The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1911-06-30

D1NtS0 -
habitants, the largest city In
the world and the political cen
ter of the British Empire, has
formed the background for the
coronation ceremonies. 1t is the great
capital OF a great dominion. and all
Englishmen look to it as the metrop-
Oils of the race. The name London
is derived, it is supposed, from the
Celtic "Llyndin,' the lake fort. erect
ed by the Britons when the Thames
at London was a great lagoon. Taci-
tus says that in 81 A. d.. traders and
their merchandise %abounded here. II
was called Augusta during a brief pc
rlod of Roman occupation. In 500 1t
was in the possession of East Saxon
invaders who made 1t their capital,
and at the time of the Norman con
quest it was the capital of England.
William the C~onqueror gave London
q special charter. and another charter
giving the citizens the right to elect
their principal officers was granted by
Henry ] in 1101. The first mayor was
chosen in 1889. For centuries. how
ever, there vas a constant struggle
between London and the English SOW
ereigns for the rights conceded by the
charters. Throughout the long course
of English history the citizens of Lon
don have shown themselves doughty
champions for political liberty and
they have fought well for their rights.
They adhered to the Reformation
when Queen Mary was prosecuting
the Protestants and they tool the side
of parliament against Charles l. They
also powerfully aided the accession to
the throne of William III.
In the reign of Elizabeth the popu-
lation of London did not exceed $780,
600 and both Elizabeth and Charles |
tried to arrest its growth in order to
keep down progressive and liberal
ideas. The great fire of 1865 found
q London made of wood. The city
was rebuilt of brick and its growth
during the seventeenth and eight
eenth centuries was rapid and sub
stantial. But it was reserved for the
nineteenth century to see the absorp-
ton of distant suburban towns and
hamlets in all directions from the
heart of the old city. This was made
necessary by the migration in aston
fishing numbers of the middla classes
from the city TO residences in the sub
urbs, so that the old city proper.
which in the daytime has a popula-
ton of more than a million, shrinks
at night to a population of a few thou
eand.
Every inch of London is historic
soil, much Of 1t of deep interest to
Americans of English ancestry. The
tower is the mecca of American tour
lists, but practically every street has
It's link with the fading past and his
toric associations. The tower was
originally a royal palace. then a fort
ress, and afterward a prison. Since
the time of the C%onqueror its govern
ment has been ~intrusted to a high
officer called the constable. Here
traitors were imprisoned and execut-
ed and the grim old towers have many
srewsome memories.
London's civic pride is intense and
the Londoner of today is fighting the
fog to create a city beautiful as well
no 6ICuN.
Historic Westminster Abbey.
Westminster Abbey, where the cor
onation OF King George took place,
more English history shrined
in stone thar any other building. In
the dim religious light of this ancient
abbey, most of the sacred ceremonies
sanctifying England's achievements
been held. The abbey as we see
1t now. alone among other English +,
churches, stands as it stood when
England was in the making. Saws the I
Duke of Argyle: I
Upon those very stones rested the /,
or the fathers of those who now I
rule the British, North American and |
A~ustralasian empires. Before the d
altar. which stood In that very chan Z