, 1889-11-14
THE HOUSES OF PAKLIAMENT.


The houses of parliament, or the
new palace of Westminster, are
among the most famous buildings oi
London, or indeed the world.
They are located on the left bank OF
the Thames, between the river and
Westminster Abbey, and immediate
ly above the Westminster bridge.
They occupy the site of the old
palace, which was destroyed by fire
in 1885, and cover altogether an
area of about eight acres. The
buildings, erected at n cost of $3,0O0,-
600, are in the Tudor-Go style,
and contain 100 apartments, 100
staircases and two miles of corridors.
The clock tower, 800 feet high, Is at
the northeast corner of the building,
and strongly resembles the clock
tower ut Burgess, go well known
through LongfeIlow's poem. The
belfry IL forty feet square, and has
dials on its four sides thirty feet in
diameter, while those of st. Paul's
are but eighteen feet. The great
Stephen bell, cast In 1858, weighs
over eight tons, but IL, unfortunate
ly, defective in tone. ~
The central spire rises above the
main dome to a height of 800 feet.
At the southwest corner the Vic
toria tower, $40 feet high, surmounts
the royal entrance. ~'.H .H--
The house of peers is located i'm the
western portion Of the building, and
is 100 feet long and As feet In width
and height. 1t is one Of the most
gorgeous legislative halls in the
world, and contains the throne, u
chair for the prince of Wales, and
the woolsack for the lord chancel-
lor. The stained glass windows are
lighted at night from outside.
The queens robing-room, decora-
ted with frescoes from the legend of
King Arthur, faces the river, and Is
separated from the Victoria tower
by the Victoria gallery and the
princes chamber. Since the gun
powder plot of 1905 thorough eX-
animation of the cellars is made
whenever the royal presence Is ex-
pected. In the center of the build
Ing, st. Stephens hall Is built above
the ancient crypt of ST. Stephen the
only relic of the old palace, which
has now been restored and Is used as
II chapel. The hall is of noble pro-
portions, containing twelve statues
of illustrious statesmen, and sepa-
rates the house of peers from the
commons. This Is located In tho
eastern portion of the building, and
Is much less ornate than the house.
1t occupies the site of old st. Steph-
ems hall, and Is sixty feet long, with
n height and width of forty-five feet.
The Strangers and Speakers gal
leries (the latter for distinguished
visitors) face the speakers chair,
and are in front of the reporters
gallery.
The foundation stone of this vast
pile was laid April %, 1910. The
chief architect was Mr.. Berry. In
spite, however, ofthe great expense
and the many years consumed In
their erection, the constructive feat
ures of the British houses of parlia-
ment are even more unsatisfactory
than those of our own capitol.
While we have washed our marble
columns with oxalic acid, In the
vain hope Of making them white,
and have even been under the iieces-
slty of painting them, the English
are forced to note, with considerable
uneasiness, the decay of tho outside
stoneworlx and the rapid deteriora-
ton of the interior frescoes of their
legislative halls and must give un-
tirlng attention for. their preserva-
| ton.