St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-08-29
Her Walks and Talks About Old London
Town and Its Many Charm
ing Features.
An Hour in Westminster Abbey-At the
Tombs of Many Distinguished
Dignitaries.
A Ride of Forty Miles Through Beau
tiful England on the Top of a
ssFour-In- Hand.''
True English Hospfta11ty--A Glimpse
at the Prince of Wales and
Her Nj ajesty.
(Written by Mrs. Beecher for the Globe.)
I'm and About Landau

1ooo.-A IeSiueuC6 ol months, OF years, Is
needed to become sufficiently familiar
with the vast metropolis of the
world, to be able to form any
correct idea of it, or to judge SO ac-
curately as to warrant any attempt at de-
scription, or convey the impressions which
it makes on the mind. The imperfect
glimpses obtained by hurried walks or
rides, when conscious that only a few days
can be devoted to sightseeing, although
affording great pleasure. must of necessity
be exceedingly unsatisfactory, especially it
one attempts to describe them to others.
Looking at London is as though one looks
through an immense kaleidoscope, which is
constantly bringing before the eye some
thing new. But before the object has been
distinctly seen, or any correct idea formed,
the outgoing scene is wiped out by the in
coming one, yet always leaving the COM
forting hope that when this fairy dream is
over, and we return to regular home life
and duties, we may find that memory has
caught and stored up much more that can
be grouped together in greater regularity
and diStlnctlveneSS than can be expressed
with the pen. In our last letter we spoke
of our impressions as we came in sight of
land on the coast of Wales and at Queens
town; and all the way,
FROM LIVERPOOL TO LONDON,
we felt not like stranger in strange land,
but were constantly recalling the excite
ment and joyful anticipation of youthful
days. But on entering London this famil-
iarity has given place to reverence increas-
ing each day as we have opportunities to
see more and more. And yet, after all, it
is only when riding into the heart of the
city, or coming Unexpectedly into some of
the oldest streets, with the peaked roofs
narrow windows, and small paneS of glass,
or entering the immense cathedralS, or
viewing the ruins of some old castle, that
enthusiastic lovers of antiquity are most
awestruck and spellbound.
We have not yet explored the more
ancient portions of London. nor do we
know anything of the peculiarties of hotel
life here in London. if there are any, for we
have been highly favored by the kindness
of our dear and valued friends DIR. and
Mrs. Joseph Parker, who have made US
part Of their family, and welcomed us into
their lovely home in Daleham gardens-in
London, to be sure, but not in the center.
Here it is SO quiet that it is hard to realize
we are actually in the busy noisy city. Out
in these suburbs one finds many of the
beauties of the country, and yet can secure
all the advantages of city life. Most of the
adjacent streets round Daleham gardens
and creeping far up toward the center of
the city. are peculiarly beautiful and home
like, with pleasant houses. pretty yards in
front inclosed with brick walls. rising
from the sidewalks on which the iron rail-
ings are often hidden by the neatly-trimmed
hedge OF by linden trees. elms, horse chest
nuts, and locust cut back and kept low;
yet the round tops reach out to each other,
and often interlace forming one of the
LOVELIEsT SCREENS,
but not spreading wide enough to hide too
much of the sun and air from the flowers,
vines and shrubs that make these yards gay
with color. The back yards are also bor-
dered with flowers and vines, and are often
large enough for q tennis ground, or with
seats under the shade, or a pretty little
tent, where friends find shelter from the
sun, and can read, work or talk outdoors,
as much sheltered by the vine-clad fences
from observation as if in the country. Such
ample and pleasant yards, so well culti-
waited and cared Tor, we little expected to
find in London. For miles, as one rides
toward the center of this great city, such
attractive homes are seen on either side;
and what particularly adds to the charm
are the window and balcony gardens. The
stone window-sills are usually broad enough
to hold large-SiZed flower potts. which are
guarded from slipping off by boxing of
pretty tiles. If there are balconies in the
upper Stories they are also filled with flow
erS and vines. One can hardly realize how
these bright windows and balcony gardens
beautify house. Even as one goes fur
ther toward the city, in streets too closely
built up to allow of spare ground, you will
still find flowers and vines carefully cult
waited in the windows. This climate is pc
culiarly adapted to secure the healthy
growth Of flowers and shrubs. With US,
in America, the sun is too fierce, and would
soon cause them to burn and wither, SO we
can hardly hope for any marked success.
Yet one would suppose that patience and
skill and
YANKEE INVENTION
could devise some way by which flowers in
our windows might be cultivated
and protected from the midday heat,
and help us to follow our mother
country's example in identifying our
homes. The luxurious growth of sew
eral kinds of ivy also adds greatly, not only
to those charming yards, but to the wayside
walks through streets and lanes 1t climbs
the walls and banks, spreading from the
bottom to the top, UNTIL like a veil, it COW
erS them. 1t reaches out to any post OF
gate near by, runs up any tree that is
within reach, and twining around the body.
blJ1y dSCcuuS W TIC lOpulOSt dnU
hangs in festoonS among them, thus almost
turning them into pillars of rich verdure.
Never was there a lovelier green, each leaf
dark and glossy. Long streamers of ivy
hang from the hedges or climb upon the
banniSters of the stairs leading from the
house to the yard. 1t steals from the stairs
over to the windows, fastens onto the walls
of the houses, growing so luXuriantly that.
save when it is fastened back from the
windows, to leave the light unobstructed,
the whole sides Of houses, and even churches
are covered with mantle of rich green.
Unpacking, and short time given to rest
and some shopping, which ladies are usu-
ally supposed to regard of the first impor-
lance when reaching new country, used
up most of our
FIRST WEEK IN LONDON,
and left little time for pny important writ
ing. There were breakfasts and dinners
given of great interest: but to such intel
lectual banQuets women are never invited
here, and on our side of the great waters
the lessons taught by the mother country
are faithfully followed, either because
women, being supposed to be the weaker
vessel, is not thought capa
bic of understanding the wise deliberations
and sage counselS for which we are expected
to believe these receptions are intended, Oh
and we are inclined to accept this last
reason rather than the tirst-because womer
do not require the rigid fumigation which
judging from the strong odor that fills the
house for hours after they return home, the
gentlemen must have been subjected to-
Our first effort at sightseeing was a visit Of
an hour to Westminster abbey. We cal
but give the faintest outline of what we
saw and of the impressions produced or
our minds in walking through the colo
cloisters and among the tonbs Of kings
queens and their most distinguished sub
jects. Ascending the many stone steps
that lead to the abbey, after wandering
about awhile, we entered the cloisters, 9