Smyrna times., 1933-10-25
REAL ESTATE
MOVE LONDON
Threatens Clustered Church
Yard Famous In Grey's
''Elegy"
DUE TO DEVELOPMENT"

ROBeS, WHer6 1HOmdS Gray WrOt(
his famous "Elegy," is threatened
by a promoters scheme for rea
estate development nearby.
Located in the southern part Of
Buckinghamshire. the little village
is only twenty miles from London,
according to a bulletin from the
National Geographic society. 81
has. however, remained almost IN
changed through the two centuries
which have passed since Gray came
down from Cambridge for the long
summer vacation.
"The nearby town of Slough, how,
ever, has become a thriving manu-.
featuring center, spreading blocks
of red brick housing units across
the 1eas,' and under the rugged
elms' of the poets beloved country.
side. Fortunately a large field to
the east of the church has already
been purchased by the Penn-Gray
society, and it is hoped that funds
may be found to complete a pro-
tecting circle of green.
Tree Shaded Poet.
1.-THE church itself is a low, ivy
covered structure with square, Nor
man tower. Opposite its porch
stands a massive, gnarled yew, said
to have shaded the poet while he
wrote. Near the tree is the simple
brick tomb where, in 1771, Gray
was buried beside his mother.
"Of particular interest to the
American tourist in Stoke POges is
the old Elizabethan manor house,
which was owned by Thomas Penn,
son of the founder of Pennsylvania.
In one of the rooms may be seen a
part of the trunk of the elm tree
under which William Penn signed
the treaty with the Indians. His
grave lies a few miles distant in
the Quaker burial ground by Jor-
dams meeting house.
Even before the rise of the Quak-
ers in the Seventeenth century,
South Buckinghamshire had long
been a storm center of religion. The
Lollards were prosecuted there dur
ing the Fourteenth and Fifteenth
centuries, and likewise the Prot
estant martyrs of the Sixteenth
century
1.-Two miles beyond Jordan's is
Chalfont st. Giles, where Milton
stayed during the great London
plague. His small stone cottage is
carefully preserved, while his love
for that part of England lives for
ever in L'AllegrO' and II Pense-
rosO.'
"Buckinghamshire, one of Eng
lands smallest counties, lies inland
just west and north of London. The
winding Thames forms its southern
boundary, and the equally winding
Ouse circles it in the north. Across
the county from southwest to north
east stretch the low. wooded slopes
of the Chiltern hills.
Because it is cut off from all sea
trade, and because ii has no min
eral resources of value, the county
has always remained primarily agri-
cultural, despite its geographical
nearness to London. More than half
its entire area is in permanent
grass, and cattle raising forms the
chief industry. The Vale Of Ayles-
bury in particular is famous for
its dairy farms. Wheat and fruit
are also important crops.
Lace and Furniture Making.
Certain local industries, princi-
pally lace making and the manu-
facture of furniture, are still car
ried on. High Wycombe. largest
town In the county, is well known
for its fine chairs. 1t is also ia
nous as the home of that great
British statesman, Benjamin Dis
u CAl, HhO 10 bulAcN III the Nhul III
yard at Hughenden Manor.
"In Buckinghamshire, too, is Elton
college. largest of England's pub
lie Schools those famous and an
dient institutions, corresponding
TO American private preparatory
schools for boys. Elton. which was
by Henry vi In 1440, lies
In the southern part of the county,
lust across the Thames from Wind
sor castle.
I'm his Ode TO the Distant Pros
Dect of Elton college Gray, a loyal
Etonian, describes 'Ye distant
Spires, We antique Towers rising
beyond the shining curve of the
Thames. From Windsor Bridge
Eton's High street leads through a
village to the mellow
Prick buildings and shaded walks of
he school. Beyond, on a branch OF
he Thames. is the Elton Playing
ield. where endless practice takes
)lace before the great annual event
It Lords-the Eton-Harrow cricket
Match"