Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-05-17

W ~ III 1OuuOu ny pTODDSdiS "
NJ make decided changes in st.
James Park, partly in connec-
ton with the placing of the King Ed
ward memorial. A storm of protests
has arisen and some of the improve
ments" doubtless will be abandoned,
but the committee in charge adheres
to its determination to remove the
famous iron suspension bridge and
substitute one of stone. This is de-
nounced as a "wickedly Philistine
project"
In Norman times what is now st.
James Park was lonely expanse OF
fields and woodlands surrounding
hospital for fourteen lepers. The in
stitution was dedicated to St. James.
Many generations of "leper maydens"
shook their cups and platters to So
licit aims from the wayfarers who
passed their solitary abode, before
Henry VIII cast covetous eyes upon
their woodland domain. He desired
to convert it into grounds for VOL
sey's palace of Whitehall, which he
had lately appropriated. The leper
sisters received notice to quit and
were granted a sum in compensation.
The hospital was RACED to the ground.
and upon the site Henry erected the
palace. or, as it was then termed, the
Manor House of st. James" Thither
he brought his new queen, Anne Bo-
leyn. and in the bright spring morn
ings they rode forth a-Maying with a
gay cavalcade over uninterrupted
country to Hampstead.
st. James Park attained its full
glory under the Stuarts as a fashion
able promenade and beautiful pleas
described the palace and park in
glowing terms when he visited the
court of Charles / and Henrietta
Maria. He was lost in admiration of
the two great grand gardens" plant
ed with fruit trees and bounded by "a
great park" filed with deer: Across
this same park Charles was taken to
Whitehall for execution.
After the Restoration. Charles II.
although he did not occupy st. James
palace, made a hobby of identifying
the park and gardens. Pepys was an
enthusiastic chronioler of the great
and noble alterations" and was con-
stantly ito the park" to see how they
were progressing. He speaks of the
engines at work drawing up the wa
ter to make the lake, of the Physique
Garden" which was planted. of the
kings aviary and the wild fowl which
he kept. and liked to feed.
Skating was first introduced into
this country by the cavaliers of the
merry monarch on the canal of St.
James Park during the severe win
ter of 1862, and at the St. James
promenades gentlemen were first seen
wearing muffs." Smoking was not
tolerated in the park. Charles II and
Catherine of Braganza rode there
daily in "a most elegant manner"
The grand promenade was at the east
end of the Mall in front of the Horse
Guards. The Mall was then smooth
hollow walk, bordered by box and
used for the game of Nell. which gave
it its name. The duke of York made
the game fashionable and was the
leader in an animated scene of caya-
Tiers chattering. laughing and salut-
ing as they essayed to throw the bali
through the iron ring hanging from 8
post.
The park of that period was beau
tiful enclosure of grass and trees in
terseeted by winding walks and trav-
ersed by canal. at one end OF which
the king had constructed his duck
island and decoy. He had also an
aviary, which gave the name to Bird
cage walk. At the southeast end OF
the canal was Rosamond's pond. a no
torlous place for designations. and
their corollary. suit .des- II was wood
ed and secluded. and for period was
the scene of more suicides by drown
ing than any other place in town
The pond was fill~d up in ITO
Throughout succeeding reigns St
James Park. which became more
beautiful year By year as the trees in
the Mall grew and fiourished. re-
NAMED q fashionable lounge and
promenade. There beauty. wit and
fashion paraded in the days of the
early Georges. when St James pal
ace ceased. in the reign Of George
III. to be the residence of the mon
arch, the park began 10 lose prestige
as a place of fashion. George "
made some Improvements TO the park,
and finally threw II omen as q public