Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1891-01-27
SCLhES IN LONDON.
PHASES OF LIFE IN THE ENGLISH
METROPOLIS IN 1890.

City Was rhieiSiy settled Great Trave
over bridges and Ferries -Amusementi
| That Pleased the Popaiaee.
| Although containing within the bills
of mortality perhaps $4,000 inhabitants
the English metropolis a century ago was
huge community, and the city was busy
at its center and in its main thorough.
fares. London in 1890 did not extend
more than n mile north and south of St
Pauls. The houses and gardens al
Hoxton pushed out little further to the
north, and to the south High street,
Southwark, continued through Black
man street to the village of Newington
Butts, with line of houses reaching to
Remington Common. 70 the east,
saving fringe OF houses on both sides
of the Thames. the town ended at Mile
end gate; to the west it was bounded by
the parks.
The southern portion of the metropo-
lis was even less overbuilt, and more
space was filled with gardens. Besides
the bridges, the river was crossed by
numerous ferries, and there We're no
docks but the Commercial; the pool was
crowded with shipping, and its wharves
were busy enough. London bridge, it
was calculated, was daily crossed by
some 10000 persons, and the stream of
life flowed east and west. We remem-
Der the saying of DR.. johnson, why,
sir Fleet street has II very animated APP
pearance, but the tide of existence is at
Charing Cross"
The west end of London was well
built, but the old parts of the city were
dingy, close and decaying. The general
condition of London, indeed, was i'm
proving, since the excess Of deaths over
births. which had been 1895 in 1850,
and 5,5l9 in l770, fell in 1890 to 1908.
That was still bad, but as Il set off Lon
doners in 1890 had ready access to the
country by every road through the rural
enyirons. East-enders focked to Cam
bridge Heath or Bow Common, West
enders to Hyde park or along the river
at Millbank while to the south lay Ken
nington and Camberwell, and to the
north lslington-long the most noted
popular resort of holiday pleasure.
FEATURES OF THE OLD CITY.
In 1890 lslington was full of tea gar
dens, bowling alleys and suburban tay-
ems: the mere list of their names sug-
sests a perpetual fair, more or less noisy.
according to the character of the COM
pany, and especially crowded on Sunday
afternoons, when there was great con
Of buns and beer. On Sunday
mornings the favorite promenade was in
hyde park, where the fashions in vogue (
might be seen; but the place for show
)f London society was the Mall in st. |
James park. The costumes of gentle |
men were often brilliant, and on fine /
lay the coats of gay colors, the scarlet I
and the bright attire of the
aides, all standing out against leafv
background, with peep of Queens
house in the distance might have de-
lighted lover OF picturesque grouping.
Only few months had passed away
lnce King George III had recovered
rom his sad malady, and the cloud still
lung over court which at its best was
lever very lively However, in January.
100, there was an effort to restore the
spect OF magnificence. The royal dukes
M the arlstocracy arrived in coaches
surprising so said the newspapers.
anything of the kind ever SEEM while
hose exalted personages were clad in
lch velvet. embroidered with gold, sill
er and spangles. The public went TO
axe on their glory; but either the peo-
lie looked somewhat unsympathetic or
he officer was peculiarly suspicious, for
ne soldiers who surrounded the palace
lddenly backed their horses among the
.oWd, SO as to cause a crush and panic. (
he season advanced, summer came. and
a June / grand patriotic military
,ectacle was got up at the Royal circus.
ne death OF Gen. Wolfe at Quebec was
presented, with the scenery of the
Ills OF Niagara and the falls of Mont {
oTencl' tabieaux of the French army
ld the Indian warriors. CONCLUDING
lth Gen. Wolfe expiring in the arms |
Victory. ~ +
SPECTACULAR ENTERTAINMENTS. l
On July II new piece was brorgb+
H. called The Triumph of Liberty: or a
ne Destruction Of the Bastille." which t
proved more successful for a
aug Astleys came out with 1.-The 1
at the Champ de Mars"
"'lch an attempt was made to repro- 5
zee the ponps Of the recent grand polit- n
Al ceremony in Paris. At the other end t
the town the much frequented theatre
9adIer Wells produced a spectacle of
e same subject, calling it The Champ {
Mars; or Loyal Federation. " in which II
e whole affair was set forth in a series n
l1oieauN' beginning with the activity y
the citizens in preparing the ground q
err Joyous loyalty shown at the visit of II
KING and 1.-THE striking and orderly a
inner IN which the great business Of p
qay was conducted" Finally the II
'yaI circus, having led the way. was ?,
TO be outdone, but again entered the a
Is with TINS popular subject. emitting i
Inc French Jubilee" and mada n R
aatres. VIZ 0'iioi
feature characteristic of 1890 was
performance of these spectacles of the t.
temporary revolutionary incidents. II
. on the stage to crafty public feeling So
lcu iau more serious opponents. There sc
5 a society in London deriving its q
ne ne from the revolution of 1858, of m
lrn Ihe Key, Dir. Price, the minister III
a mighty respectable Presbyterian con m
Satloh at Stobe-Newington. and tbe