The Portland daily press., 1894-12-22
SCOTLAND YARD MEN.
A Sketch of the Greatest Detective
System ON Earth.

CA A4t1A
Sherlock Holmes Contempt for Scotland
Men Scarcely Borne Out by Facts-They
Comprise the Pick of London's Police
Force.
The Hawkshaws of the dime novel, as
well as their counterparts in medieval and
modern drama, have ever attracted admir-
ers- What is at the bottom of the magnet
ism the mere suggestion of the word detec-
tive inyokes? Undoubtedly. the halo that
surrounds the detective is chiefly supplied
by the plant fancy of his admirers. In Or
dina.y life he is a very simple individual.
Some few of the force have deselvedly
gained the encomlums bestowed; others, es-
pecially those who are self-appointed and
seIf-ad vertised" private detectives" are gen
orally, WELL let us call them ''advertised."
Wheresoever the English tongue is spoken
the public is more or less familiar with the
v ords Scotland Yard" Firstly. Scotland
Yard is location, and is to be found almost
dire city opposite the Horse Guards, White
hall, London. People who acquainted
with that great city have passed, may be
unconsciously, the celebrated spot in walk
ing from Trafalgar Square westward to-
ward Westminster Abbey and the louise of
Commons. Well, what is Scotland Yard?
1t is, explains the Washington Post. the
headquarters of the greatest detective sys-
tenn without question in the world. Imagine
for moment what a city like London, with
its upward of five million citizens, requires;
not only that. but the British Empire at
large. in emergencies, calls upon the SER
of nd Vard IN n n vel
riss. arrest criminals and protect its inter
ests over an empire upon which the sun
never sets. What a task for body of men
to perform. Yet, when one examines the
component parts of the body corporate. we
find in the Scotland Yard officials a highly
capable. intelligent, we'll educated and alb
solutely fearless body'of men, that not only
compare favorably but emphatically out
strip the records of any other secret service
organization in the world.
SCOTLAND YARD is SUPREME.
Now Scotland Yard, or, to speak o@cially,
the criminal investigation department. is
distinct service in itself, and has no ac-
tual connection with the metropolitan po-
lice force. The Scotland Yard officers,
many of them at all events. are drafted
from the regular police service. Here it
may be stated that the London police force
is arranged divisionally and in alphabetical
order; thus the A division is the foremost
and principal of ALL The duties of the A
dix ision police are regulated to the entire
west of London, including close inscep-
ton of all the government buildings, the
House of Lords and Commons, Westminster
Abbey. and, in fact. every place Of import
apce. 1t naturally follows that the men,
bers of the crack division are exception
ally fine men, both physically and morally
as rule in height they are six footers, and
their moral characteristics are proportion
ally elevated; few of them however, in
possession of some spare moments are above
consulting the delicacies of the area kitch-
en-. and their ardent admirers. the house
maids. oontrive ever and anon to surrepti-
tiously administer to the requirements of
The force, with such tidbits as the'cold roast
beef of England, washed down with unri-
vailed and unlimied Bass pale ale. The po-
likeness, in fact, one might say gallantry, OF
the British policeman is rroverbial. In the
densest crowd he is omnipotent. Take Pic
cadilly Circus any afternoon at the height
of the season and what chance has the ordl-
nary pedestrian 10 effect a crossing? None;
policemen, and in an instant an appraised
arm causes the immediate cessation of the
entire traffic, and passage safe as that
enjoyed by the children of Israel in crossing
the Red Sea is at the disposal of the dis
tracted traveller.
HOW PARLIAMENT IS PROTECTED.
The value Of the A division men in the
House of Commons is beyond ordinary de-
scription; especially since the attempted
dynamite outrages have the energies of the
A men been particularly demanded. I'm
less one knows the ropes admlttance to
the House of Commons is completely impos-
slble At the outside gates the guardian of
the law in the form of stalwart a. po-
liceman blocks the way. who do you
wish to see?'' or What do you want?" are
the questions. Let the stranger but keep
cool and calmly inquire is such and such
member in the House-whethel heb is ac-
uuainted with him or not is immaterial-and
the gate is at once unlocked. Care is taken
in all cases by the police officers that no
gripsacks or arcels of any kind are permit
ted to be taken inside the House without a
close examination. In order to gain adj
mission to the House of Commons one has
only to send in-which means filling up a
card provined by the author tiles. for one of
the members. If you are known, or if the
member is good-natured, he aocedes to the
request on your card, which is usually for
admission of self and friend to the House,
and brings It out to you. AS he approaches
the brightness of the police officer is shown.
"Who called for Mr., or Lord" is echoed
through the outside lobby. A close acquain-
tanceship with the six hundred-odd politi-
clans who legislate for the British nation
can only ena BILE the policeman to recognize
the various members. You step forward
and are handed the magic admittance card.
which is now always Endorsed by the Speak
er, and forthwith proceed to your seat in
the strangers gallery. If you are a well
known stranger" the chances are in favor
of your obtaining seat in the Speakers
gallery, one of tie best places in the House.
The initiated OF habitual frequenter of
the Hobbies ofthe House of Commons Las lit
tie difficulty in placating the Scotland Yard
men who have haunted the historic pile
since the days of Guy Fakes. Without any