Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-03-14

on the site Of I4ondon'S great market.
1t Is here that William Wallace, the
famous Scotch patriot, was most cruel
~ executed. Wallace, IL will be re-
menlbered by those familiar with "The
Scottish Chiefs" was treanherously be-
trayed TO the English by one of his
friends. He was for some time con-
fined in the Tower Of London; and
then, when the English decided to exc
cute him, they carried out the murder
with the utmost cruelty He was
dragged behind horses In chains from
the Tower, and then hanged on a glib
bet in Smithheld. While stiil conscious
he was drawn and qusrtered"-one Of
the most barbarous and uncivilized Of
punishments.
HAD A BAD RECORD.
II Is remarkable that Smithfeld al
ways has been associated with inhu-
man practisos of some sort After the
English ceased TO find Amusement I'm
hanging, drawing and quartering hui
man beings they made the site of the
market a scene of bear batting" Bears
We're chained TO posts and made TO fight
with dogs and even mon, and the null
titude enjoyed the cruel sight for years
before the practise WAS finally broken
UP.
The market then became the scene Of
famous ST. Bartholomew Fair. SO well
depicted In the drawings of Cruikshank.
This fair became known all over the
world az the Ruffians Paradise and
the things that went ON at Smithfield
during the days of this saturnalia were
scarcely credit to the supposedly
civilized English multitude The fair
lasted until a comparatively late day.
AS DICKENS SAW IT.
smithneld did not become meat
market in the strict sense of the term
until about 1850. Before that time 1t
was horse market 1t was then
changed from live cattle market TO a
meat market proper Even down to
Dickens time Smilhdeld did not hold
an enviabla reputation for attractive
ness. as the following passage from
Great Expectations viii make evil
dent:
"Whcn told the clerk that / would
take a turn in the nlr whilo l waited he
advised me TO go round the corner and
should come into Smithfleld. SO l
came into Smithheld. and the shame
ful place. being al asnear with ilth
and fat and blood and foam, seemed
10 stick to me. So / rubbed T. off with
all possible speed By turning into
street whore l saw the great black
dome Of ST. PHuls bullying at me from
behind grim stone building which
bystaudcr said WAS Newgate prison.
GREAT IMPROVEMENT.
Even up to three or foar years ago
Smithheld Market was not noted for
cleanliness. But, since the coming OF
the Americans. much Improvement has
been wrought. In addition to this, san
itaiy regulations have become more
strict, and today Smithaold Market pre-
sents an appearance at which even the
most fnstldious could not cnvil.
Aud now, after all these years, the
fate OF Smithfield has taken a new turn
The famous historical spot whore kings
held tourney whore martyrs We're
burned, where patriots and politicians
were inhumanly done TO death, has fal-
lon into tho hands OF the American
meat trust! Perhaps, even before long.
some snterprslng member of the trust
may get up a Smithhed pageant. equal
to. II NOT surprising. that Of Coventry.
there IS sufficient historical
material for any number az paReauts;
but tho meat trusts 80 in more Tor |
profit than pageautry, unless the latter |
Gould bo utilized as a form OF unique |
tdyertlsamcnt HAYDEN CHURCH. |