The National tribune., 1892-08-18


ihnNAfEE1a1Exz94l Counties. aud its in
terests are looked after
bv the usual County Council. In compare
son with the others it of course takes prece
dence in number of inhabitants and in real
Importance and influence almost towers over
all the others. Its population is one-ffth Of
the whole country and rnore than one ghth oi
Great Britain and Ireland combined.
The all Importance of London is such that
it has no counterpart in America. We may
speak of New York the commercial center
but even that distinction must be shared
with Chicago and San Francisco. The terri.
tory is SO large that the prices in one city can
not determine those for the whole Nation.
Should you consider New York as literary
center, Boston would, with some reason, lay
claim 10 precedence.
While as seat of Government New York
can lay no claim TO Importance, London, Oh
the other hand. is not only to England but
also to all Great Britain and ireland. the cente
of everything commercial. literary. Govern
mental. 1t IS the center of the whole Nations
life aud only in d lesser degree of many other
nations acknowledging the protectorate OF
Britain.
When one considers that New York, Brook
Ign, jersey City and adjoining towns all united
contain only about three fiiths as many people
this one city its magnitude may be better
realized than by the ba re statement that more
than 100000 people claim this city as their
home.
The end is far from having been reached yet.
London is growing much more rapidly than
any other city. What will be the ultimate re-
suit no prophet can foresee. What is the real
present it is difficult to discover. There SO
many suburban towns not classed as such, yet
used as places of residence by both business
and workingmen, that the subject becomes one
Of great difficulty.
The city seems like huge octopus reaching
out its arms in all directions and drawing into
itself the life and wealth of the Nation. 1t has
collected together the best talent, and in equal
proportion the wretchedness and misery.
The literary man must be near his market
the professional man must have larger scope
for the genius he SO confidently feels within
himself; the criminal seeks London as a
place SO large that he can ply his nefarious
trade with more hope Of security; and what
place offers better refuge for the outcast
whose only hope is for forgetfulluess of the
psstf
So long the times are fairly prosperous,
everything runs along smoothly. Yet, should
a panic occur, what an unwieldly mass such an
assemblage of people would prove. If there
is anything which really threatens the peace
Of Europe, ii seems to me, il is the large ex-
cess Of city population.
London. with all IFS millions. seems TO be
more easily governed than continental cities OF
less than half the SIZE London mobs IN times
past, however, have made themselves heard,
and. as far as numbers 60, they are still able
TO do SO.
Think that even London is disappointing at
first sight to the American. The broad, regu-
lar streets, tall buildings, street-car lines, and
network Of overhead wires so conspicuously
absent partly lend that feeling. But the more
one sees OF the city the more its immensely
grows upon the traveller until he is soon ready
10 confess that ne is in Of the busiest cities
OF the world.
ii is wonder how the traffic manages to
move along and at such rapid pace. There
are DO street-cars in the city proper, but their
place IS taken by the omnibus. These are
doOble-decked. and carry passengers both inside
and on top. On the London streets they are
far more convenient than the car confined TO
rails The bus can twist in and ont among
the other vehicles in an astonishing way.
The best way 10 See the city is from the top
Of one Of these vehicles. Then all the traffic
Of the street is in fair view, and on a bright
day IL is asight not soon forgotten. Sometimes
q score or more buses crowded with passengers
inside and out, as many more hanson cabs,
carriages, wagons, and vehicles Of all kinds can
be seen in inst a short distance At times all
seem IN a hopeless tangle, yet seldom does an
accident occur.
signifies by a motion OF his hand which are TO
precede aud which follow. Otherwise the
drivers in their rush for . fares" would soon
turn the situation into grand confusion.
The London driver has many merits Of his
own, and occupies no mean position among
those Of his "profesh"
London has solved the problem of street
traffic very well indeed. Besides these buses
and the quick moving hanson cabs there are
ne UAeu ni fh.
Railway underground makes a complete cir
cult OF the city, and with its branches conveys
passengers TO " thin a short distance of all the
principal railway termini and nearly every
place OF interest. The service is quick and
frequent.
The unpleasantness of the tunnels is expert
ence1 best during genuine London fog. Then
II Is difhe0itt0 breathe anywhere, but on the
underground it is slow process of strangula-
ton. 1T Is probably not as pleasant travelling
underground, but IN London an elevated rail-
way would be out of the question. The streets
are not suited for it.
The general arrangement of the main line
and branches is of the greatest possible COLI
yehlence TO the tourist in visiting the city.
Besides this line there is an electric under.
ground railway that is giving great satisfac-
lion.
% is really surprising how little electricity
= applied Tor motive power and lighting in
England. LoDdon is just now having the frs,
electric street lights put up, and the railway
has oiily been IA operation year or two. i,
e another mark of the conservatism of the
English people.
1T Is tie custom Of Englishmen visiting
America to sheer and make sport of the streets
Washington is the only city given the credit
81 haVihs respectable streets. Lop1ohers al
least have some right to be proud of theil
streets, AS snyone having once seen will readily
con .ess The middle of tire street on some oil
tbe througbfares is very smooth. ! have my.
vel seen boys skating aooni on roller skates
When IT is icy or muddy. small pebbles arc
IfF~a IA ~ prevent horses from slipping