.
date the shipping Of the world and which
are without a parallel among the public
works OF this or any other country, aud near
by, burrowing beneath the bed OF the river,
IS theThamestunnel, that wonderful triumph
OF modern engineering skill. Diverted from
its original purpose 1t Ia now used by the
| Chatham & Dover rail way, numerous trains
daily passing through 1t from the two sides
| OF the river.
| In the opposite direction, two miles from
| st. Paul's, is Trafalgar Square, and the Roy
al Academy. Sir Robert Peel once declared,
| In moment Of patriotic enthusiasm, that
lthis was ssThe flacst site in Europe.
| The most imporiant work Of artin this square
| is the column dedicated to Nelson, which
rises alone in solitary majesty, with it's base
at once decorated and guarded by the bronze
lions Of Sir Edward Landseer. Here the
| famous West-end begins, In which are group
ed the Parliament Houses, the Abbey OF
! Westminster, the Royal Palaces, the Home
and Foreign offices, the Headquarters OF the
Army, the Admiralty and the Government
Offices generally. Also the Club House, the
residences Of Court retainers and all those
most distinguished for rank aud wealth, and
who make up the fashionable world. This
Is the quarter whence issue those endless
lines OF snowy equipages which roll with
| stately grandeur along Rotten Row through
Hyde Park and Kensington gardens.
To the north OF Hyde Park lies Tyburnia,
handsomely built modern city, principally
occupied by successful merchants aud bank.
ers, the noreaus riches, all those who are
undergoing, in significant language OF the
club houses, the TRANSITIONAL state between
commerce aud fashion. Tyburuia is sort
Of Hades or pnrgatory where aspIrants for
Belgravia and Mayfair are prep ared TO en-
joy those Elysian fields,
The health, beauty aud comfort OF the
West-end are increased by three grand
parks, the largest of which, Hyde Park with
Kensington Gardens, contains 68S acres.
In the district, popularity known as Bays
water and Nottinghiil, there are likewise
many noble squares, and it is in reference
to these squares and parks which, indeed.
exist Ii every quarter OF the metropolis,
thas it has been truly said, they are the
nostrils a nd the lungs Of London.
There are few merilorlous statues in the
public places OF London; popularity due,
the Londoner will tell you, to the English
climate, which quickly destroys such works
OF art when exposed to it's action, but which
9 stranger is more disposed to attribute to
want Of appreciation Of the ilue arts-seulp-
tnre more especially.
Notwithstanding its extraordinary size,
the health Of London is better, as the bills
OF mortality show, than hat of any large
city In Europe. This fact is lightly attrb-
uted to the excellent, utetiil Inadequate,
system OF drainage. Tins rapid increase Of
the Metropolis has made the subject OF
drainage one OF growing difficulty and en-
barrassment, especially since it oecame evi-
dn, thot = l,,r b.,f lte
charged iato the river. Under this system
the river itself was but a vast sewer and the
banks were all but insnpportahle. During
the summer the air was Il led with noxious
vapors aud fatal fUyers generated, notwith-
standing the temporary expedients resorted
to for correcting the evil, such as scattering
lime aud other disinfecting agents on the
water and over the shiny shores. 1t was
the pressing Importance OF this question
which led, In 1858. to the formation OF
vast system Of sewer, or subtcrrauean
tunnels, II feet wide and 81 feet high, TO run
by the sides Of the liver to It point Is miles
distant, where they discharge into the river
at high tide. that the ebb tile might remove
the refuse. The total length Of the great
receiving sewers Is ~ miles, and the est-
mated cost $l5. 100000.
From this coup dell we gather the fact
that London so far exceeds the capitals OF
other countries that 1t may be regarded as,
par excellence, the metropolis of the world.
1t Is not only the most populous, but most
wealthy, II not tho most cnterprs!ng. The
population is greater than that OF the King
doms OF Hanover or Westphalia, and nearly
double that of Greece. 1t Ia nearly as great
| as that OF the City aud State OF New York,
the most populous Of the United States, and
little less than that OF Scotland. London
may be likened then to a Kingdom concen.
trated upon tho territory Of very small
province. No where, in such space, can
there be found gathered such vast interests,
SO much luxury, SO much misery, so much
pleasure such sorrow, so much wealth, such
poverty
A Retrospective glance at its mutations
| will not be undressing. Little over two
and half centuries ago, at the accession Of
James !, the population was 100, 000--less
than half the poNilation OF dozen modern
cities within days journey Of Pail Mail.
1t had Increased to only $4,000 In 1900.
aud in 1901 had just reached 100000. The
| progress has since been more rapid, aud In
1870, as we have seen. the population ex-
ceeds three and half millions.
As carly as Elizabeth, Ii. NJ, and subse-
quently james and Charles l, were alarmed
a: the increase Of the inhabitants and sought
to retard the progress OF tue population. By
royal proclamatious Queen Elizabeth pro-
hibited the erection, within three miles Of
the city gates, any new house OF tenament
siwhera no former house hath been known
to have been" james and Charles /, is-
sued similar proclamatons, the latter de-
claring that il larger 1t could neither be
governed nor fed Charles was perfectly