Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-05-24

A friend has been preparing for A
months stay in London and have been
sreading some OF the books that would
help us to enjoy that month 10 the Ut
most for whatever that is rare or note
worthy that she may find will be a
'-partaker Of her happiness
One Of the books that I have especially
enjoyed was Fleet Street. the Highway
of Letters" BY Thomas Archer. and l am
SIRE that every lover OF good literature
would enjoy IT, There is nothing stilted
nor pOnderous in IT, Really IT meanders
through the centuries more Ike gos-
slipping brook than a traveller on the
highway. Time flies as YOU lose yourself.
with the men who made history wrote
books and set up lotteries OF choice spir-
its In those ancient habitations and in
their journals or diaries left records or
the manner OF living
So much have l enjoyed this highway,
with its echoes Of famous footsteps that
am going TO make you ''partaker Of my
happiness as good old VIII Shakes
peart expressed IL. Some of our. readers
may have seen Fleet~Street mentioned
casually and not know anything def
n-e concerning IT, II may be said 10
have been the Highway Of Letters.
long before William Caxton set up his
printing press at the Almonry in West
minister In fact. long before printed
b oks were seen in England or even in
Europe.
When that historic pile. the Tower of
London was n royal residence at the
eastern extremity OF the city. the Castle
called the Kings Wardrobe because the
clothes Of state were kept there. and the
great palace of Bridewell. named after
the well Of St Bridget. were the resi-
dences OF the Sovereign in the then fash
ionable quarter on the banks Of the river
Thamas The street was named from a
river that was fed with wells or springs
IN what was then the northern suburbs
Of London where the knigbt Templars
and others had sundry mills run by
water power. This thoroughfsre from the
Tower to Westminster was the resort or
the fashion and aristocracy when royal
" was in London and the mobiles came
home from the wars. The really fashion
able promenade was in the temple. among
the nave and allies Of the Cathedral
Church Of St Paul a magnificent build
ing at the crown OF Ludgate H.., where
a multitude OF priests officiated all day
long and the shrine Of St. Erkenwald.
glowing with gold and gems and more
suu1ptuous than other shrines in that
vast edifice. We'd with the high altar it.
self in imposing splendor-
Five hundred years ago the best houses
In Fleet street were only mean tene-
ments built of wood and plaster with
roofs matched with straw and fires were
continually causing them to be rebuilt
But BY the time Of Edward the third.
they were beginning TO use slate on the
roofs. although the houses were little
more than novels
Tributary 10 Fleet street were those
leading TO the mansions. or inns" as
they were called in that age. Inn meant
a dwelling and the question shall not
take mine ease at mine inn?" meant
~shaII I not study my comfort in mine
own houseT
Before the end Of the eth century Fleet
street was associated with literature. for
in the palace were poets and chroniclers.
romanticists and song writers who held
their part In the world OF action and au-
thor1ty as. well as in the world OF let
ters-
A thousand years before Milton the
peasant poet Caedmon sang in the hall
Of whitby Abbey OF the Creation and Of
Paradise Lost But to Chaucer belongs