Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1888-07-20
LETTER FROM ENGLAND.
LONDON, ENGLAND,

W
boat for home. The tour we are now
to undertake is quite long one, and
| shall have little time for writing
while on the wing. | send this as per-
hans the last for some time.
Our stay in London has been salts
factory in almost every particular. III
we met with an adventure occasional
ly we usually turned it into some fun,
and got value received. Our CHIEF oc
casion for regret has been the amount
of rain London is receiving. We are
now overshadowed by a cloud, and the
atmosphere is so cool that we carry
our overcoats with us all day long.
We have passed Trafalgar Square oc-
casionally, where the monuments OF
Nelson, Havelock, Peel and others are
70 be seen, and we are moved with al
most pitv as we behold these gallant
men standing, with heads barred, while
the rain is pouring down upon them
Still they don't seem to mind 1t any
parade up and down the crowded
streets. After taking a good look at
Westminster Abbey the other day we
went out the famous Piccadilly Street
to HYDE Park. We passed Bucking-
ham Palace (the queens London resi-
dence) and saw some of the fashion of
this great city. as carriage after car
riage rolled through the park. The
queens palace is quite dingy looking,
and while she is there only about
week in the whole year, the red-coat-
ed. cassock- hated, severe looking sol
diers march up and down in front of
the iron gates of the building as though
all of England were conspiring against
Her Majesty. Policemen and all kinds
of prohibitions meet the visitor on ev-
erv hand, till he is sick of red tape,
and thinks with a glad heart of our
beautiful White House, with its pure
glittering walls, its wide (Democratic)
gates open TO all, while not a soldier
is to be found nearer than the Navy
Yard-the President is usually in, too,
and looks and acts like any other
man.
While in the neighborhood of Hyde
Park we went TO see the celebrated
Albert Memorial. This is a noble
monument to the Prince Consort. 1t
is one of the most beautiful things we
have seen. The Prince had fine fig
ure and consequently looks we'll on all
the monuments he adorns-and these
are many. The most noteworthy
thing he ever did was to marry Queen
Victoria.
We visited the Tower, and saw, while
the cold chills shot through us, where
the beautiful Lady Jane Grey was eX-
ecuted. \ stone now marks the spot.
BY special permission we were admit
ted into the chapel where she, with
others, is buried In this tower can
be seen the queens crown-its intrin-
sic value in our money is about six
millions. This is as much or more
than the cost of the London Bridge
Just to be looked at Which will you
take, republic or u government like
this?
As my fellow-traveler was busy on
some work for paper yesterday, !
went alone to the Geological Garden,
where one sees the finest collections of
animals anywhere to be found, | sup
pose. 1t both amused and moved me
to pity to behold the way these ami
mails, so closely confined, attempt to
pass away their time. They nearly
all seemed restless and many of them
weary. \ huge elephant was stepping
in the most stately fashion around n
circle of about fifty feet; a grizzly bear
near by was SO pressed for room that
as he went his round (and all of them
seemed to be taking constitutionals)
his body was half-moon shaped, like
railroad train turning bend. Tigers
were pacing up and down in their
| cages, while small, thin lion near by
was believing like bull. As some of
us drew near his cage he laid down on
his back and rolled and yelled till
all the people came running TO him TO
see what was the matter. The sea-
! lions had just space enough to swim
in, and spent theirtime whirling round
and round, occasionally rearing up
their sleek heads to see if anything
new was going on. The most con
tented, or rather resigned looking, an
| imals | saw We're the cranes and peli-
cans; these stood pivoted on one foot.
with heads drawn down and eyes
closed, looking like sleepy men in a
railroad station, with three hours yet
! to wait
| called on the Chimpanzee, that an
imal which bears so striking a resem-
blance to man. found him evident
" weary. He had gone to bed; his
arms were folded in peaceful sleep,
his dark round face turned towards
me. AS stood contemplating him he
moved and was awakened. We eyed
each other for awhile, and his eyes
closed again. Taking my opportuni-
ty when he opened them gave him
the Masonic sign. | thought | could
see a twinkle of recognition in his eye,
but he slowly went off into n deep
! slumber again, and | retired.
Possibly the above will render what
l now ain going to state unworthy of
note. But | vouch for the truth OF
this, without any imagination in it.
In visiting some of the bird houses
heard a strange voice which arrested
my attention. 1t sounded like that of
n bow who was vawning and saving