The National tribune., 1892-08-18


for having solved the street question almost t,
perfection.
Old London. when the streets were so narrow
and each story iutted out beyond the other 81
that sentimental couples could lean out of tn,
top story opposite sides OF the street an(
whisper soft nothngs" in each others ear
has almost disappeared. In its place has riser
modern London with broader streets, more
convenient blocks, and other advantages neces
sary to a busy city.
Yet the streets are still irregular, and many
quite narrow. Different parts of the sam,
street hears different names, SO that it takes
stranger sometime to become familiar will
them The buildings on the main thorough
fares, such as the Strand Holburn. Cheapside
ETC., are only moderately high-four or fiv'
stories.
The "rookeries" of Chicago would, indeed
look strange in the midst of these buildings
Neither is there such variety of architecture
design as on Broad way, for instance.
Detached houses are very in the city
Solid terraces or rows of houses line the street
Flats have not become as popular as in Amer
can cities: neither are such high tenement
houses to be seen.
The extremes of life are very great here
Ones attention is drawn from some flashing
equipage that is passing, whose eoronet show:
il TO belong to noble, by the petition of somt
one in rags to buy box of matches, pair o.
shoestrings, or some other little trif1c for
penny.
OF street musicians there are a number o
battalions. ranging from the blind flute player
TO the extensive German street band. The
Sandwich man is everywhere. He isaveri
table walking advertisement" Stuck he
tween boards bearing advertisements, he man
ages to turn an honest penny by parading The
streets
London is gay city; probably not to the
same degree or in the same way as Paris, ye
here is every attraction that human nature
seeks. During the Parliamentary session, from
February 10 July, is the o-called season. Then
the royalty, nobility, and gentry are present
and wealth and fashion of every kind is ON dis
play. Balls and parties are of daily and almost
hourly occurrence. This is the harvest time
for the trades people.
On a bright Spring day Hyde Park is place
well worth visit Here the wealthy portions
20 for their daily drive or ride. Those who
cannot afford this 20 for walk. Some of the
fashionable turnouts are a curiosity in them
selves. Two solemn-looking footmen and a
driver. each wearing powdered wig and an
old-fashioned three cornered hat, and dressed in
the curious style of century ago, distinguish
some of the more snowy ones.
The most popular part of the park is prob
ably Rotten Row, the famous riding course.
ladies and gentlemen with their attendants
may be seen galoping mp and down here.
Beside this is walk where those who cannot or
do not ride may be seen on dress parade.
Were il not for these extensive parks London
would be uninhabitable. Yet in these one can
almost imagine himself away from the city.
St. James. Green, and Hyde Parks and Ken.
sington Garden all succeed one another, and
together form vast recreation place for the
millions.
What change it is to pass from the fashion
able West End to the regions of White Chapel
and Woolwich i'm the East End One is soon
convinced that although London is a wealthy
city, all its inhabitants are not go. Such abject
misery have not seen equaled elsewhere, ex-
cept in small district in Glasgow, Scotland.
To stand on street corner and watch the
people pass by is study in human wretched-
ness and crime. Poor lodging houses abound
everywhere: yet these are not so numerous or
SO bad, was told, as before attention was at
tracted here by so many murders What some
of the former buildings must have been can be
better imagined than told.
The great inarket-day of this part of the
city is Sunday morning. This is carried on by
the Jews, but is not at all confined to them
Some things offered for sale have decidedly
stale appearance and not very healthy odor.
Several streets here on a Sunday morning will
ers Offering for sale everything imaginable,
from fine clothing to an old pair Of shoes or an
old hat which has the appearance of having
been picked out of the gutter. The Jews are
typical specimens of their kind in bargaining.
What many OF the people in this part of Lon
don live upon is an enigma. Wages are fright
fully low there, where the competition is so
severe between mere existence and starvation.
Food is not so cheap in accordance 1t is hardly
m nrh dGr fh1f 1c
driven 10 crime and infamy by absolute neces-
sity.
Many thousands OF men and women are abso.
lutely homeless. At night these may be seen
stretched out IN some warm corner or sitting in
a passageway, or more likely in Summer sitting
in the seats along the Thames embark ment. 1t
is rather piti:ul to see so much wretchedness
aud misery. Yet although lodging can be had
for from two 10 four cents per night, many are
unable 10 afford even such luxury.
Darkest England is indeed dark; more SO,
almost, than Africa. At least it is greater
blot in the world; for il is not the blackness OF
ignorance, but misfortune in the midst of album
dant wealth. The problem of how to take care
of this mass will yet require great deal Of at
tention before ii will be fully solved.
All that is conservative and secusive in the
English character becomes most marked in
London society circles Social distinctions are
very closely drawn. Each class aims to enter
the one above but frowns on those beneath. OF
course, there is first the aristocracy of blood
The old families are proud of their birth. Yet,
as everywhere else. money has a power that
makes up FOR humble BIRTH and will break the
charmed circle. 1t is Il convenient way to build
up an impoverished family estate by exchang.
ing title for little ready cash. The titled
families must keepup An establishment worthy
their rank. If one could look beyond the
court dresses liveried servants etc, many a
vision Of duns aud unpaid bills might present
themselves. Yet, of course, title has some
thing mystic and al-powerful about it,
Volumes might be and have been written oil
the sights and attractions of London. Its an.
tiqaity is very great, and il is common say
ing that the American becomes interested in
anything rs lie learns it is old. There
are fine art treasures snch as it is seldom ones
good fortune TO see There is a museum of an.
tiquities and curios with which no other can
be compared. Yet, with all these and MANY
other interesting places, London itself is the
chief attraction. n. D. WINTER.
People who give Hoods Sarsaparilla q fair trial
realize its great rit aud ell Of