The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-07-04

of English constitutional ADSr1y's ~
viii be in keeping with the traditions
of independence day to visit the place
made memorable as the spot where the
great English bill of rights was
wrested from King John by the bold
and ibertv-loving barons. Before
visiting Runnynede, let us take looE
at the neighboring castle Of King JOIN
and glimpse of the surrounding cour
try.
The valley of the Thames boasts OF
but one tall, orerhanging Cliff, and
rising from this lofty plateau twenty
three miles west of London) the noble
gray walls, pinnacles, battle'nents ana
towers of Windsor make UP the most
slightly object in the whole landscape
of England. The castle rises from the
wooded cliff, like vision OF enchant-
ment. It's immense range and PIC
turesoue outline drawn against the
sl,v recall Youths delightful pictures
of FARMLAND There is milo OF castel-
lated wall between the old black cur
few tower at our right and the palace
,t c,1r left constituting the state
apartments.
Standing on the roof Of the great
central round tower of the old gray
Keep of Edward Plantagenet, the
browning edifice of the castle, and
with the scenes around us where poor,
mad George Ill, deserted by his chill
dren, wandered aimlessly about with
wild ewes and long white beard, be-
wildered and crazed, and knowing moth
ing except that he was utterly mlsera-
BILE \ asked myself if American Fourth OF
July orators did not let theirpatriotism
run away with them when hurting
tiercest invectives against the King
Lear of the eighteenth century.
In this country, however, command
ing the prospect, we see little but
Landscapes; in Europe we see history
One looked through vista of thou
sand years in the view from Windsor
castle On the north side, flowing be-
low the castle cliff, is the historic
Thames. On its opposite bank, Eton
and its famous schools. Yonder is
Slough, where, with field glass, you
may see the home of the elder Hershel.
There is the many-gabled roof OF
Hampden, whose hero defied king and
precipitated the English revolution.
Yonder distant spire and grove mark
the scenes of the sweetest elegiac poem
in the language and the grave Of the
poet-Stoke POgis.
The home park of the castle is a
sylvan pleasure ground OF five hundred
acres, ornamented before the queens
apartments with fountains. parterres
of flowers and statuary. The great
park beyond is fourteen miles in cir
conference. and continuous to that is
Windsor forest, having circuit of
fifty miles. But l can hardly restrain
nv impatience to be off, as the gov
ernor of the tower directs my gaze to
z distant spot seen over the edge of
the forest and whispers: ''Runny-
mede!" l walked through Windsor
forest to Runnymedc. l scanned the
famous meadows with my glass from
the tower, but l wanted to stand upon
the ground and kick up its very dust
around me. 1t is said that Yankee
views everything with an eye to specu-
lation. l believed / could prepare a
better Fourth of July speech after
standing on the spot where Magma
Charta was wrested by his barons
from the unwilling hands of King
John. Walking three and one-half
miles through park and forest direct
" away from the river at Windsor
struck its banks again and was not
slow to conceive the origin of the
towns name in this great bow of the
winding Thames. or wind shore
joined here. too, the high road. which
soon turned abruptly away from the
river, and to follow the stream l
crossed over stile in a hedge and
was at once upon the soil of Runny-
mede, very level meadow spreading
back half a mile to the Surrey hills
and extending a couple of miles along
the river side Walking half its
length, stood opposite Magma Charta
island, so called to mark the contigu-
Gus spot on the main land where the
conference took place between John
and his angry barons.
Here the lords and their retainers
would rendezvous and send word over
to the castle that they were ready for
business. and it was business that ad-
nitted of no delay. when King John
was sent for that day in June, Ammo
DoInini, 1915. On the mead around me
were pitched the gay pavil;ons-
Chargers. richly caparisoned. carrying
mailed knights. were prancing about,
or idly feeding upon the meadow grass.
or fringing the river side at drink.
Here stood the bold leaders in confer
eace. awaiting their king. their gilt
teTiEg arInor telling OF earnest pur-
pose: here the fierce debate ran on for
days. and here the trembling monarch
was made 20 sign the great charter re-
storing the liberties usurped by the
crown. including the independence OF
the church. the per7nanence Of the
courts OF justice, the freedom of com
merce, the writ OF ha beas corpus. in a
word, the supremacy OF English law
over the English throne. / looked
about me for relic, but not for long.
Taking up handful of earth, Why. 3"
l said 20 myself this very dust may
have saRded Magma Charta." Il was at
least part OF Runnymede, and I
brought il away. e. u. VAy HORNE
H., - > --,~l