Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-08-25
speclalcorrespondence 81 eaaetts and Journnl

LONDON, ENGLAND, Aug. Tin olden |
times discharged and destitute veterans of |
the British army wandered from door to
door, usually from tap room door 20 door, |
and secured food and drink by exhibiting
their scars or spinning delectable yarns for
the entertainment of any who might be
stow charity upon them. They could also
knock at the doors of monastic houses with
the assurance of receiving bread and ale
and lodging for the night
After the restoration their condition was
a scandal 10 King Charles H. and the
country. Authorities differ not only
widely but vituperously as to the origin
of practical effort for their betterment.
Some hold that the English were pqued
into action through the establishment by
Louis NV. of the lnvalides in Paris as Il
retreat for French veterans. There is
record that as early as 1866 a scheme for
an infirmary for disabled English sailors
had been submitted to Pepys, as Clerk of
Admiralty. Others contest that the second
Charles had lazy sort of design to house
and comfort the ragged old veterans who
had been loyal TO his father before the
latter had lost his kingly head.
But sometimes tradition has longer legs
than history. British folk will never
cease believing the tradition that rough,
kind hearted Nell Gwynne had all to do
with the founding Of Chelsea Hospital for
British pensioners. There are two pretty
stories of how it finally came about that
an army of savage old critics and icono-
elasts can never disparage among the
British masses.
One is that one day Nell was sitting with
Charles in her summer house at Chelsea,
one Of whose windows overlooked the fine
meadows surrounding King james Col
lege,. when the paymaster Of the forces en-
tered, and the subject of the projected
hospital and the difficulty OF iimding a
proper site was resumed. Your majesty
could not do better" said Sir stephen Fox
than give up for the purpose your recent
purchase from the Royal Society" This
comprised King James College and
grounds which had just been bought as n
gift to Nell at a cost of 81 800. "''fis well
thought of, replied the king, casting his
eye over the beautiful plot of ground,
"Eou shall have it," but rccolcctng
himself, he instantly added, 'Odso! /
forgot have already given this land to
Nell here" Have you SO, Charles .
exclaimed Nell gaily; then | will return
il to you again for SO good PURPOSE
The offer was accepted, and Nell was trans.
ferred to mansion built for he. II Pan
Mall by the king.
Another more romantic VERSO; thai
one day pretty Nell was ridin ID tic
kings gilded coach, and being II st dis,
consulate the king rallied her, " on she
confessed that her distress was owing t.
the following dream:
"Methought was in the ficls of Chel
beautiful palace of athousand chambers
and in and out thereof walked divers man,
old and worn out soldier men with all
kinds of scars, and many manned rs tC
their limbs. All of them were aged anC
past service, and as they went ont npC
came in the old men cried: God bIes,
King Charlesn And ! nwokc and VA,
sore discounted that ii was only adrcam
The story goes that the king was touched
by Nells dream and then and there Swor,
great oath that it should come to reality
And so il did. The king hardly saw NOR,
than the corner stone laid by Sir Christie
pher Wren, i'll 1851; but before DR.. TENN
son, afterwards archbishop of Canterbury
had preached Nell Gwynnes funeral ser
mon, in 1000 there truly slowly rose be
fore her eyes "a beautiful palace of
thousand chambers where though sh,
did not live long enough to know il, there
have been many blessings from grateful
Threats in grzlled frames, ii not f0
Charles, Tor the lowly orange-girl who
whatever her life or faults was eve
great enough to move prOhigate king Il
most OF the good and generous acts whicl
he performed.
An easy and delightful way to visit Chel
sea Hospital is to take one of the counties
Thames steamers. These ply up and dow
the river Mt all hours Of the day and night
taking on and landing hundreds of passen
gers at piers about quarter of a mil
apart, on each side OF the river; somcthin,
as the little Philadelphia pleasure boat
puff up and down the SChuylkill, between
the dam and the WisSahicken.
This 2igzag trip on the Thames is til
most interesting III all the world for it
distance; providing You go on board say
at the odd swan pier, on the city side a
London bridge, for the Tower the Mon
ment, st. Paufs, Westminster Abbey, Par
Lament houses, Lambeth palace and mum
berless other Of LOndon'S greatest am
most historic structures are passed, Will
the Thames here not only presents il
liveliest panoralnas of stupcndOus inter
ests varied scenes and characterize life
but shows that portion most renowned il
fiction and history tor more than thou
sand years.
Auditing Albert bridge, at the wester,
end of that portion of the Thames Gale
Chelsea Reach, you step upon a little pie
and thence upon the upper Thames en-
bankment and ut once are within
charmed and charming region. Almo,
within stones throw Of the husp,f
grounds have tarried, or lived or die,
hundreds famous III history, literature an
art. Smullet cane here TO live in rrtir,
ment, in lIhO, in house once owned h
Henry VIII Sir Thomas Murr's lilac
memorial slab is III Chelsea Old Churrl
Lady Dacre, lady Jane Ihcyne ami iii
Duchess of Northumberland three I
Chesea's grand ladies' lie beneath moni
ments within the church; while Charlie
ncOISc aliu IltllFN hlllS~IeN once llNci !
the rectory with their father who had r.
ceyed the living" from Lord Cardugar
Indeed grand good, sweet book Coul
be written about the folk who have love
aud known old Chelsea whom We ha,
known and loved for what they did fort
world. Sluntering on through the uuaii
streets with their ancient and piptUrGsul
mansions, hosts Of the silent great vi
Shrong about you. But now and tncn YOU
delightful memories will he not unpeu
antly broken in upon by the appcarauI
OF some shriycigi old man often with
cane or u Crutch and always III flaming re-
You VIII tind these venerable old FELLOW
in red. who become more frequent rs Sc
near the hospital, either moody, COnlpi
platlye and COntemptuuns, with the ca
ners of their mouths drawn in deep lin
and their puffy lower lips in sort OF tu,
less tremuiuus activity OF srurnful rcpart
or obiurgntiun or with bright, puIl.rv,
looks of garrulousnc>s and good greetin
All have PIPES in their mouths, and Il
hold them there with ferOcons kind
grasp, as though whatever else hey migl
lose the pipe was the one good friend
old that should never be torn from the
without mighty struggle
Many Az odd litIlc study You will fin
among these cantaukerouS past u,
heroes in the quet streets of ChelsC
Chelsea would hardly lie Chelsea withu
them. Struggling along its thoroughfare
sitting bent and silent on sunny bGnChu
leaning against fountains vases N
statues, resting rs COmpuseily rs hou
owners on house steps and veStibuicS
etUmping along with orders to this n,
shat servant, rs IL long habit had give
them acquired supervisory rights over II