Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1914-02-20
ACROSS TRAFALGAR SQUARE
MERGING from a west end
= theater in London a companion
= remarked to the writer: "This
>. makes me glad to be a provin-
= ssss.ss

y theater in London a companion
n remarked to the writer: "This
LIZ makes me glad to be a provin-
cial. It's lost on Londoners."
knew his meaning. The Londoner
may be proud of London in his negli-
gent. unenthusiastic way; he may love
London, perhaps be sentimental about
London, and (not inconceivably) exag-
gerate London's cosmic Importance
But he seldom is thrilled by London.
That sensation is reserved for the
provincial. Whether 1t is 9. sensation
to boast of depends on ones point OF
view. Those who count romance as
a poisoner of clear judgment might
perhaps regard the provincial's thrill
with scorn, for the thrill Is the tribute
Of an incorrigible romantic. In the
north especially, even in the huge
towns, London is name which calls
forth the liveliest anticipations Of ad-
venture. There is something ingen-
uous in the awe with which the young
northerner will speak Of the goal Of
London. But, as compensation for his
extravagant notion Of the wonders Of
the metropolis, he extracts more Joy
from it, when he does visit 1t for a
week, than the cockney can feel in a
lifetime.
Emotion Romantic.
This emotion is, as has been said,
largely romantic. 1t is also, however,
appreciative in the artistic sense. The
provincial sees London as a series Of
pictures. Doubtless the intelligent
Londoner sees them too, but he is
usually far less conscious of them
than is the provincial, even the pro-
vincial who has lived in London for
years. My companion at that theater,
standing on the curb and watching
the packed traffic slide past in the
sheen Of the electrics, was acutely
aware Of his own delight in the spec.
tacle.
The provinces, as far as know, do
not impress the Londoner as London
impresses the provincial; and though
this naive reflection may arouse an
ironical smile, 1t is less trite than It
sounds. Our enthusiasm for the CLAM
or Of London reaches its height after
dark. when the lamps are lit. Some
OF London's most famous thorough.
fares are shade disappointing to us
by daylight The Strand-that Mecca
Of the Bohemianism celebrated in
music-hall ditties-has commonplace
architecture, an unremarkable vista,
and Is narrowish as important streets
go. Regent street, during the day, is
only really fine in sunshine. Leices-
ter square is ugly. But at dusk the
more vulgar details vanish, concealed
behind the glitter of dazzling Jew.
ellery Of lights. A dim cobalt skyline
Is still visible. but the crudeness OF
the roofs and chimney-pots has gone
Down below, each shop window is a
sparkling cave of multicolored treas
ures; and the pavements, thronged
with promenaders, furnish forth a
spectacle of animation on scale
which only great capitals-Ber
Paris, New York-can match. When
the plays are due to begin we have
another entertainment: the rush OF
vehicles to the theater porticos
Wealth suddenly floods out from its
homes and from the restaurants. Ev
cry automobile, as 1t moves noiseless
ly past on bulging tires, gives us o
dainty peep-show glimpse of Its lit In
terior. Exquisite toilettes loll agains,
the rich upholstery. The corner OF
Long Acre and Bow street, on ar
opera night, almost suffices to per
suade us that the worlds money IL
concentrated in London. Car afte,
car, In a slowly advancing line. mar
shaled by police, creeps round the
curve and down to Covent Gardens
blazing entrance-doors. Each car con
tains Its intimate group, exquisitely
dressed, and Ito that gaping provin
cial OF ours) sublimely unperceptive
OF the moments true splendor. With
! IN the opera house the pageant ol