The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1885-01-04
a NIGHT IN zHs roHRa OF xoxoox.


X1GHr IN IHB r0NkR OF xOWDOx.
Tea :. -. s..,.s r.-,.- 81 IL. K..ps--A
Msdsishs Visit - ths Crewa Jewels.
LONDON, Dec. 22.-Every foreigner has at
some time longed to behold three English mon
uments which his Imagination. excited By de-
scription, lod him to believe wero unparalleled
among the wonders OF the world He may have
grained his curiosity By going to London. and
had his wish gratifled. II not his expectations
The three monuments are the tunnel under
the Thames. Westminster Abbey and tho
Tower OF London. The first Ia a dismal fraud.
a damp. musty corridor to be dismissed at once
from memory. and ignominiously dethroped
from Its exalted place in childish fAncies; the
second. II beautiful. Is neither unique nor OF
unsurpassed excellence. being rivalled by many
cathedrals on the Continent. and even in Eng
land; the third alone exceeds what has been
pictured. and comes upon tho visitor with a
quaint completeness far beyond the sim plicity
OF Its namo The Tower has often enough been
described; its style and size. its situation. his
tory. and present use arc truthfuy recorded
In every guide book and more hyperboically
by Hepworth Dixon: but few OF those who visit
1t have considered 1t under the new aspect OF
modern dwelling house-a modern homo With
eomfortnble rooms whence nineteenth century
The West Eud. and dispense on low Japanese
over yers ago ono .n
was Lieutenant of the Tower OF London. and
Ss %
TSSr is fee6s old 'n W Whose dss
failing health REQUIRES the balmy air of the
the Old ans s $50 dSSsHH the the
ths 1ns fnos rs b9 of
d,rec,y in the GIT OF ne oMenn who eonisrs L
She. Wishes to acknpy lodge. Lady Catherine
ko s.er T9 o 6 mar Of her nsF he
abroad. now Governor of sydney. and. being
s SS 1 y the nSSir
a at ia tn lIsAf Affs...e of
long drive down lh h., ia!sFIniHaoe busy streets
s;raias gliding from the srawdeI conmerei "S
t tn INTO the darker and narrower
t xa eoming to the approashes Of the Tower
sStsways oSSr brdFSs ,hroa s saaars iiaS,
sed courts. and suddenly draw up before an
massive 6nins trade. at the foot OF which hangs
sna 1Sr non nHGs alarm ss AsesnanE
studd ID oaken postern door it is startling to
halberd;er, but by n neat parior maid in lace
GAP and lrI.od nnron Mho rrscedinx you
Of which is entire of stained glass. usher
si{sinx room unas%slly lofty psrhaps. But no,
H 9th. y; renmrkaLe For one mSmsnt you
but very soon you become aware Of something
ssSooped out OF the thickness Of the outer wall.
Sek Sn Ssy ks ss or
enings that can only be reached by stretching
they close. SinguIarly enough. by an Old and
net , nnsrSgnted srivi s The right Of Washing
appointed Individual. He discharges his func-
for the Interference of nn alien IN the regular
BsiSrs the sight Of the cnrton He easements has
the mistress OF the house. leads You though oh%
pointed. "ncurtained arch into her sal nctum.
perfect lancet windows deeply set in the mas
siye stone walls: rising ~ undraped and unde,
rabIy irs p Gothic dome, fipimina!ins in
c co yer into iadys boudoir bas,on turn,
upon tho ,Bloody Tower whtcn frowns dark and
IS s I
1Ms he Even
that Place msrcantiIe river ctehHs AS
Of pic,uresaueness and romance. but. strange
the not in o:e win ad ss
not not lock look IKE a moat or wa,sry rampart
Seen from ,iat eesasona fs rf is
ss,ed in hSze rsss@ses tho Grand nd canal ap at
Ing s poiss take in the deesi1fa and transform;
spires: me darE; swift. 'Ssiy nus Poa nS
nG Ss Tss fn at as lie
river piers; might be mistaken for the black
Ee
ing and requesting in mis- ceaSeleSS beat from
tho Mint on the loft to the gate on the right
sounds from tho terrace below like the, lazy step
of gondoier. There is the same absence OF
rumbling Of wheels or clatter OF horses hoofs
as IN the City of Islands.
The private residence OF the Custodian of
the Esgalia communicates by n long and very
narrow passage intersected with thick iron
gates to winding stone staircase which, IL
all must he told. is likewise tho Kitchen en-
trance-on ono small landing from which opens
the door to the jewel room.
To be taken into the round vaulted apart
ment With the iron cage IN the centre under
tourists, in broad daylight with n smudey
ticket delivered by Bsef-Eater. and to
listen to a droninR nomenclature. is ono thing.
and not very pleasant one: but to enter the
hours. to reach it through strange low CORR.
doris. creeping In single flo after a pretty girl
holding aloft u trembling taper. who warns you
every now and then of pitfalls in tho shape of
watch her turn with n small pass key huge grim
locks and unboit frown ng portals. to gather
her simple unadorned explanations OF the
gems and their origin az she walks daintiiy
round the cage and flashes her light sometimes
on u crown. sometimes on n mitre orsscabbard.
il another thing and very delightful one.
In the Hrst case YOU are ant to entertain n
certain contempt and doubt of the rea.alia. and
to disbeiieve in its genuiuencss and reality but
in tho second the greatest skeptic ia ready to
stake his credit on It's value. ana to accept in
perfect faith the state ment that behind those
bars and under that glass sleeps capital of
two or three mill lions sterling. Entranced you
listen. and hear how the sacramento plate of
gold Is taken out with pomp and ceremony on
church on those two occasions how it spends
tho night in the custOdan'S dining room, pro-
saicaly. ike commonplace dinner plate, and is
reihstated in its velvet bed on the following
dianship of officials with solemn exchanges of
signatures and n conclave of all the authori-