San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-09-20

site OF previous lord may
ors' mansions-and where, indeed, the
homes of the old Roman governors
once were situated-it is a monument
to the rugged, perseyering, indomitable
character of the British.
The second reception room on the
upper floor seemed TO run the length
of the building, and from it entrance
was gained TO many other rooms ana
banquet halls. Forward, TO the left,
was the lord mayors private study,
and into this ! was shown.
The lord mayor--Sir Alfred Bower
at once impressed me as the sort Of
man capable of the exacting demands
Of his office.
EXPLAINS OFFICE
he explained that his office as lord
mayor also necessitated him presid-
ing over one Of the city's courts, into
which he was preparing TO 90 at that
ime.
At that moment the lady mayoress
and her two daughters entered the
room. The lady msycress, a distin-
guished looking woman of exquisite
manners, appeared keenly interested in
what we had to say. Her daughters
had Just returned from a mornings
ride in Hyde Park and were still in
their riding clothes. Their faces ear
ried the ruddy flush ! found SO char.
aeteristic of out-of doors English girls,
and they were trim and attractive In
their riding breeches and little hats.
The lord mayor turned me and my
companions over TO the lady mayoress
10 show US the mansion house. 1t
was a pleasure had anticipated, for
i knew there was so much history in
the place each detail would be of |
consuming interest. /
From the ballroom we descended |
by the elevator 10 the basement, where, |
in a great vault, we saw all the gold |
and silver plate accumulated by a sue |
cession of lord mayors.
This piece the lady mayoress |
would say. is from 1887, and this |
from -"
But quite lost track of time, stand |
ing there in the midst Of such evil |
dences of antiquity.
II the British, compared to US
Americans, seem stolid, il is with good |
cause. When we have the history that |
is Englands, and the pride of CEN |
turies of accomplishment, we too, 10 |
a younger race, may appear to be |
bowed beneath a weight Of tradition.
STREETS ARE TANNED
Finally, after we had penetrated the
age-encrusted mysteries of the old /
mansion house-on the site Of which |
the most famous lord mayor of Lon
don, Dick Wilmington, had his home,
and after him, every year, another
lord mayOr-we prepared 70 leave.
The lady mayoress showed us 10 the |
foyer and there babe us good bye. |
Newspapermen held me for 4 moment, |
and then, still flush with the interest
If my visit, and altogether unsuspect-
ing, passed drought the open door
TO the street
There was q sight! The street and
neighboring streets were lammed with
thousands Of persons. A number OF
buses were stalled in the center OF
the crush. II was impossible TO move.
IL was the biggest crowd by far
had seen. Perspiring boobies fought
to make way for me TO my car and
finally opened a path through which
/ struggled. And then, with young
London hanging onto the running
boards and the rear Of the car, we
slowly made our way TO the freedom
Of an open street. II had been a bat
tie. The youngsters had pulled so hard
at nv fingers they ached. I've a great
deal Of reserve strength, but it was
taxed by that incident.
Clear Of the crowd, and free 10
move where we wanted TO until lunch
con, ] decided it would be a good time
20 visit London Tower. ] was doing
il only because ! would be expected
10 know something of il when re-
turned. As matter Of fact ] didn't
particularly relish the idea.
VISITS TOWER
How wrong / was! Under the guild
snce of a uniformed guard, who,
dressed in his flamboyant cloak. suit
and hat, himself looked like a bit of
the Old World, was led from one
age-old wonder to another.
How that guard could talk He
sounded like a photograph all wound
np and going at full speed. We saw
the Traitors Gate and he explained It's
meaning. We visited the prison room
where Sir Waiter Raleigh was i'm
prisoned for twelve years asd where
he wrote his history Of the world.
Above IL and 70 the rear we saw the
room in which the two young princes,
heirs to the throne, were put to death .
BIZ order Of their uncle so that he /
might remain in power. We walked 1
through the very passage along which, .
presumably, the murderers walked, /
and in my mind ] could see the two |
handsome youngsters caught unawares /
By the men who stalked and slew |
them.
We went on to the old chapel under
which lie the bones Of dozens Of cour-
ageous Englishmen. who, for q differ. |
ence of opinion, chiefly on religion,
checrfully paid for their convictions
with death.
"And here" said the guide, 'lies
the body Of SO-nnd-So. As he faced .
the chopping block, his neck stretched |
conveniently on a hewn bit Of wood /
he lifted his beard free Of the path Of 1
the axe which was about 10 descend 1
Ny beard has committed no offense,'
be said"
And that, too, decided-that spirit |
% staggering dare-devilism that de. |
totion 20 a cause, whether it be reli- |
eion or country-Whether IL be right
or Nrong-wss simply another indi- /
cation Of the force Of character Of
these Englishmon who had chopped a
gneat nation cut Of 4 tough world.
saW many things before again set