Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-05-27
JOANSON'S LONDON.
IL Was Practically Intact Up to u Century

IL was Practically Intact Up to n Century
Ago.
Little more than century ago
DR.. Johnson = London was practical
~ intact. Old London bridge still
stood, filling with its cmincntly pic
torial houses very much the position
of the old Point Ncuf in Paris. Tho
Fleet river still rolled its Course-a
muddy and i'll smelling course, it is
true down Harrington street and
across LudgatC circus to the Thames.
The very name of New Bridge street
was probably derived from the
handsome structure at BIIdrwvll,
which formed part of Wrvu's fine
scheme for the rebuilding of the
city after the fire. From Il river the
Fleet sank to hc ditch, and then
1t became the underground sewer
which it has ever since remained.
Then YOU might still be relieved of
your purs" 10y highwaymen on
MOorticlds or be molcstcd by fresh
water pirates i'll the Pool.
The old privileges of tho guilds
were i'll full force, and the great
offices of the corporation were mat
tiers of bargain and sale. Yet, even
when Farmer George was young,
we may see the beginnings of the
city which we know today. The
streets were uncomfortable crowd
ed, the paVCments were shocking
and the rOadwayS almost as bad.
When poor Mrs. Gilpin jolted and
lurChcd along i'll her chaiso, las
though ChCapsido were mad, >" the
noise must have been deafcning.
And, for the matter of that, SO rapid
and thorough have been modern
improvements i'll London, within
and without the walls, that it is
difficult to realize that we'll within
the last 20 years Fleet street itself
was still paved rs ChcapSide was
the day the GilpinS went TO Edmon-
ton and Ware The aldCrmanic tur
tie is almost as modern as the city
pavCmCntS, for it was not until 1868
that 1t first appeared ut those civic
teaStS which 1t was destined to grace
in perpetuity. 1t is true that we'll
paved streets were not so important
III the days when the Thames was
still the highway of the gentcel and
when even the lord mayors process
sion was water pageant.
1t may be doubted whether Lon
don ever was very quiet place A
hundred years back it must have
been almost rs noisy as it is now.
When thCrr were no drays or
"chariots' to roll over the Cobbles,
there werc still the criers of fine
Strawberries" and the hawkers of
all manner of catables, tho purvey-
ors of lavender and dozens of other
ltinerant vendors. So late as 30
years ago London Cries" was a
popular nursery book, despite the
Vlllalnous illustrations. In this mat
ter of town noises municipal admin
istratiOn has made but little prog
ress, though it is only fair to say
that the city Is now Il far Quicter
place i'll tho late evening than Ken
sington OF Bclgravia. Much that
we find i'll Mr.. Welch's book reads
curiously ancient. Yet it is not SO
long since tn" Tower received polit-
lcal prisoners Mr.. Wilkes and Sir
Francis BUrdctt were both sent
there by an eNHSpcratod Legislature
and lotteries were officially drawn
at Guildhall. The Tower, though
still technically fortress, with no
ingrcSs or "Grcss after u given hour
of the night, is now mainly Il muse
UNI, and the wheel of fortune which
once rcvolv"d Ill Guildhan yard has
given place 10 the Mansion House
relief funds. -LOndon Standard.