Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1903-01-14
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A VISIT TO LONDON.
= BY Arthur r. R1cElrox. -

Trough, s. O., January 5.--Editors
Keowee Courier: Thinking that perhaps
some of your readers might be interested
in an article on London, / have decided
to give brief account of my recent visit
there.
We sailed from Norfolk, Va, Noyem.
Der 8, and after rather long and rough
passage we arrived safely at our jour
ney's end. To any one who has never
made a trip across the Atlantic there are
many things seen on the journey to in
terest aud instruct.
London is not only .the Capital of
Great Britain, but is also the largest and
wealthiest city in the world, with very
near six million inhabitants, and cover
ing an area of S0,OOO acres, or 122 square
miles. For one to realize the immensity
of this great city 1t is necessary to visit
it, The city lies in a valley some forty
five miles from the sea, being built on
both sides of the river Thames. The
scenery is very pretty going up this river.
TO the stranger, especially If he come
from the bright sunlight and clear skies
of America, London presents dingy,
cloudy, sombre aspect, giving to the
heart of the wayfarer chilly and de-
pressing feeling. Owing to the nature
of the coal used, and the damp atmos-
phere, all Of the buildings have assumed
discolored appearance, which causes
even the more modern structures to have
a look of antiquity about them. There
is sad lack of electric cars, as the
streets are so narrow and traffic 80 great
that 1t is impossible to run them on the
main thoroughfares. Instead of the
cars, we find the omnibus and cab.. OF
course there are lines of railway, both
surface and underground.
Among the manyiplaces of interest we
visited may be noticed. .as the most i'm
portant the following: st. Pauls Cathe-
dral, "The pride of all Londoners."
This is undoubtedly one Of the hand
soonest buildings in the world. Its dome
reaches the height of 400 feet; its length
is 500 feet and its width 2S8 feet. The
cost is variously estimated by different
authorities, but may be safely placed at
$3,75O,000. 1t took 35 years for it's con-
struction and was done by one great
architect, Sir Christopher Wren, and one
master mason, Thomas Strong. The
magnificent dome is 1O8 feet in diameter.
We were struck with the magnitude Of
the building when,we entered, and with
the beautiful statues, which haveHbeen
placed there by loving hands to com
memorate the lives and deeds of some of
Englands greatest sons. Prominent
among them may be noted those of the
Duke of Wellington, Admiral Nelson,
CORVALLIS and Moore. Many persons of
ronown are buried within this building.
The tomb of England's greatest admiral
is found in the crypt, with the inscrip-
tion, ''Horatio. Wise. Nelson" The
sarcophagus has strange history, hav-
ing been originally designed by Cardinal
Wolsey as memorial of himself; but
after his disgrace it lay for centuries
neglected ini, Wolsey's Chapel at Wind
sor, from which place it was removed by
George III and used for Nelson's tomb.
Not far from the tomb of Nelson
stands the magnificent tomb of the
Duke of Wellington. The casket is en-
closed in five cases. His funeral car
stands near. 1t was made from the gun
metal captured by him in his battles.
On the sides are inscribed the names of
the battles that he won. The car cost
$4,000 or 100000.
We attended service at Westminster
Abbey on Sunday afternoon; also visited
the Abbey on week days. As we wan
dered around in this old place we seemed
to be living in the past. Everything has
such ancient look; a kind of awe per-
Vadcs ones mind as one looks upon the
tombs of the great, and thinks of the
history they made, and of their strifes
and turmoils, their ambitions and con-
quests. AS they lie there, sleeping
side by side, they speak to us of the
emptiness of human honors and the