Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1907-09-17
Gorky's Impressions of London.


England's glory is her Unsuitable love
of liberty. But this love is now dy-
ing out unsatisfied; and 1t behooves
you, therefore, to quicken 1t anew
in the spirit of the people.
The mighty city seems to be think
ing Will they soon return and ring
again the chimes which are born OF
my spirit so that the nations of the
earth may hear? Will they once
again sound my mighty trumpets and
proclaim the thoughts and hopes of
England?
A sullen and mournful noise, min
Cling with the mist, enshrouds the
city like dark cloud. There is
great strength in the din and roar,
but there is also a great weariness.
In the mist see the face of Lon
don, wise and sorrowful, like the
face Of giant in an old and wonder
full tale. The city lies in contempla-
tion, and she compels us to contem-
plate life. The mighty, somber city
built of stone and richly clothed In
It's luxurious dress of green gardens
and parks is superbly adorned with
the priceless productions of an old
and daring art. You pause in rap
turous wonder in front of Westmin-
ster Abbey, that fretted pile which
rises sublime into the sky; and you
gaze with deep reverence at the mas
sive gray Tower of London, which
evokes a long series of memories
above all, memories of your glorious
Queen Elizabeth. Much wickedness
was perpetrated within its gray
walls; many ghosts bespattered with
blood whirl round its venerable tow
ers.
But the old tower is not the less
| beautiful for that. The capital OF
every country has its tower In which
blood has been shed, and the gray
Tower of London is not more inno-
cent than any other. If men allow
themselves TO be killed, they are
themselves always partly to blame.
Partly, I say. For is there any one
among us who is altogether innocent
OF the crimes which are committed
around him, or who has no part or
lot in the cruelties that abound In
life?
But the pearl OF the city, its most
precious and priceless possession
the most plendid ornament, I think,
OF England-is the British Museum
"A panorama of the life OF the ma
tlons of the earth; great and
mighty creation, built by the far
reaching and powerful hands OF the
English people. This great and
massive palace. filled with treasures,
stands rooted to the earth like Eng
land herself. There It stands as II II
we're the granite binding Of the great
book OF human civilizatlon-the book
which would require years to read
through 10 the END.
And everywhere Il is clearly seen
how much genius there is In London.
But the thought flashes across the
mind: Has not the great spirit of the
nation become narrowed In the last
decade? Has not the nation been
too much absorbed In petty and pure
ly material disputes, and has not this
passion retarded the development oil
its free spirit, of that true creative
spirit which has enriched the world
with eternal and immortal treasure?
The number of dealers in antiqu''
ties is one of the striking features
of London. This is natural in a coun'
try of such an old civilization; and
the love OF Englishmen for things
which remind them of the great pas'
is incomprehensible. The old glass
and bronze, so simple and. so richly
fashioned by passionate love, beal
the imprint of the inspired workman
That imprint Is less apparent In th'
samples of contemporary artistic IN
dustry. They bear witness, II is true
TO a striving after simplicity
noble aspiration-but somehow TN
work is dull and lifeless; and invoi
UNFAIRLY a melancholy thought enter
the mind that the power of creation
: is decaying and that the power 0
. manufacture is taking its place. I'M