The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1919-06-03
Nnits Parliament Building
And Westminster
Abbey
Also Visits The Grave Of Mt.
Vernon Soldier, D. c.
Stone, ,Jr.
sev William A. Ashbrook)


pond I will condense and conclude
my observations of this most won
derful trip. In my last letter ieit
,vou IN Paris, after briefly narrating
our trip to Italy. We ran from Paris
by rail to LaHavre, France, where we
took boat for England, crossing the
English Channel arriving at Ports
mouth and lisembarking at Southamp-
ton where the Pilgrim fathers embark
ed for America. A two hours ride by
rail through a beautiful, highly culti-
-vated and improved country and we
are in London, the metropolis OF the
world. This letter and more might
we'll be devoted alone to London but
lest become tedious will touch only
q few of the high spots. The city
proper Of London is only about one
mile square and the night population
less than 10000 but great London
which claims over 100000 peopleNand
like great New York includes all ci-
ties and towns and is easily the larg-
est city in the world with New YORK
O gaining second. spent three busy
days in London but did not more
than begin to see the sights. The
Parliament Building is much more or
nate, both within and without than
our own Capitol, but I prefer the sim
plicity Of Americas Capitol. The clock
tower on the Parliament Building is
$40 feet high by 40 feet square which
makes the building have the appear
, ance of cathedral. The minute hand
of the Big Ben in the tower is Ia
feet long, The House Of Lords is In
deed lgilded chamber and gives evil
dences of royal splendor and extrava-
gance not found in Republics. The
House Of Commons only seats 476
while the present membership Is 67O
so It Is impossible for all of the mem
bers of Parliament to be seated at any
one time including gallery space The
old Parliament Building was destroyed
by fire in 1891 and the present struc-
ture completed in 1857. A small por-
ton of the old building begun in the
18th century was preserved and adds
to the historical Importance Of the
building.
Closely adjacent is Westminster
Abbey, the most noted edifice in Lon
don. Here for several hundred years
were buried all of the kings and
queens of England and for the past
few centuries the mortal remains of
statesmen. warriors, poets and artists
have been inferred In It. Here you can
find o tablet marking the resting place
Of psarly:Aevery famous Englishman
N ~ ~ Iast tllousand. years. Only
e ~ SSa3tAf test have been solemnlsed
tS Vestmtgster Abbey Snnd here ali
t3$y ef.nsland are crowned.
Buckingham Palace which Is also
nearby In the down town residence OF
the king. While II does not compare
to Windsor Castle about thirty miles
out yet II il more magnificent thar
the White House. The Kings towr
stables look like good enough for NJ
average American millionaire resi-
dence.
The present King spends most o
his time at Windsor Castle but hi
grandmother, the beloved Queen Vic
toria. although she spent five millions
improving Windsor Castle lived large
ly In Buckingham Palace. Windsor
Castle famed the world over az the
residence of British Sovereigns wa.
founded by William the Conqueror bu
has been altered by every succeeding
monarch. 1t is a group of buildings
covering several acres on command
ing site and looked more attractiv,
to me ut distance than or close OK
animation. The Chapel at Windsor
Castle seemed rather too costly ant
iexclusive for the spirit and presenc,
Of the lowly Nazarine to enter bu
perhaps II is easier now for camel t.
enter q needles eye than II used I,
be. because there are more camels
The royal household regularly attend
services and the parson said tn
quarterage of his congregation wa
paid to date. The parks surroundinI
the castle includes about 1900 acre
and noticed fine flock of about 40
sheep grazing thereon like an ordir
airy flock Of Ohio sheep.
Next In Importance to the averag
sightseer is the Tower. In Roma
times II was used as fortress, late
~ q palace and now as prison
Here In the days gone by It was POI
ular pastime to behead kings an
hundreds Of lesser Importance. Fer
also during the war Just ended yer
many spies were lined up againi
the wall and snot. In the Tower al
kept the Crowned Jewels. The bla