The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-09-16
'LANSING'SLETTER
In London, the Centre Of Wealth
and Misery.
COMMONS And PEERS.
From Trafalgar Square to the Houses
Of Parliament.
THE AISLES OF WESTMINSTER.
A Day I'm the Abbey and Another Day on
the Turf OF Hyde Park-Out-of-D Door
Sunday Oratory The Rotten Row
Parade.

LONDON, Aug. 4.-The better to de-
scribe this great metropolis shall divide
the subject matter into several letters,
and give you as clear an idea as possible
what London is like to-day. The first
letter will be concerning London in gen.
eral, including the principal buildings,
parks. monuments, public works and
various items Of interest.
London covers about 100 square miles
and has population according to the
census of 1891 of 4,21 ,056 persons.
Four hundred and sixty newspapers are
published within its borders. while over
IL 900 cabs, 65 theatres, 500 music halls,
and 400 churches of various denomina-
tions all seem to flourish in their re-
spective capacities. The stranger en-
tering London is as a rule more confused
than need be, knowing he is visiting a
little world by itself, but with common
sense, and n take-it-easy spirit, most of
the obstacles besetting him may be easily
overcome.
Although practically alone had lit
tie trouble in finding those places /
wished to visit and noticing few of
the 15,500 policemen on nearly every
corner whose only labor seemed TO be
to answer questions and wave their
hands at cabbies, rapidly fell into
line and found them in some cases to
be reliable.
The first thing to relieve Oppressive
feelings is good walk. Busses by the
hundred arrive and leave in the vicinity
of Trafalgar square. There are many
other lines starting from various points,
but this is undoubtedly a central local
ity. 1t is one Of the finest open places
in London and contains, besides the
fountains, magnificent granite column
145 feet high dedicated to Lord Nelson,
with statue of Nelson on top II feet
in height. The square is also dedicated
to Nelson. The monument cost 445, 900.
There is also here statue to Sir Henry
Havelock, OF Lucknow fame, one of Sir
Charles James Napier, and one of Gen.
Gordon, as well as an equestrian statue
ct George III. On the north side
of the square is the National Art
Gallery, on the east the church of
st Martin in the Fields, In the church
yard of which Is buried Nell Gwynne.
On the south side are the Grand Metro
pole and Victoria Hotels. The west
side is filed with sundry clubs, medical
and other institutions and first class
stores. On the south side Is also an
equestrian statue of Charles I. which
marks Charing Cross, a familiar name
to all. Continuing our stroll in that
direction, we pass along Whitehall and
: Parliament streets, by the Horse
Guards, noted for. their size and train
ing, then the Treasury and Government
offices, until the Houses Of Parliament
1a.. ...,t A. c.
Church and Westminster Abbey on the
other.
First in order come the Houses of Par
lament. Built in the Gothic style and
covering eight acres, they present a
gigantic appearance. They contain IL
courts, 100 staircases and LOO apart
ments, and have cost in the neighbor-
hood of $4,000, ,000 The clock tower is
816 feet high, with four dials each 23
feet in diameter and 1t requires five
hours to wind the striking portion. The
bell :" Big Ben" weighs 13 tons and al
though cracked gives forth very .agreea-
BILE sound. 1t can be heard nearly over
London.
Let us enter the building. This en-
tire letter could give no conception of
its imposing proportions. First the
Queens robing room which is frescoed
very finely. Here the Queen robes, and
passes through the Royal Gallery with
Its beautiful pictures and mosaic pave
ment to the House of Peers to open OF
close Parliament in all its dignity. Be
tween the Royal Gallery and House of
Peers is what is called the Princes
chamber which is grand although small,
being finished in the dark wood of the
middle ages. Tee emblems of Scotland,
Al
thistle, shamrock and rose are here
. displayed in the glass windows, while
IN the panels are collection of pictures
representing monarchs and relatives
during the fifteenth and sixteenth centu-
ries. Continuing in the same di-
rection we reach first the House
Of Peers, next by their lobby,
through corridor to the Central
Hall. Crossing the Central Hall, we
find similar arrangement of rooms
for the House of Commons. About
these central halls are courts and
various rooms for conducting examina-
tlons, libraries, etc, while in the outer
circle are apartments for the libra
rlans, and house in which the speaker
resides. On this account many OF the
rooms are not 10 be seen. Before leay-
ing we will take general survey of
the House OF Commons aud House of
Lords or Peers.
The House Of Peers is an oblonr
apartment 80 feet long, IS feet broad
and as feet high. For the use of the
members red leather benches seating
$50 cover most Of the floor space. At
the south end Of the hall is the throne of
the queen. On the right, n little lower,
IL the throne OF the Prince of Wales. In
about the center is the celebrated wool
sack Of the Lord Chancellor, kind Of
cushion, In front OF the throne. At the
far end OF the hall, opposite the throne,
is the bar, where official communica-
lions from the Commons are received,
and some lawsuits pleaded. Above the
throne, On either side, are seats for for
eign ambassadors and distinguished
visitors. Over the bar are the report
ers and strangers galleries.
The House of Commons is seventy
hve feet long, forty-five feet wide and