Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1898-12-24
Mr.. John 0. Spring in London.

"AAA ~" "a A<o"uVn ayhk W 10 the
city and learn something Of its art and
beauty. But ''London was not built in a
day." Neither can one see it in day. AZ
it is IS miles across.
| have been particularly impressed with
one thing when talking with intelligent
men whom l have met, and that is, the
feeling of respect shown Americans. One
man said to me, 1.-THE late war between
your country and Spain has united the two
nations as nothing else could have done
and because King George made fool Of
himself is no reason why brothers shopld
fall out with each other" The .upe,iu-
tendent of the Sturgeon Tabernacle Sun
day school wrote me, invi ing me to his
Sunday school and said, "We are always
glad to welcome Americans. Since your
last war With Spain our people hive he'd a
great love for America" The exhibi ion
of this feeling everywhere l 60 in England
makes me feel like the old Roman. am
pr bud to be an Amt rican citizen.
The London Press, as far as have seen.
have only kind words tor our country.
Before leavi' G Liverpool spent day
at Chester, Is miles away, a quaint old
place. called the Roman town because Of
the relics OF Roman occupation Of the place
which still exist 1t is known they had
camp there Is centuries sg,. The wall
which surrounds the city was rebuilt and
enlarged in the 18th century. 1t i, eight
feet wide on the top and tagged with stone
paving and is public walk which is much
used.
l walked around it and obtained fine
view Of the old city within. and the
new city outside the walls, which is twice
larger, but as I had no particular interest
in buildings less than 500 years old went
down the stone steps on the inside. The
wall has four openings into tie city at
right angles with each other, at the car
dinal points. The gates have long since
been removed. There are several towers
on the wall 20 feet high, built into the out
side of the wall. l read this inscription
on one of them, King Charles stood on
this Tower, Sept. "a, 1915, and saw his
army defeated on Rowton Row." This
was a plain near by. The kings forces
were on their way to reinforce the garrison
and were intercepted by Cromwell's forces
and defeated. The wall is 200 feet high
at some points outside.
The two principal things of interest in
the old city is the cathedral rebuilt in the
18th century and the Rows" as they are
called, or the sidewalks inside the houses.
l was told that there is nothing else like
it at the present time in the world. Some
parts of the old buildings built in the 18th
century still remain, some of the stone and
some of the oak posts and lentil front
pieces with the old carving as plainly visi-
BILE as when it was made. / went into an
old crypt, or cellar under ground. No
one knows when it was built, but it is sup
posed to have been the foundation OF
q church.
The Rows, where they exist on some Of
the streets, are like this: The hous IS are
built close to the sidewalk and close to-
gether and are three or four stories high.
The first stories are occupied with shops
for merchandise of one kind and another.
The fronts of all the houses of the second
story are recessed back about nine feet
from the story below, and the third or
upper story is supported by stone columns,
or oak posts, carried up from the front
below. This leaves public thoroughiare
which is paved like the sidewalk below and
which is reached by stone steps at inter-
walls. Some Of the finest stores in the city
are of this sidewalk, and many dwellings,
and living rooms.
1t is thought this was Roman idea,
partly for protection, as well as for recrea-
ton. I wish bad space to describe the
grand old cathedral with its carved oak
ceilings rs feet from the marble floor be-
meath. The venerable old sexton in his
black robe, who has held his position 50
years said it was not his custom to take
one person alone through the building but
as was brother from America he would
gladly do it for me. There are several
chapels in the building and services are
held there twice day. He showed me
the lady chapel where court Of justice
was formerly held. Here George Marsh
was condemned to be burned for teaching
herasy. He was burned. Morning pray
ers are now held there and his teach
ings are embodied in the prayer book they
use. In the choir or choir room 1 should
call it. was the most elaborate and beauti-
full oak carving / ever saw. In the place
Of sittings for the audience in the row of
seats next the wall was peculiar device.
The sexton showed me the working of it.
When sitting upright on the seat it wa,
like any other. but by leaning forward it
would let loose spring underneath when
the seat would drop. If the occupant was
asleep he would 60 headlong onto the
floor. I thought that would be a good
thing for some people nowadays who tax Q
the early service for their morning nap. II
am afraid my letter is too long already,
one could write a hook on tho .,b;o.t