Evening star., 1901-09-07
LONDON WAKING UP
British Metropolis About to Solve
Rapid Transit Problem.
WORKING CLASSES INTERESTED
Americans at Stratford-on-Avon
Guilty Of Meanness.
NEWS AND GOSSIP


LONDON, August %, 1901.
London has apparently thoroughly walked
up over the rapid transit question. and 1t
seems possible that with increasing facili-
ties in this direction the vexed problem Of
housing the poor and those whom the con-
tinual improvements in central London are
turning out Of their homes may find set
tlement.
The underground electric railways and a
rapidly extending system Of electric tram
ways have already done q good deal to
bring the toiling masses living In the heart
of the metropolis within easy reach of the
suburbs at trifling expenditure Of time
and money. The next few years are des-
tined to witness a greater development Of
this improved means Of locomotion both
above and underground. The success which
has attended the new electric trans from
Shepherds Bush to Kew, suburbs of Lon
don, has encouraged the London United
TramWays Company to go in for large ex-
tension Of their system in the immediate
future. The existing and authorized lines
worked by this company cover at present
over fifty miles, and will, when completed.
In conjunction with the "twopenny tube,
bring into close communication with the
city such places as Coombe and Maiden,
Surbiton and Kingston, Hampton Court
and Staines, all within fifteen-mile radius
of Charing Cross.
Next session parliamentary powers are to
be sought for a further extension Of the
system, which, II sanctioned will enable
the sporting public to travel all the way by
tram to EPSON Downs on Derby day for
the trifing fare of about a halfpenny per
mile The beauties of Leatherhead. Esher
and Ewell will also be made more accessible
to the thousands who have few opportuni-
ties In the course Of the year of breathing
the fresh country air. Merton, Mitcham,
ton, Ditton, Sandown Park and other
places are embraced in the proposed ex-
tension scheme. These places range from
fifteen to twenty-five miles from town, and
II they can be Joined by network Of
electric railways Londoners will be as well
Off as the inhabitants of any goahead place.
The president Of the Tramways Company
has great faith In the future of electric
the time when the metropolis may be con-
nected with Brighton and even more dis
tant places by this method of transit which
is still in Its infancy. At the close of last
century the total mileage of tram lines in
Great Britain was 1121, showing an in
crease Of 20 per cent over the figures for
1890 The number of cars had Increased
during the same period from 3,S01 to $500,
526, co., 600 to 1000, ,OOO, 600. On the reason
able assumption that this class of traffic
will continue to develop In the future as
in the past, it is predicted that by the
fall short of 1000, 900, and that during
the next five years $500 miles Of electric
tramways will be constructed.
Clergyman Lectures NigEardly Givers.
A scene took place last Sunday at STRAIT
ford-on-Avon. beloved by our countrymen.
that should cause a feeling of shame in
the hearts Of right-minded Americans.
AS usual, during the summer months a
very large number Of Americans attended
the morning service, at the conclusion OF
which they trooped into the chancel to look
q rnS GRO oy,d yDnn 1ay,t 10
large chancel, in fact, was nearly filled
with well-dressed visitors, ladies and gen.
tlemen, from across the Atlantic. They
had been there but short time when The
among them robed in his cassock, and
stepping into one Of the priests miserere
stall admonished them for mean act as
sOciated with the Offertory.
Holding In his hand a number Of very
insignificant copper coins he mentioned
that they had been found by the church
wardens in the offertory plates. They were
American coins of scarcely any value in
the states and absolutely valueless in
this country. Yet they had been put in
the collection. Being entirely worthless,
he wished to inform those who had put
them in the plate that he was prepared to
hand them back If they would come up
and claim them. Needless to say no one
accepted the offer.
The story has gone the rounds OF the
British press, and the avidity with which
it is printed shows what our friends here
think of 1t. No comments, however, have
appeared on the incident or at least a
careful search has revealed none to me.
Americans have done so much for Shakes
peares church, house and town that 1t
seems incredible that party Of Amer
ican tourists could be guilty Of such mean
ness at such a place Our name in Europe
is not so exalted for generosity as 1t once
was before Americans were cheated SO
barefacedly right and left and made eau
tious Besides, nowadays thousands of
do so and can afford little beyond what
must be paid for the trip But that Is not
meanness; that is only the prudence that
everyone has right to put in force. The
act at Stratford, however, was meanness
or fun, one or the other, both nearly equally
reprehensible. l hope that the item has
already found its way into the american
press, for It's calculated to make good
Americans blush and resolve to atone Tor
the meanness of thoughtlessness of their
countrymen.
London and It's Smoke.
The smoke of London has a good deal
to answer for Few building stones can re-
sist its disintegrating influences for any
great length of time. But 1t seems that
the suspicion that the decay of Lambeth
Palace and Westminster Abbey Is being
hast ened by the special brand OF LONDON
smoke that blows up the Albert embank-
ment and across the river from the Lam
beth potteries is not 1ust1fled county
council experts nave dndlyZcu poItioHS Va
crumbling stone work from the palace and
abbey and find that what these buildings
are suffering from is not hydro-chloric
acid, emitted in the salt-glazing process
at the potteries, but old age.
In the case Of the abbey, the stones OF
the buildings outer casing. have been
crumbling for long time. and. as at other
old cathedrals, operations are constantly
in progress for taking out the old stones
and putting in new ones. The mlscnleI
is that when the exterior was last restored
those responsible for the work found It
economical to use soft Reigate stone IN
stead of the beautiful hard Caen stone OF
which the interior almost entirely con-
siSts
with regard to Lambeth, successive arch
bishops have groaned under the burden
imposed upon them by the age and dilap-
idated state Of the palace. which Is only
with great expense and difficulty kept from
tumbling about their ears. Portions OF the
Existing ediflce. notably the great gateway,
date hack to the fifteenth century.
To Clean Up for Coronation.
Many correspondents are writing to the
nress because they are anxious to have
I.ondon cleansed and beautified for the
coronation. Some have suggested that the
fronts of buildings be washed with fire
-, conatbipp more drastic Is required