The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1899-08-25
SOUTH LONDON
~ waiter Bssant Gives Some XnGs1ese.
Ing Sketches Of That ADcieAs Per-
ton Ol the CftV

Besant Is historian, particularly the
historian par excellence Of London.
For the last few years he has written
articles on historic London for The
Pail Mall Magazine. The last series
10 appear were on South London;
these. like the others, are now present
ed in book form under their original
title and with the elaborate and artistic
illustrations which SO enhanced their
value when they were printed In the
magazine. The publishers of South
London" in this country are Frederick
4. Stokes Company.
THE chief difficulty in writing South
London, said Sir Walter in his pre-
face, has been that of selection from
the great treasures which have accum-
ulated about this strange spot The
contents of this volume do not form a
tenth part of what might be written on
the same plan, and still without includ-
ing the history proper of the borough"
The author courteously acknowledges
lis obligations to the artist "Mr. Perry
Wadham, who has so faithfully and so
cunninely carried out the task commit
ted to him."
My South London" says Sir Walter,
extends from Battersea in the west to
Greenwich in the east, and from the
river on the north to the first rising
ground on he south. This rising
ground gentle ascent, the beginning
of the Surrey hills, can still be observ-
ed on the high roads OF the south
Chaplain, BriXton. Camberwell,"
At first London had no communities
ton with the rest of the world. except
by water. Then a causeway was built
across the Southwark marshes The
second road connected with the high
road TO Dover; ii is now called High
Street Borough. Ii formed an entirely
open and broad communication II be-
gan not far to the west of st. Saviour's
Church, opposite the Roman Trajectus,
the medieval ferry, now st. Mary
OVeries Dock. Ferries we're soon es.
tablished across the Thames, and at
length the marshes were drained. Pre-
historic remains p;ove that all this
was done during che stone age and
the bronze age.
Centuries passed by. High Street
OF Southwark is now crowded thor
6ughfare, because it is the main artery
OF town containing a population OF
many hundreds of thousands. In tbs
last century 1t was quite as animated.
because 1t was one of the main arteries
by which London was in communica-
ton with the country. An immense
number of coaches, carts, wagons,
and caravans passed every day up
and down the High Street. some
stopping or starting in Southwark ~
self; some going over London BridgA
TO their destination In the city"
Among the relics of the bygone ages
stands to-day the remains of Tie palace
of the Bishop of Winchester. AS one
of the Bishops of Winchester would
have made very good modern Police
Court Judge and District Attorney
combined, it may not be inappropriate
at this place to tell something about
the punlshments of the time that were
ordered by the church. There was
whipping, but not the terrible, muir
derous Jogging Of the eighteenth GEN.
fury; there were he ngings, but not for
everything Mostly to the credit OF
the church, punishment was designed
not to crush man, but to shame him
Into repentance aud to give him
chance Of retrieving his character. A
man might be set in the stocks or put
In pillory, and so made to feel the helm.
BUSINESS OF his oifcnse. This punish
ment was like that which was inflicted
on a schoolboy; the thing done. the boy
Is taken back to favor. The eighteenth
century branded hIm, imprisoned him.
transported him, made brute of him.
hnnDnA hit1a
speak despitefully of authority-pre-
sumptuous quean--Set her up In the
cage beside the stoulpes Of London
Bridge, that every one should soc her
there and should ask what she had
done. After an hour or two take her
down; bid her so home and keep hence
forth quiet tongue in her head. This
lentency was only for Uffenses moral
and against the law, For freedom OF
thought or doctrine there was Bishop
Bonnei's better way, And Il was a
way inhumau. intlexiblo, unable to for
give"
Sir Walter Besant. IN showing how
the palace either contains or has at
some time contained the work OF nearly
every archbishop In succession. Incl.
dentally remarks. in speaking of some
OF the improvements executed by the
various prelates. that the Chlcheley
Tower, commonly known as the "I,ol-
lards' Tower" never had any connec-
ton with Lollards, and that all the talk
about the unhappy Lollard prisoners is
without foundation"
And, in a word, which will explain
why have given an apparently dispro-
portionate space to Lambeth Palace.
the author thus ends his chapter on the
royal houses of South London; Lam
beth Palace, the only palace in the
VNc,e - 2agte s7HGoz, b q monument
on Ei"s'.-n mis,vIy frurn the twelfth
century downward. Remington APP
pears at intervals; Eltham is a holiday
house; Greenwich practically begins
with the Tudors. Lambeth, like West
minister or St, rauls belongs to tho
long history OF the English people,"
From the fragrhentary lives" of
Shakespeare We have learned consider
able about the Globe Theatre. but in
South London" VIC find great deal
more, and also much about the Bear
Garden, Blackfriars. and Paris Garden,
the Hope Theatre, the Swan Theatre,
and the Rose. II IL all very interest
ing.
And Of the South london of to-day,
there is much that IA of interest, much
that Is fascinating. albeit the tourist
10 London can see Il all II he only takes
the trouble
The Bench md the Bar.
Judge-Your face is familiar. I've
seen you before
Prisoner-Yes. Your fEoper, quite Of
ten.
Judge--Ah. What was the charge
the last time | saw you?
Prisoner think Il was Is ccnts