The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-02-11
LONDON'S ODD CORNERS
THREE eAReec ARROWS FOR ALL
SERVICES"
Tho Strand and Ia rullness Of Life-The
Savoy. = Street Named After Peter Of
savoy-The Grant Of Land He Got nom
King Henry Ill

Savoy. . Street Named After Peter Of
savoy-The Grant Of Land He Got rom
King Henry Ill
Especial Correspondence
LONDON, Jan. 20.-The majority Of Ameri-
cans in London, true to their national in
ftincts, are driven at once on arrival TO one
or another of the great hotels that have risen
In these later years on the ruins of quiet old
inns, the fashion Of which has passed with
the elder generation that knew them. The
and the travelling American, who has now be-
come an established feature of London life,
end who filings about his money with IA reck
lessness amazing even TO the best seasoned
waiter, has no thought of beingleSs comfort
able than at home, and demands the same
environment at every point, no matter how
remote. For this order of American the real
London is a sealed book. He sees its sights,
takes in all that an outside view of the West
End, of Pail Mall, of Rotton Row and all
other fashionable haunts may afford, and
passes on to deal with continental cities on
the same principle He has seen the outer
self as to tho size or flavor Of a possible
kernell In fact, it is definitely settled in his
mind that the kernel, if there be one, is stale
and withered, and by no means worth tho
trouble of discovery; and SO he proceeds on
his way contentedly, to be succeeded by re-
lays Of the same mind.
1t is well for America that this ever flow
ing stream is, In more senses than one. shall
low one. and that we are not to be judged by
its rush, and sound, and swirl But the
wiser American. who retreats with speed
from any contact with these wandering
wealth dispensers, looks upon them in the
chance encounters that occur with pity
that deepens as each day of the real London
shows what treasures they have missed; yet
smiles, remembering how speedy is our leap
into better knowledge and how surely some
part, at least, of the next generation of their
descendants will return to seek out what the
fathers rejected.
All this, because party Of excessively un-
pleasant Americans on the steps of the Hotel
Metropole announced loudly to quiet
gentleman standing near them:
1.-THE Strandf What in the world should
we go to the Strand for? I'd as soon think of
walking down Grand street in New York to
see sights. No; we are going over TO Regent
street for some shopping, and then to st.
James palace to see the queens jubilee,pres-
ents Won't you Gomez"
"Thank you, very much; not today" re-
turned the quiet gentleman, looking after
them with little twinkle in his eyes, and
then moving off leisurely toward the despsed
locality. There are sights even in "Grand
street, New York !" for whoever has eyes to
see, but for the Strand itself one comes Ill no
long space of time TO feel positive affection,
and wonders no longer at what had hereto
fore seemed the infatuation Of Charles Lamb
and DR.. johnson and many another lover of
London.
Sir said the weighty old photographer,
seated with Boswell in Mitre tavern, near
Temple Bar, 1.-THE happiness of London is not
to be conceived but by those who have been in
it. l will venture to say there is more learn
ing and science within the circumference of
ten miles from where We sit, than in all the
rest of the kingdom
And msfortunes, he might have added, his
own ups and downs forming no inconsider-
able part of the sadness which was in the life
of most literary workers of that day. But, like
many another brooding and melancholy
in throng, and his blood stirred to the throb
of life in Fleet street and the Strand and
wherever the city and its rush and roar were
dominant. The same fascination seizel and
held Charlotte Bronte, who timidly as she
nhrunl from people, opened her heart to the
ancient places, and, chefest of all, cared for
this "city" and its sights and sounds.
81 have seen the West End, the parks, the
q ,,al. 7 Al "a.
far better. The city seems SO much more in
earnest; its business, its rush, its roar, are
such serious things, sights sounds. The city
is getting its living-the West End but enjoy
ing its pleasure At the West End you may
be amused; but in the city you arc deeply ex-
cited"
the Strand, and this must always include
Fleet street on to Ludgate hill and the cathe
dral, which is the heart of the city, must al
ways hold this power, and day after day it
gains upon one till the capricious words of
Charles Lamb give out the innermost truth
that lay at the heart of so many of his ca
prices, and his cockneyish affection for paw
ing stones resolves itself into something
higher, and shows its real face as love and
sorrow for all humanity in its comings and
goings in this great artery of the citys life II
have passed all my days in London" he wrote
to Wordsworth, until have formed as many
and as intense local attachments as any Of
you mountaineers can have done with dead
nature. The lighted shops of the Strand and
Fleet street, the innumerable trades, trades
men and customers, coaches, wagons, play
houses; all the hustle and wickedness round
about Covent Garden The impos-
sibility of being dull in Fleet street; the
crowds, the very dirt and mud, the sun shin
ing upon houses and pavements, the print
shops, the old book stalls, parsons cheapening
books, coffee houses, steams Of soup from
kitchens, the pantonimes, London itself a
pantomime and a masquerade-all these
things work themselves into my mind and
feed me without power OF satiating me.
The wonder of these sights impes me into
night walks about her crowded streets, and I
often shed tears in the motley Strand from
fullness of JOY at SO much life"
1t is because there is so much life, and ap-
parently no escape from its tumult and press,
that one finds with amazement, not two min
utes away, little space, silent and remote
as if centuries lay between 1t and the busy
street And, indeed, they do. 1t is a steep
littla street lonely and dull travprsed only