The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-06-02
OLD WORLD SKETCHES.
LoNpoN, England, April p, 1sl

LONDON, England, April u, 1898
To stranger set down in the midst of
London there, is nothing to Indicate that
it is by far the greatest city in the world.
1t is doubtful if there is any pa ticularly
marked difference between its appear
ance under such circumstances and that
of New York, Chicago, or any of our
large cities, save that, if anything, there
is more of a crushy throng in our cities.
and further regarded, always, that our
cities present wider streets and other
evidences of modern growth. 1t is con-
fusing and bewildering enough, Heaven
custom oneself to it as it is elsewhere,
and in a few days the roar and rush of
mighty London is unnoticed.
But when one sets out for some par
ticular district or street, said to be in
London, and finds that he must traverse
an area equal to fair-sized county be-
fore he arrives at his destination, then
the magnitude of this metropolis begins
to dawn upon him. London is city of
great distances, and it is this fact, as
much as anything, that, by a distribu
ton of an immense traffic over vast
area, frees the streets from the rush and
jam of great throDgs that is naturally to
be looked for.
Here we find tn omnibusses which are
of pattern similar to those described in
Paris. There are about 200 lines of these
conveyances, controlling, it must be,
thousands of buses, for there are con-
slant streams of them intersecting the
city in all dire ctions from morning till
night. There are, comparatively few
four wheeled carts here, the popular We
hicle being the hanson. These, as you
know, are much like a two-wheeled
chaise, and the driver sits upon what al
ways reminds me of moving machine
seat at the back, his lines passing over
the hood to. the horse. This affords the
passenger an unobstructed view, and the
vehicles, being light and short, are easily
controlled in the busy streets. Count
ing these, there are IL 900 cabs in Lon
don, employing upwards of 20, 900 horses
Besides this, there are 100 miles of
tramway, numbering 1000 cars, but
these are chiefly confined to the outlying
districts, and, in fact, the narrow streets
of the city proper would scarcely admit
of their operation elsewhere.
The metropolis of London is, at each
extreme point, fourteen miles in length,
and eight miles in breadth, or there
abouts, covering an area of 122 square
miles. 1t is said to have over 8, 900 miles
of streets, but lately lighted by a mil
lion gas lamps, consuming daily 5S,000,-
600, cubic feet of gas. ~
1t numbers 1 400 churches, 1900 pub
lie houses or saloons, 1, 700 coffee houses,
and 500 hotels and inns.
The Police District extends from IL to
Is miles in every direction from Charing
Cross, or an area of 600 square miles,
with 1000 miles of roads, guarded by
over 1000 policemen. There are within
this district, upward of six millions of
souls, including 5000 master-tailors. q
800 bakers, 2,400 butchers, and 100000
domestic servants, alone. Recently the
number of paupers was 106,670, or about
twelve to each saloon, which l am sure
is quite liberal. p
1t is said that "there are in London
more Scotchmen than in Aberdeen, more
Irish than in Dublin, more Jews than in
Palestine, and more Roman Catholics
than in Rome" | may add that there are
also about twice as many Americans as
in st. Adams. ~t
The city is drained by 81 miles of sew
ers, transporting 200 million gallons
daily.
The Fire Brigade is composed Of 1888
men.
There are in London over 1000 organ
lied charitable institutions, receiving an
annual donation of about e5,00o000.
Now, these figures will convey a far
better idea of the immensely of this city,
than anything that can be said or writ
ten. 1t is simply miniature wo;ld in
itself. But it is strange, that with all its
greatness, it has not yet adopted the
electric light, save in a few isolated in
stances.
can find no better description of the
wonderful metropolis than that afforded
by the words of Heine:
''Send, if you choose, philosopher, to
London, but on no account send poet
thitherl Send philosopher, and place
him at corner of Cheapside. He will
there learn more than out of all the
books of the last LEIPZIG Fair. AS the
human waves roar about him, sea of
new thoughts will rise within him. The
infinite spirit which broods over it will
breathe upon him, the most hidden Sc
crets of the social order will suddenly
reveal themselves to him, he will hear
with the ear and see with the eye, the
heartbeat of the world. Frank L.
Greene in st. Adams Messenger.