Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1881-12-23
LONDON LETTER.
NOyember's Sunshine and Flowers
i'm the Metropolis.
THE BRIGHTON MURDER-REFORM
IN RAILWAY CARRIAGES.
"The Lights o. London" the Theat-
rical Sensation of the Day.

rical Sensation of the Day.
ALL GRAPHICALLY DESCRIBED BY THE
DEMOCRATS" FOREIGN CORES
PoNDENT.
LONDON, Nov. 18th, 1881.-Al-
though November is supposed to be
one of the worst months of the year
for those pea-soupy clouds called
London fogs, and l know from ex-
perience that it held its own last
year, yet SO far we have had model
weather. There has been very little
rain. and only now and then
slight touch of fog, just enough to
make a genuine Londoner wish for
more. From all accounts Wisconsin
seems to have been having the rain.
which naturally ought to have fallen
here. Although the days are very
short Git is quite dark at five o'clock,
and are rapidly getting shorter, we
have a great deal of sunshine, and ]
don't think there has been a symp-
tom Of frost for month. So, on
the whole, this November is to be
congratulated, as being the least
gloomy for many years. Flowers
are blooming still, and the yellow
jessamine which has begun to deck
many house frents and garden walls,
will soon be like SO many masses of
tiny yellow stars. The flower of
November in this country is the
chrysanthemum, and just now it is
in its glory. Every little garden has
its cluster, and the parks and church
yards revel in them. In every part
of London are now held the annual
shows of this favorite flower, and no
more delightful treat can be had for
lover of flowers than a visit to the
Temple Gardens to see the chrysan-
themum show. There, too, can a
brisk imagination have plenty to
feed upon, for hardly any part Of old
London is so rich in associations as
the Temple. There lies Oliver
Goldsmith, and in the gardens were
plucked those famous roses By the
heads of the Houses of York and
Lancaster. To lover of Dickens it
is enough to know that this place has
been hallowed by the presence of
Ruth Pinch. 1t is SO pleasant tc
fancy her there waiting for Tom,
and being surprised by John West
lock on that memorable day.
You no doubt have heard of the
Brighton railway murder, which
since June last has been the reign
ing topic of the day in this country.
Even the murder of President Gar
field could not draw the peoples at
tention from Percy LEROY, who now
in Lewes gaol awaits his death. He
is to be hanged next Tuesday, for
although his friends are doing all
they can to get a reprieve, there
seems no hope for him. 1t was
horrible murder. Mr.. Gold, an
elderly gentleman, going home to
Brighton from London, was taking
nap with his handkerchief over
his face. In this condition he was
attacked by LEROY, slight youth Of
twenty-one. and after a struggle
which lasted some time, was killed,
and whilst the train was passing
through tunnel, was thrown from
the window. Everyone who has
had any experience with the Eng
lish railway carriages can under
stand how easily such a murder
could be committed. Already the
crime is bearing good fruit, for early
next month there will be train to
Brighton made up entirely of Pull
man cars. In American fashion
the passengers will be able to stroll
from one end of the train to the
other" and there will be no danger
of person being locked up in a
compartment with a mailman, a
drunkard, or a thief, as sole travel
ing companion. The train is also
to be lighted by the electric light,
and writing Of that makes one think
of the forthcoming electric exhibit
ton at the Crystal Palace. 1t bids
fair to be a great success, and | I'M
derstand the Americans are to be
better represented than they were at
Paris As i went through the
French exhibition very hurriedly, /
shall be glad to have another oppor-
tunity for diving into the mysteries
of electricity. At present London
has four or five systems Of electric
street lighting. The Brush, Stem
ems and the Maxim systems are best
liked. The last named gives very
beautiful white light. A number of
shops and public buildings are
lighted by the Swain light; amongst
them the Savoy theatre, in which
the light gives great satisfaction, as
being entirely free from smell, and
keeping the air pure and cool. 1t
has created quite revolution in
stage dressing and scenery, and
made up +" compilations suffer very
much under its searching rays.
The reigning theatrical sensation
of the day is the drama entitled
The Lights O London" 1t took
theatre-goers by storm about three
months ago, and has been playing
and will no doubt play for months
to come, to overlooking houses. The
following lines, which herald it on
the play bills, give slight inkling
of its style;
1.-The way was long and weary
But calamity they strobe,
\ country lad and lassie,
Along the weary road.
The night was dark and stormy,
But blithe Of heart We're they,
For. shining in the distance,
The Lights of London lay,
cleaning lamps of London that gem the city s