The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-06

clustered around the ford which preceded
the first London bridge, where the people,
clad in skins, lived in primeval simplicity.
Under the Romans for four centuries, it
became a walled city and made some pro-
gress toward civilization, only to disap-
pear from history for six centuries under
the Saxons. who despised the palaces Of
the Romans. preferrng to live in the open.
and to fight under cover of the woods
than from behind walls. For large part
of this time it lay desolate and uninhabl-
ted. the only signs of life being at the vii
lage of Charing, within bowshot of its
ruins, with Kensngton and Fulham on
the west, Hamps lead and Islington on the
north. Though restored and largely re-
built under Alfred, London did not be-
come a city of any importance until the
rule of the Normans, when magnificent
buildings including the White Tower, old
st. Fauls, and Westminster hall, were
erected. At this time, as shown by the
Domesday book, London was almost en-
tirely conhGed within Its own walls.
West minister had no existence as q town;
the principal suburban houses, If any.
were on the eastern parts Of the city, be-
tween the wall and the River Lea, toward
the Thames marshes on the south, and on
the rising ground Hornsey way. Stepney
was the most populous place i'm the neigh
borhood Neither king nor parliament
had any fixed local habtation until long
afterward, when London became the me-
tropolis Of the country and the CONNER
cial emporium of the world. Yet for Ave
centuries more London grew but slowly.
1t is usual to compare the glories OF Vic
tOria's reign with those OF Elizabeth, but
between the London Of to-day and that of
Good Queen Bess" there is really no
comparison. London was still grit around
by the walls built by the Romans and
was largely inclosed within them. The
mansions OF the great lay outside the city
walls, chiefly on the way from the Strand
to Westminster. There were few stone
houses, and none tiled or slated, being
mostly built OF wood and matched with
straw. Beyond the royal palace at West
minister was open country, and marsh
lands formed the sole feature Of the land
scape across the river. on the other side
OF the city was open country. with 'Mer-
RE Islington," a village, In the distance.
Where St. Sepulchre's church now stands
were slums. In Golden lane was a row OF
curious old houses which had been used as
a nursery for the children OF Henry VIII.
Roundabout the Moor gate were large
houses. and further out watery tract
which abounded with Wild fowl. The ciu.
zens used to exercise themselves here with
archery practice and sport. In Bishop
gate the Earls OF Devonshire had their
palace. Houndsditch was a foul ditch, the
receptacle for sewage. and there was a
similar ditch on the western side OF tho
city. Sanitary science was unknown.
The paving Of streets was In It's infancy:
except with regard 10 a few OF the prin.
cipal thoroughfares, each inhabltant paw
cd as much as he liked before his own
door with the materials that his pride,
poverty or caprice might suggest.
The streets were INSTRUCTED with stalls,
sheds, slgn-posts and projections OF every
kind: curb-stones we're unknown, and only
In a few thoroughfares were the footpaths
divided from the carria geway with posts
and chains. This was the London OF Eliza
beth. Just 800 years ago-a very different
city from that OF to-day-.h London grad
ually becoming foul and pestllentlai, uiti-
mately to be cleared and purified by the
great plague which carried of q nth OF
the Inhabitants in 1865. and the great Ere
OF the following year, which involved 400
streets 1900 houses. s. churches, ST.
paui'e cathedral, and four city gates Be
fore tho fire II r. estimated 10 have con-
tanned from 10000 10 1900 streets, alleys
and lanes. 1900 houses and about 100 900
inhabitants. So that In u centuries London
had grown to a population OF under 10000
by the beginning Of queen Nictorla's lifo
.. had Increased 20 i.oo0.0o and now at