Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1900-10-09
Letter From scotland.

Friend Haines;
Dear Sir. Before leaving Jefferson
several of my friends made the requesi
that I should take the time, at intervals
during our long journey to write briei
outline of our experiences. and sights in.
cideut thereto, and mail to the SPIRIT
tor publication.
The journey across the Atlantic was
very pleasant indeed. the sea being
smooth and calm all the time. and there
was not a single case of sea sickness on
board. The last day, passing up the
channel to the mouth of the Thames, we
could distinctly see the chalk cliffs of
Cornwall, the coast of Dover and the
beautiful Isle of Wight, to which we ran
so close that we could distinctly see the
houses and towns scattered along the
shore. The river Thames in no way COM
pares with the Hudson at New York. In
the first place it did not look to be over a
quarter of a mile wide, twenty miles be-
low the city of London, where we disem-
barked and took train to city, The water
in the Thames is dismally black and foul
smelling in this particular being so ,un-
like the Hudson. Its width, where it
Passees through the City, is not double
that of the Shenandoah at our place
The vastness of the city, the sameness
of the thronged thoroughfares, and the
various angles at whicn they intersect
each other, changing names at each in
tersection, makes the matter of getting
about almost desperate problem to the
stranger. The narrow streets and con-
gested traffic render all efforts at street
crossing dangerous. For crowds New
York is not in it. can. of course, only
give you the brIefest outline of all we saw
the week spent in London. The far
famed Tower of London we did quite
thoroughly, and, as, most readers of Your
valued paper know, it is now filed with
objects of the deepest interest. Ever
since the earliest history of it, dating
back more than 500 years. every conceiv-
able form of torture, misery and suffer-
ing has been endured by the unfortunate
thousands who during that long period
of time tell victims to the caprice and ILL
will of the various crowned heads who
ruled the destinies of England.
London Town, as term, means num-
Der of fortress shaped buildings, all built
of stone and covering, should think,
from seven to ten acres of ground and
surrounded by ditch OF moat, some So
feet wide, which IN former times was
filled with water, so that access to the
town was possible only over bridge,
which could be swept by cannon. The
moat is now dry and Her Majesty's troops
use it as drilling ground. These troops
guard the numerous buildings and their
pTieeless contents, All the various inn
ances of torture. coats of armor. war
flags and trophies taken in, battle ever
since the invasion of England by Caesar
aud his mighty hosts. over 1900 years
ago, are there in bewildering variety and
number. The fatal ak and block used by
the executioner in his gruesome work are
still there, and in letters traced in blood
the dismal side of mankind is portrayed.
We stood upon the very spot where Lady
Jane Grey lost her head.
The few hours we spent in Westmins-
ter Abbey sufficed only to give casual
glance at each of the vast number of the
wonderfully chiseled tombs and monu-
ments there. A feeling of the deepest
awe possesses one in contemplating the
resting place OF so many illustrious dead.
The wanton desecration dcne by the
command of Cromwell. is still evidenced
by the many mutilated monuments. In
some instances the work of the sculptor
was marred by missing finger or arm.
and in one instance the head of most
beautifully wrought figure in wood had
been hacked off. This vast structure
also lays claim to great age. The oldest
part of the building was erected more
than thousand years ago, and the stone
steps and floors attest this greeat age. as
they are worn down as much as four
inches in places.
In speaking of the treasures in the
8 Town" omitted stating what they
mainly consist of. In one huge glass
ease there we're three Royal Crowns