The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1901-06-01
Letter From Europe.
Correspondence Of the Democratic Advocated

American Line, IN perfect gale OF VINO duu TAIN.
It was very rough that a vast majority Of the
passengers were sea sick before we reached Sandy
Hook. We sailed upon Wednesday and I took to
my bed at p. m. and never saw the table again
until Monday p M. and l can well say that was
the sickest can ever hope to be in the meantime
only secured my "sea legs the day before we ar
rived at Southampton, England The St Louis is
one of the finest boats that floats. She is 554 feet
long, 4 feet higher than Washington's monument
If stood upon end, and 63 feet wide. You Will,
perhaps, remember the important part she played
in the Spansh-American war, she being the first to
capture prize of any consequence, that being the
cargo of coal for the Spanish feet captured right
under the very guns of MORO Castle. and the eonse
quent first Intelligence of the Spanish feet in santi
ago harbor this being only one of her numerous
acts during that war.
l shall not dwell upon the trip over as TINS letter
shall be very brief in detail
Upon arriving at Southampton one of the most
impressive sights is the unloading of the United
States mail. Two men accompany it over and 1t
requires special train of six coaches TO convey it
TO London.
After passing the custom Offices we proceeded to
London by special train. The first impression of
London upon one is tremendous. the streets being
so crowded ard too narrow to accommodate this
great traffic The number of the hansome cab l
took was II 55 thus giving you idea of the cabs
and yictorias etc. to say nothing of the delivery
wagons, etc.
After arriving at the hotel 1 spent two days in
riding around the city to get my bearings. first
visited the National Gallery. which contains many
many famous paintings, room being devoted to
each school or country. In the Venetian rooms we
have the master piece of Tziam Vecelo, an Italian
painter; in fact he stands supreme amongst the
greatest portrait painters This gem is called Bac-
chus AID Ariadne." Next we can see mere In the
Umbrain school the famous painting by Raphael,
and called 1.-The Virgin and Child,'' painted by
Raphael at the age of seventeen ana was purchaser
by the nation in 1886 from the Duke of Marlborough
for 100000 or ss5OooO The date of the painting is
1906 and considered of the greatest paintings1 in
world There are many masterpieces here. only
mention these my time is limited
then visited the National Portrait Gallery ana
saw here the original signatures of Livingston,
Darwin, Cowper, Tennyson, Browning Thackery,
Lord Byron Sir Walter Scott and many other celeb
rifles Also original invitations (more In the shape
of a command or demanding their presence,) of
King George 4th King William 4th, Queen Victoria,
to the coronation of these sovereigns.
Next the famous Westminster Abbey, rebuilt in
1850 by Edward the Confessor, and in which all the
coronations are held and all the Kings and Queens
of England were buried from 1850 TO about 1861 In
the chapel of the Kings" are the famous corona
ton chairs of carved oak beneath the older one the
famous stone OF scone and isasserted by antique Ec
clesastical legend to be the very stone upon whlch
the Patriarch Jacob lay aud saw the vision of the
angles and the ladder. 1t was brought to England
in 1896 II would require days 10 familiarize ones
selfwith this vast church, and twoud be impossible
to form the slightest conception of this wonderful
Wis
1t is situated very near the House of Parliamentand
upon the bank of the Thames River. shall not
spend more time here as it would require pages to
tell all and am quite unequa. to it,.
Next St James Palace, Kensington Palace ana
the room in which Queen Victoria was born. The
nursery still contains of the play things OF the
Queen when a child. Then Buckingham Palace,
which is closed during repairs, putting 1t in shape
for the new King, but by special permit which l
obtained from our ambassador, Mr.. JOS H. Choate,
was shown all over the Royal News (stabesj
here saw the finest stable of horses ever beheld.
The famous CREAM" only used upon occasions OF
state and by the Queen also harness and carriages
for each occasion and the royal carriage. Also the
original in y hich the Queen rode to open parla-
ment upon her accession the throne about 1888,
think There Is new one, built Ill 1878 Ihese
carriages must be seen to he appreciated. The
Royal Stale harness are OF red Russian leather ana
mounted with gold, and nearly cover horse en-
tirely. / frequently visited Rotten Row" the
world renowned riding and driving place of nobil
ity.
went 10 the Marlborough House and saw the
King and Queen, also the Princess Victoria leave
London for Sandringham, escorted by her private
mounted guard.
Next the famous ST. I'aul Cathedral, built in 1887
and which contains the tombs of Nelson, Duke Of
Wellington and many other notables. This is the
third Cathedral built upon this site: the second IN
607 and :he first dates back to the time the Romans
took possession OF he British forts and pitched
camp here Then the famous Bank of England and
the Tower Bridge but ii does not compare with oui
Brooklyn Bridge.
Next the Tower of London. II Is not known by
whom this tower Tor caste) was built, but old ira
ditions peak of Julius Caesar. and circumstances
lend to point to Roman work thus it is generally
accepted as being first erected by him. For period
of 500 years the sovereigns of England made their
residences here beginning with the reign of Stephen
Il also saw the "Bloody Tower" in which the two
Princess were murdered by Richard III. The walls
are of a tremendous thickness and strength ana
surrounded by moat, which can yet be hlled win
water The Beauchamp Tower is the one in which
the Royal prisoners were confned-Anne Boleyn,
also Lady Jane tray. Wear IliS tO"0i 10 t"S P'NSS
where the guillotine was placed.
In the Bloody Tower are kept the Crown Jewels
of England Here is st. Edwards crown, used at
the coronation of all soyereigns of England since
the time of Charles II. The Royal Seeptre with the
Dove, the Orb the Swords of Mercy ana OF Justlce'
Coronation Bracelets, Royal Spurs and the famous
Diamond, I85 karats, known as "Roh-i-noor," or
Mountain of Light. These all kept in an iron
tn no worth three million pounds,
and are of course kept under constant guard
| next visited Windsor Castle, halfhour's run
from London, and one of the residences of the
oueen. in fact the principal one. Here we have the
lannon's Curfew Tower and Bell At the tolling of
this bell all lights were put ont each night at
o'clock and all the condemned were put to death
at the same time.
There isa subterranean passage leading from this
Castle three miles across the country, by means OF
which the ROYALTY could escape in olden times when
besiered by the enemy The News here contain
over 100 very fine horses for the Queen and Ladies
of the Household for occasions other than state
could not see the state apartments, as they were
closed during repairs for the new King. L visited
the dungeons while here under the Curfew Tower
and there saw some dates cut in the walls by pris-
oners. one of the earliest was 1915 The initials
were too indistnct These dungeons are all 1 had
pictured them to be- and really makes one shuuder
us you go into them.
In the top of the Tower is still a gun (cannon)
trimmed upon the only bridge entrance to the Castle
across the Thames River, placed there centuries
ago to command this point 1t is interesting to see
these old Notifications of centuries ago.
took trip to Stratford- on-Avon. the birthplace
and burial place of the immortal Shakespeare.
went upon the anniversary of his birth and death,
which are upon the same date, as you all know. l
visited the little cottage in which he was born, and
the room he was born in, and some few pieces
of furniture still remain from his time The floors
are all very crude and they must have been very
poor: in fact they proving that all things are
possible if one will but strive and hope. In the
garden in the rear all the plants that will grow
in that climate that he mentions in his writings.
Next the little chapel in which he is buried. The
date of the building is not known but is one OF the
most antiauated have seen. 1t looks as If it were
ready to crumble His grave was simply laden with
flowers from many noted writers of this day l
next visited the cottage of Ann Halfway. This
town is very impressive. being the Oldest have
seen SO far in appearance. l stopped at the famous
Shakespear Hotel, with the seven gables" next
visited the British Museum and saw the many won
ders il tanned the most famous being the Rosete
Stone of Egypt and which has proven the key to
the Egyptian language, and by which they have
been able to discover the date and writings OF
ancient times. The Oldest piece saw was piece
of sculpture dated 1874 B. c. The history of the EgyP
tinns has been traced back to 1000 B. c.
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