New-York tribune., 1902-06-27
WESTMINSTER ABBEY.
IT'S PLACE IN ENGLISH HISTORY.

THE STORY OF WESTMINSTER ABBEY. Being
Some Account Of that Ancient Foundation It's
Rioiet Brooke-IIunt i2mo. pp. xii, $50, f P.
Dutton & Co
From that little n1onasterie without the wales
Of London whose origin is lost IN the rlists Of
early English history. to the majestic pile upon
which the eyes of the world have recently
been fixed in unfulflled expectation. the author
of this book takes US IN historical survey. The
Abbey is simply a text, and those who expect
to find much about its physical aspects. its
architectural features, its history and
archaeology, viii be disappointed. The kings
prime ministers. statesmen, poets, soldiers, who
are in one way or another connected with the
Abbey are the subjects of the writer's chief at
tention. Their lives have occupied a large part
of English history. and so, in relating the story
of those whose monuments are found here, she
has told the tale Of much Of that history and
much Of at least the later development Of Eng
fish literature and art This is all written pri-
marily for young people, whose prototype is
certain Godfrey, who found in a visit to the
Abbey that 1T is just like book in English his
tory right from the very beginning" Yet the
narrative has been written down to the
supposed level Of youthful integence-indeed,
the author has had in view also some grown
up people. too. who would learn TO better know
and love the Abbey, with its eight hundred
years or unDrOhen 1TdultOllS, IL lneN COulu tedu
its story written in simple language and told in
a simple way. As it is told, it follows straight
forward and conventional lines, finding the high
est good in all things English and never miss
ing an opportunity for the inculcation of patriot
ism. The author is alive the value of pictu-
rescue and personal touches in the historical as
well in the biographical portions But While
devoting her space mostly to history and bi-
ography, she does not wholly neglect the Abbey
itself, and some Of its features are described
and some of its story is told. Thus, are in
formed of its conception in the mind Of Henry
III. and his determination to raise a building
which should be the most lOvable thing in
Christendon'
1t is for giving US this most lovable thing that
We owe to Henry III a deep measure OF graft
fude and Yet heavy was the price paid for II
al the time by those who. being weak and de-
fenceless, We're poweriess 10 resist the heaFy
taxes laid them. The new Abbey was paid
for by the people; sometimes money was crueily
eXtorted from them; sometimes q great Iaii
arranged the fields near Westminster
and all the shops in the nelghborhood We're
commanded TO be closed for many days. that
the crowds would be forced TO flock around the
Abbey and spend their money there: sometimes
large Were eXtorted from the Jews some
times the King driven last resort to
pawning the Abbey jewels ard treasures. At all
costs money had TO be found. and money in
abundance. for Henry's ideas were all on the
most lavish scale. and could not be carried out
with less than 100000 of our money
Edward the Confessor's Chapel the cen
trail point Of magnificence Of the Abbey, and
around it were gathered the tombs of kings and
queens until is pointed out. a new phase
came in the history of the Abbey. after the days
OF Queen Elizabeth. Several kings and queens
We're buried there, but to Of them was a
monument raised much inscription
cut on the stones over their graves
AS the people became more and more the rul-
Ing force in England, it was the representatives
of the people-statesnen, soldiers. sailors, writ
ers, musicians, travellers. thinkers. dlscoVerers
and benefac1ors-who stepped into the foremost
places and who thought worthy OF rest
ing place among the great kings.
Chaucer was the first English poet to be
buried within the Abbey. and the Confessor's
tomb became the centre of the tombs of kings.
SO his, a way undreamed Of at the time, conse-
Grated one part Of the Abbey the Poets Corner
He was buried in 14o0 and it close upon
two hundred years after that another great poet,
Spenser, followed here the footing Of his feet"
There is only painters monument, Sir God
frey kneller's; but he is buried in the
Abbey, because he declared he would not be
among fools'' The poets, the musicians and the
statesmen of later years who have found a rest
ing place in the Abbey entertainingy dis
cussed in the Iast half of the book. 1t is
excellent fulfrent of excellent idea. and
visit TO the Abbey might we'll be preceded by
a reading of it. The Illustrations, which
good and numerous, important addition
TO its interest,