The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-10-01
FIVE wEEKs ABROAD.

"
A few steps from the Cecil near
where the STRAND runs into Fleet street
turning through an archway we found
ourselves in the court of the sommer-
set House. This broad areaway is
shaped like a cross. Standing at the
intersection one seems to be at the
cross streets of some quiet old town:
quite transformation from the hustle
and crowds Just left
The group of buildings is several
hundred years old and was used as a
residence by several generations of
royalty. II cost over s., 100000 contains
about four thousand windows, and is
now headquarters for various depart
ments of Che kingdom. There are six
teen hundred officials. including the
probate judge. who has in his keeping
Sk1akespeage's will
We came out on a side street.
marched UP a little hill, passed the
office of Punch the original funny
paper, CROSSED Fleet street into a mar
row walk summing through the block
Mr.. CLAUSE was showing us the
haunts of Pld DR., Samuel Johnson. We
entered little doorway. which we
could hardly have found without a
guide. although there was a little pro-
cession of. red-nosed people going in
and out, which. in Kansas. would indi-
cate to everyone. but the police and the
county attorney that there must be
some kind. of a Joint thereabouts. We
passed by the bar. There were several
rooms. one of them sort of cafe.
Above the mantle piece was an old in
scription, cheshire Cheese" We knew
we were ia the right place.
A lady attendant showed us up the
stairway and into the room where's DIR.
Johnson. his press agent. Boswell, and
various cronies gathered and gossiped
about the men and manners of the last
century. We must have been in the
very room, because DIR. Johnson's chair
was there and we were not allowed to
get away until one of the party sat down
in it. that being the routine. 1t was
not very, comfortable seat. my daug-
ter said. There was an old wire across
the arms to held it togther, it was pretty
shaclly. and would not now bear a
man half the johnson proportions.
Upon a Shelf was the old original
punch-bowl. but we did not see the die
tionary. which It is presumed has gone
out of business since Webster and the
Century have come into service.
Another bus ride brought us to Lon
don Tower, which was approached along
roadway macadamized about like the
Street Railway proposed to treat Sixth
street before the mass meeting. 1t had
been raining and there was a thin coat
OF mud We seemed to be walking
through half inch of yellow paint.
This tower has been fortress. a pal
ace and a prison. 1t detained us sew
eral hours, not unwillingly. 1t is now
but show place and museum, al
though one portion of it is the recepta-
Gle for the safekeeping of the crown
plate and Jewels. The portion of the
tower which contains these valuab1es Is
stronghold which could not be easily
raided- The regalia is surrounded by a
double iron cage and several dangerous
looking soldiers. without saying any
thing, or any placards, warn all con-
ceEned to keep hands off. In a glass
case within the double gratings we saw
ornaments which were said to represent
SIS, 000 00O
MOST conspicuous and most interest
ing was the kings crown. This was
originally made for the coronation of
Queen Victoria. The precious stones In
~~-'NA Il OIAl CIOWuS, ornaments
and gifts associated with kings and
queens of royalty for manv hundred
years previous. The head piece was en-
larged for the recent use of King Ed
ward. It is set with $500 diamonds. $50
pearls, a scattering of rubfes. sapphire,
and enieralds and weighs three pounds.
from which weight probably originates
the expression that Uneasy lies the
head that wears a CROWN
In the same case is a part of the Eng
lish court paraphernalia known as the
sword of mercy, which, of course. has
no point. There were a lot of big salt
cellars, tureens. spoons for Amounting
and practical purposes, plates, etc. Ev-
erything was said to be genuine with
the exception of the Koh-i-noor dia-
mond. This was merely a model of
clear paste about the size of an egg.
The original is kept at Windsor Castle.
One of the yeomen of the guard di-
rected US along to other portions of
the tower This beef eater," so called.
and he was well fed, was evidently an
old soldier. He was oddly attired with
a low, square, plug hat, black, red
braided, short-skirted coat, and knee
breaches which ought to have admitted
him to almost any court. He looked
like his pictures, except I did not OBJ
serve the huge rosettes on his shoes, but
probably he only attached these when
he went to the photographer The read
er knows it is often difficult in America
to recognize the camera print of your
intimate acquaintance, becaslse you
never see them quite so faultless1y at
tired, with their hair parted quite so
neatly, as they appear in the cabinet
photograph.
A court contained the gun carriage
which carried Queen Victoria to her
resting place.
A steep, winding stairway led over
the spot where 1.-The Princess in the
Tower were imprisoned by jealous and
ambitious relatives, an incident which