The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-11-13
THE L OF DOGS.
A Spot Where a Norman Monarch Kept His
Kennels Of Bioodhounds.

Kennels Of Bloodhounds.
People whose notions of London arc
bounded by the thoroughfares of May
fair or Clubland, and even some of us
who boast n mor widely-extendcd
knowledge of this city's great arteries,
lave very hazy ideas as to the exact
whereabouts of the Isle of Dogs. No
doubt we know that it lies somewhere
in the weird regions perpetually over
hung by a veil of murky clouds far be-
You'd tho dim gray dome of st. Paul's.
Any attempt at more exact locallza-
ton few would be rash enough to ven
ture on. The very name suggests ut
ter desolation. and perhaps the most
prevalent impression about the place
is that of a mud flat formed from sue
cesslve deposits of %alluvial soil or city
refuse, not always of the most odor-
GUS. There is u sort of vague idea
that the curious designation is derived
from the plentitude of dcfunct animals
left behind on this island by every eb-
bling tide, and IN pictures its few hu-
man inhabitants as a sickly acc of be-
lngs living among the noisomo vapors
of certain industries that have been
driven to take refuge here after be-
coming a nuisance intolcrable in more
crowded localities. Not so very long
ago that would have been n fairly ac-
curatc conception Of the place except
as TO its title, the origin of which has
Deer somewhat ohscured by the mis- s
of time. Once a Norman monarch is
said to have kept his kennels of blood
hounds there. The only survival now
of this traditional association with
hunting is the existence of Il facto-
ry Tor the manufacture of "unitcd''
horseshoes and nails. Veteran politi-
clans who began to eat minister nj
whitehall at Greenwich half a century
ago may perhaps remember to have
gazed across the stream from windows
OF that famous rivers dc hostclrv to
n place the squalor of which was in
sad contrast to the luxury Immediately
surrounding themselves. 1t was Il low
lying island wherein only Il few scrub
by poplars seemed to flourish feebly
beside stagnant bitches; from a con-
ceres of tumble-down cottages and
r;ckety wooden huts there rose black
tunes and fGtid gases that were some
times waited across to ovcrpower the
appetizing odors OF Il fish dinner.
About those squalid dwellings, there
moved emaciatcd forms, bent double
from rheumatism and the effects of
fen-fever, or children who seemed as
it they had scarcely inhaled n breath
of fresh air all their lives. Though
existing so near London these people
were practically cut Off by u strip OF
sluggish ate from frequent com.
munion with their fellows, and the on
ly civilizing influence that reached
them was when some noble-mlnded
ladies', fired by a spirit of purest phi
lanthrophy, came voluntarily to dwell
n their midst. and brought a ray of
divine light to penetrate the density
Of ignorance and immortality. The
Iabors of those charitable danes, who
were actuated by no fanatical zeal,
are still gratefully remembered by one
or two old people who have lived
through all the changes that have tai
len on the place since then. Volun-
tary missions have been succeeded by
ecclesiastical organization. There are
now three churches on the island, each
with its vicar or curate always resi-
dent, besides schools of several de-
nominations. A row of ancient cot
taees still exists to remind us of days
gone by-though not of the worst
days. Through their floors of irregu-
lar brickwork the damp of primitive
marshes still oozes. but there is an air
Of modern cleanliness about them,
and their outside walls arc clothed
with the warm colors of Virginia
creepers, while in the little patches of
garden grow huge supflowers. The
gospel of culture seems 10 have ex-
tended thus far. This is the only
remnant existing apparently of The
older inhabitants, who have gradually
given place to a buster population, rs
the industries in which they were en-
gagged have to huge factories, from
Which no disagreeable cftluvia arise.
wharves, and rows of decent dwell
ings. In all external features the Isle
of Dogs now differs not at all from
other dock-slde places, and even its
identity seems lost in the modern
names of Millwall and Cubitt Town.
London NeaUS.