Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-02-11
LONDON, ENGLAND.
An Interesting Arjcle liz Fow Parts
Written By Mrs. +. INacKInn0R.

It's one thing to write ones impress
sion Of London; it is another thing to
attempt a description of the immense
metropolis. The first thing is matter
which may be achieved with some
diligence, and the second is an effort III
which no one has ever yet succeeded.
"Where shall / begin?' he asks. There
is no companion to the answer. Con-
cerning London no one ever asks,
''Where shall [ stop" for he never
stops, he never sees his way to the end.
The longer one lives there the more the
wonder of it grows. London is more
than a city it is a world. 1t is the
largest port and the commercial, finan-
cial, social, literary and scientific center
of the world. With ones first glimpse
of London one is impressed by the
structural solidity of the capital. |
remember distinctly the first time |
went to London AS | was entering by
one of the great railway lines | noticed
the ''thOrOughness' which distinguishes
the English character. Everything
here is made to last The bridges, the
stone walls of masonry and the tunnels
through which we passed, impressed
me with a feeling of awe. My friend
who was with me remarked as stepped
from the carriage, "Now you are in
London" B." and looked into my face to
see what my expression indicated. |
could never become accustomed to any
thing but a vague, indescribable feeling
of wonder and admiration.
The Metropolitan Underground Rail
way. without which it would be utterly
impossible to get about London, during
the wear carries alone no less than
125, 600, 600 passengers and extends over
what is called the "Outer" and inner"
circles connecting with all the railway
lines Of the metropolis and running
into the suburbs. The construction and
extension of the underground railways
of London have been the results of Il
series of engineering achievements
second in daring, in skill and impor-
tance to nothing during the present
century. The lines have been built
beneath crowded streets without dis
turbing the surface; have passed above
or below, sewer gas and water mains;
they have tunneled under blocks of
commercial buildings or private dwell
ings; they burroW under the entire
length of the Victoria Embanl>ment;
pass within the precincts of the Temple;
beneath palaces, bridges, parks and
gardens; within a few feet of the
Houses of Parliament; under the walls
of st. Margaret's Church; by the side
of Westminster Abbey and almost
under the Abbey itself. The tracks are
laid double so that there is no danger
of collision. The trains run at full
speed into the stations every two OF
three minutes. There are no cinders
as the locomotives consume their own
smoke and the steam is generally eek
| hausted" into the water tanks of the
'tenders." " The carriages are lighted
with gas and are in the station, emptied
and filled and off again before the
[ astonished stranger has time to think
what it is all about. Here, if anywhere
! the compartment carriage with two
doors to each compartment, is absolute
ly necessary. There are three classes
to English railway carriages and slight
difference of price between each class
The tirst-class carriages are upholstered
in navy blue broadcloth and every con
venience and luxury provided as in orl
Pullman carriages. The second-clas'
is very nearly as comfortable, only
| leather is used instead of cloth, anC
each carriage will seat two or more
persons more than first-class carriage
while the thirdclass are simple plai1
wooden seats, clean and comfortable
and | noticed that during the hours o
the day when travel is light, as perhaps
between 10 \. NJ. and P. NJ, ladie
handsomely dressed frequently us'
these carriages as on short distance
they are quite as comfortable as elthe
first or second class, though it used t,
be considered beneath the dignity O
either a lady or gentleman to travel II
anv but tirst-class carriage. The same
was with hanson cabs, | heard gentle
man say that fifteen years ago it wa
not considered proper for lady t
drive in a hanson in London. Now
they are altogether the most cOnvenien
thing | know of, as for siNpence OF
shilling one can be taken anywhere
The cab drivers know the ins and out
of London perfectly and will take on
through narrow side streets, lanes, an
through allevs, while one is wonderin
if the driver has lost his senses, or hi
. way, when suddenly you will emerg
into a splendid avenue and draw up t
: your place of destination, much TO you
: surprise. There are 10000 hanson
5 cabs, 5000 "growlers," or four wheele
, cabs, and 5000 omnibuses in a city Wit
? 25OO miles of streets. The immens
traffic of Oxford street or Cheapsidt
which have wood 4 asphalt pavement:
would destroy Boston's best pavemer
| in one day. The pavements here ar
another feature of English thorough
ness, and are put down to last. Moder
f London would be impossible withot
2 the most perfect system of paving thu
,, man has vet learned. The passenge