Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-03-31
LONDON LETTER.

WIN OhOuSl w DlOW OuC LCsiu 0AA'
and with sheets Of rain. 1t did not
bring the spring, for the spring came
IN all but the name about Christ
mas-time and has already grown to
the lamb, mint sauce, and green
peas, salmon and cucumber stage.
To make doubly sure, however, it
brought the cuckoo, and now we
may rest content, sure that there
will be no more winter now that the
voice of the cuckoo is heard through
out the land. What treat it would
be to many an Englishman in Min
eral Point and vicinity to hear the
first spring notes of the cuckoo As
took my constitutional yesterday
morning, and got to what was as
like the country as could find
within reasonable walking distance
Battersea Park-I noticed the pear
trees in full bloom, to say nothing
of the almond trees with their
clouds of dainty pale pink blossoms.
The park was looking fresh and
bright, the ground carpeted in many
places with masses of bright GRO
cuses. Many shrubs were in bloom,
and the large clumps of bamboo
were as green as they were six
months ago.
Through Battersea Park across
the Thames and along Chelsea en-
bankment used to be one of my ia
vorite strolls. From the "Home for
Lost Dogs on one side through the
park across the river and down the
Royal Military Asylum, on the 9TH
er there is always plenty to see.
Old Chelsea with its picturesque
old church is one of the most inter-
esting parts of London. Stepping
aside into Cheyne Row it is hard to
imagine that in one of those dingy
old fashioned houses lived and died
Thomas CARLYLE, and that within a
few steps George Eliot saw the last
of this world. This little side street
was for many years the Mecca
towards which the eyes of all think
ing men and women were turned.
II looks now as it did then; one can
only feel the difference. Further
down the embankment, and leaving
entirely old Chelsea, are some splen-
did mansions, which attract and
please the eye as few other buildings
facing the Thames do. They are
modern, built of bright red brick
and tiles, and are rs irregular and as
full Of odd gables, corners and pro-
jecting windows as one could
wish. They ought to be the chosen
homes of wealthy aesthetics, and
dare say they are, for at bay win
dow Of one of them yesterday morn
ing caught glimpse of a pretty
girl in thicket of tall white lilies,
who had the expression, hair and
soft pretty draperies of a most pro-
nounced pre-Raphaelite. In the
neIghborhood is the once celebrated
white House." built by the eccen-
trio Whistler, and the scene of many
of his original gatherings-the ia
nous breakfasts, where buckwheat
cakes and other American dainties
were introduced to the unapprecia-
tive Briton. The house is very ugly
viewed from the street, but is said to
be very pleasing inside. Whistler
had to sell it soon after his lawsuit
with Ruskin about three years ago.
Since then his fame seems to have
declined. | must confess to having
been charmed with as many of his
paintings as | have seen, the noe
turnes, harmonies and symphonies
III color which have been so laughed
at and as strongly praised. AS an
etcher | do not think he has an
equal. He is supposed to be the
original of Bunthorne in the comic
opera of Patience" if such q fan
tastic creature could have been mod
elled after any one But to contin-
lie the stroll along Chelsea embank-
ment to Chelsea Hospital. fine old
building built by Sir Christopher
Wren for military pensioners. Nell
Gwynne has the credit of origin
ating this hospital which provides
home for some five hundred battered
old soldiers besides giving relief to
about fifty thousand outside pen
sioners. The famous Ranelagh Gar
dens used to stand near and af-
forded an amusement to Londoners
of the 18th century. such as the
equally famous Cremorne Gardens
until few years ago, furnished to
Londoners Of the present day. The
Middlesex magistrates have changed
all that, and dancing gardens have
gone the way of the wicked. Hav-
ing once more crossed the Thames,
and reached the Home for Lost
Dogs" whence come the most pit
eous wailings, the Sunday stroll, as
far as interesting surroundings are
concerned. ends.
To come down to every day Cos
sip there is nothing at present so in
teresting to the English people, at
least the London part of it, as the
fate of Jumbo. Mr.. Bradlaugh.
who since | last wrote has been ex-
PEELED, reelected, and almost ex-
PEELED again, is nothing compared
with Jumbo. Even the attempted
murder Of the Queen is almost
passed by in the struggle to keep
Barnum from having Jumbo. Per-
haps | ought to state before going
further that Jumbo is the big el-
ephant in the Zoo" and that Bar
mum bought him some time since
for the sum of two thousand pounds.
Since then it has been found out
that Jumbo is unique, that he is the
largest elephant in the world, not
even excepting those in the wilds Of
Africa. No man, it is said, has seen
before SO large an elephant as Jum-
ho, who measures about fourteen
feet to the top of his head and
weighs some six tons. This charm
ing creature which looked to me
last summer as if it might be hun
dreds of years old, and stood in
great need OF general securing,
painting and dong up was to
have headed Barnum's grand circus
procession, was To have been gazed
~ by the fifty millions of people all
anxlouslv waiting for the grand