San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1880-02-28

"Where Tees tuIt many msvou lowe
Wears with bile rage ne common foe.
Condemned to nine sAannsllsd wsy
Ger sslId shssts Of marble grey" lsii.
The castle was founded BY and de-
rived its name from Barnard Bsliol,
the ancestor of tho ill.starred and un-
fortunate dynasty Of that name, which
succeeded to the Scottish throne un-
der the patronage and assistance Of
Edward l, and Edward III, and II re.
NAMED in the possession Of his
family about two centuries, when II
was oonfsoated. ,tss fgol stt
But must omit mention Of many
historical towns and places, else shall
prolong my letter to au unreasonable
length. But ] must not fail to say
something about the famous city of
York, whsrs / made a short stay. As
we stand in the great railway station,
and not fur from the stately Minister
Of York, we think Of tho time when
there was nothing here but . mighty
forest. which stretched from the mid.
lands to the north. and where at length
q Roman military camp was establish.
ed. because at this spot all the forest
roads converged. This event occurred
about A. D. 70, and in about 100 years
thereafter York had become the chief
city of the province Of Britain. Lon.
don being yet a mere resort Of trsders.'
Constantine the Great was here pro.
claimed Emperor, and whether or not
he was born here, is . matter Of un.
certainty. Many parliaments have
been held at York. The city retains
much of its antique appearance. It's
said that Sidney Smith once remarked
to a York tradesman. Why, Mr.. Brown.
your streets are the narrowest in all
Europe, there is not actually room for
two carriagesi to pass Not room,
was the indignant reply, there is plen.
ty of room sir, and an inch and half
to spare. York Minister has perhaps
the oldest and widest reputation Of any
other English cathedral. It was the
great centre from which Christianity
spread to the regions lying north Of
the Humber. The Minister was found.
ed in the seventh century, and was
erected in its present form in the year
I'LL. But the structure was not COM
pleted until three hundred years after
the latter date. had not time to
enter the building; but I could OBJ
serve the splenior and beauty Of the
architecture. The vaulted roof, 100
feet high, stretches in noble vista 500
feet long. The central or lantern
tower is 235 feet high, and is said to
be the most massiye in England. The
top is beautifully battlemented. The
east window is said to be the finest in
world. 1t is 70 feet high and 32 feet
broad.
Five minutes walk from the minister
are the ruins of St. Marys abbey, and
the mercian gardens of the Yorkshire
Philosophical society. The early his
tory of this interesting ruin is involved
in obscurity. but am informed that
Roman, Saxon. and Norman remains
may here be studied. The North wall
of the ruined edifice has eight windows
the lights and tracery Of which are
singularly beautiful. The museum is
q splendid modern structure erected in
1927. 1t contains, 1 am told a rare
collection in natural history. and geo.
ology. York castle was once strong
fortress, but | am told it is now used
for common prison. Cliffords Tower,
stands on high mound and forms q
prominent and picturesque object. am
informed that the ancient walls Of the
city are almost perfec' throughout
their extent. They existed prior to
the reign of Henry III. They suffer-
ed during seigo 10 the seventeenth
century, but were subsequently re-
paired. But cannot find time nor
can you afford the space to give even a
passing notice Of all the interesting
AID historical places through which
| passed between York and London.
One might dwell upon every mile Of
ground over which We passed in the
relation Of interesting historical events
Some exceedingly interesting antiqui-
ties are to be seen at the ancient Town
Of Peterborough. Here 10 the seventh
century an abbey was built BY q
king OF the Mercians. Shortly alter
wards it was destroyed by the Danes.
but in the tenth century il was rebuilt
and on account Of its splendor il vas
called Golden Bargh." but since the
abbey was dedicated TO 81. Peter. j,
has been called Peterborough. did
not have time 10 20 into the building
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