Jefferson jimplecute. (Jefferson, Tex.) 1907-1926, 1913-08-07
Interesting Letter Of
Sightseeing In London

My dear Mrs. Mason:
We were going TO Stafford
on-Avon 10 day bet IL Is dull and
cloudy 40 we have postponed our
visit and are going TO sec The
Girl on the Film" new musical
comedy at the Gaity Theatre this
afternoon instead.
| had a very pleasant trip
across the Atlantic. Sailed from
New York May Bird, arriving in
London on the 18th Of May.
The buildings are very dingy
looking (due to smoke and fog)
but the flowers and trees are
beautiful The hawthorn and
horsechestnuts of their heights.
On Sunday we took tram car
to Hampton Court. The Palace
which was built in 1915 and pre-
scented TO Henry VIII by Cardi-
nal Wolsey is now closed to the
public on account of the suffra
gettes. We did enjoy the gounds
with trees, flowers and playing
fountains. The rhododendrons
were especially beautiful. The
pink pearl variety resembled La
France roses in color, form and
texture. The white rhododen-
drons being not unlike lilies. 1t
was there we saw the famous
grape vine which was planted in
176S. 1t is hourishing like the
green bay tree, each leaf and
tiny bunch being absolutely per-
feet.
Last Sunday morning | went
to the service at Westminster
Abbey. We sat in the Poets
corner surrounded by the busts
and statues of departed great
ness, words of Longfellow came
to mind:
Lives of great men all remind us,
We can make our lives sublime
And departing leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time "
The choir discoursed sweet
music to the accompaniment of
the harmonious strains of the
organ. 1t was heavenly music
music BETTING the solemnity of
the occasion. The sunlight
streamed through the stained
glass windows and the service
was most impressive.
One day we visited st. Pauls
Cathedral the masterpiece of
Sir Christopher Wren. Cruik-
shank, the illustrator of Dickens
works is buried in the crypt. 1t
was there we saw the funeral car
of the Duke of Wellington a cum
bersom affair which cost 100000
and was drawn by twelve black
horses, three abreast very diff
erent from those of the present
day. We visited the famous
whispering gallery in the dome.
There are 627 steps to the very
top of ST. Paul's. We climbed
about 325 steps where we had an
inimitable birds-eye view of the
city. i was clear day conse-
quently we could see the Crystal
Palace nine miles distant
From ST. Paul's we went to
Pimm's a restaurant dating back
a hundred years. After an en-
joyable lunch we took a bus ride
out Mile End. Some one has al
luded to the steps leading to the
steps leading to the top of the
bus as 'corkscrew stairs" 1t is
very apropos. The feat of climb
ing them though difficult is
worth the effort on account of
the view.
Last Saturday we had de-
lightful outing on the Thames
River. Left the Victoria station
on the 9;2O a, IN. train arriving
at Datcheb an hour later, From
there we went to Windsor in a
sailing punt.
Rural England is so beautiful
one is constantly reminded of
green pastures and still wa
ters" | can still hear the bleat-
ing of the sheep on the rivers
bank, the call of the cuckoo, the
cawing of ire crows overhead;
| can still see the swans with
outspread wings, the gaily deco
rated households, the first
glimpse of Windsor castle thro'
the trees, and above all the blue
skye and feecy clouds. Eaton
college is just across the river
from Windsor Castle, We could
see Eaton Chapel and hear the
chimes.
The castle was closed to visi-
tors on account of the sutIragetts
but we were allowed in st. Georg-
e's Chapel. There too, we had a
beautiful view of the surround
ing country from one of the ter
races. Windsor is a quaint and
historical town and | did enjoy it,.
4 ,. -. l..