The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1884-07-12
IN FOREIGN LANDS.

| IN FOREIGN LANDS.
The British Metropolis-Sketctes of West
minister Abbey, st. Paul's Cathedral, Par
Lament House and other Places of Note.
From our own Correspondent.
| Should we state, without explanation,
that the city of London contained a resident
population of only about 10000 people,
the readers. of the CHIEF would be very GER
tain that either we or the compositor had
made ablunder; but such is actually the case.
The Jurisdiction of the Lord Mayor extends
miles in extent, with resident population
of little more than $1,000, at the time of
the last census, but growing smaller each
year. This, although being all that is legally
known as the "city of London" of course
comprises only small part of the great
metropolis, which extends about ten miles
from east to west and nearly as far from
north to south. The other portions are,
ferent municipal governments and are,
technically speaking, as distinct from "the
city" as it is called, as is New York from
Brooklyn. A reform bill is now before
Parliament, however, which proposes to
unite all these separate municipalities into
| one mammoth corporation containing
, nearly three and half million souls. In
spite Of its diversity of authority, London
is, popularity speaking, well governed city
and our friends of New York might we'll
copy the cleanliness of its streets. It is a
world in itself and in its food of humanity
one many we'll exclaim:
The bubble broken on the wave,
The leafst falling in the wood,
As not more lost to sight than
Within this murJnurou5 multitude"
With population sufficient for srnall
nation, situated on both side of broad
deep river, only comparatively short dis
tance from the ocean, she possesses great
natural advantages. and it would be Diff
cult to imagine anything in existence on
the face of the earth rs the product of
science or art which cannot be found here.
1t is not, however, in any sense of the word
beautiful city. London fog and smoke
succeed in blackening everything and but
few of its fine buildings are fair to look
upon, while many of those which appear
the best are but hollow sham, having
stucco fronts.
The tourist visiting London for the FIRST
time will propably be somewhat at loss
to decide what to see first, but to most
people Westminster Abbey, located on the
north, or rather west side of the river
which at this point flows nearly north-will
prove the greatest attraction and claim
their first attention. Il was founded in the
sixth century by Sebert the Saxon, whose
tomb it still contains. 1t ives destroyed by
the Danes, but was rebuilt by Edward the
GpnfassoE in 1860 i6s. ! ike alzsfs thev old
cathedrals and churches, it was built in the
form of q cross, with the chancel and high
altar to the east and the nave to the west.
The chapel of Henry VII was built in 1902
and occupies the extreme eastern end. Ed
ward the Confessor's chapel occupies the
position beyond the transept, usually given
to the choir in churches of this form, while
the choir is placed in the eastern end of the
nave. This, together with the numberless
marble statues, memorial tablets, ETC., with
which the entire interior is lined, greatly
Injuries the architectural effect and it is
chiefly from association that the visitor is
impressed. In fact it is frequently spoken
of by the irreyerent of London as The old
crockery shop" But in spite of all this, it
it is grand building and the man who can
stand unmoved within its sacred walls must
be stole indeed. 1t has total length of
375 feet, with width at the transept of 200
feet. In the several chapels lie buried no
less than twenty-eight kings and queens,
including Sebert the Saxon, Edward the
Confessor, Henry the VII-whose chapel is
spoken of by Bacon as one of the stateiest
and daintiest tombs in Europe-Queen
Elizabeth, Mary Queen of Scots, Henry the
V, Edward the III and many others, togeth-
her with royal princes and many of the
proudest mobiles of the land. But it is not
III these orumbling monuments of royalty
that the greatet interest of the Abbey lies.
In the South transept is the s'Poets' Cor
ner," and here we notice monuments or
tablets to Garrick, Addison, Gay, Dickens,
Shakespeare, Macauley, Thackery Gold
smith, Southey, Campbell, Milton, Gray,
Spencer, Chaucer and many others, some
of whom are buried in the Abbey and some
elsewhere. A fine bust of Longfellow has
just been added by the English admirers of
the great American author. Compare the
undying influence welded by those whose
the power of those mighty kings and
princes whose costly tombs are found in
the other portions of the Abbey, and who
will not say surely, "The pen is mightier
than the sword"
Between the Abbey and the river are the
Houses of Parliament, erected about forty
years ago. at an enorm ous expense. The
stone used, however, was 90 poor in quality
that already much Of the fine carving has
orumbled away and the building appears
about the same age as its neighbor, the
Abbey, in which William the Conqueror
was crowned more than 800 years ago. Al
though the external design of the Houses of
Parliament is good and its appearance, ex-
tending for nearly 1000 feet along the bank
Of the Thames, very fine, yet the interior
arrangements are not in any way worthy
the great people whose representatives meet
there. The Houses of Lords is so by 45
feet and 45 feet in height, with the throne
between the entrance doors and the Wool
sack" upon which the lord Chancellor sits,
in the cartre in frnnk of tina throne The