A WEEK IN LONDON.
Sunday our party rested, but on Monday morning they started for
Westminster Abbey, hardly looking at anything on the way, though they
went by Trafalgar Square, with the high column erected to Nelson, which
stands there so proudly, with its beautiful lions made by Landseer lying
so quietly at its base.
A pleasant morning was passed at the Abbey, and the Poets' Corner proved
to be their greatest attraction, as it is with most Americans. The chair
in which Queen Victoria sat when she was crowned was shown to them, but
Alice said she thought it was a common-looking chair, and wondered why
the Queen did not have one that was more imposing.
On leaving the Abbey they naturally turned towards the Houses of
Parliament, and wishing to get even a better view, they walked part
way over Westminster bridge, where they also saw St. Thomas's Hospital,
situated on the Surrey side of the Thames.
The walk back to the hotel by way of the Embankment was very pleasant,
with its large buildings one side, and the river with its boats moving
up and down on the other, and the rumble of the underground railroad
beneath their feet. On reaching home they were so tired it was decided
to rest in the afternoon and visit Madame Tussaud's wax-works in the
evening.
After dinner Mr. Ford said, "How would you like to go to the wax-works
by the underground railway? It is not very far, if you think you won't
mind the smoke and confined air. The station is very near, and we shall
be left at the next building to the wax-works. I have been driven there
and it only took about twenty minutes, so I think we can go by train in
ten."
"All right," said Mr. Winter; "it will be a good opportunity to see how
we shall like it."
Off they all started to the Charing Cross station. The girls did not
like going down underground so far, but Alice said to Nellie, "I think I
will not say much about it unless mamma does."
After passing three stations, Mr. Winter said, "This air is stifling, do
you not think we are nearly there?"
"Oh, yes," said Mr. Ford, "I think it must be the next station."
When they reached it, it was not theirs, and Mr. Ford called out to the
guard, "How many more stations before we reach Baker Street?"
The man looked at him rather queerly, and said, "Fourteen. Where did you
get on the train?"
"At Charing Cross," said Mr. Ford.
"Oh," said the guard, "you have taken a train for the outer circle and
come the longer way; some one should have told you."
The train moved on, and our party had nothing to do but sit patiently
and try not to think how close and stifling the air was getting.
When they were once more in the fresh air Mr. Ford said, "Driving in
cabs suits me pretty well, and that is the way I am going home, if I go
alone."
There was not a dissenting voice, and after a very pleasant evening
they had a lovely drive home in three hansom cabs, and it only took them
sixteen minutes.
Tuesday morning was spent in visiting the Bank of England and St. Paul's
Cathedral, where the young people and the gentlemen went upstairs to the
Whispering Gallery.
They all went down to the Crypt, where are many tombs, among them those
of Nelson and Wellington.
The great object of interest to them was the immense funeral car which
was made to carry the body of the Duke of Wellington through the streets
of London to his last resting-place.
The wheels were made from pieces of cannon picked from the field of
Waterloo.
Mr. Ford took them to a quaint, old-fashioned place noted for its soups,
for lunch.
In the afternoon the Tower of London was visited, and of course was of
more interest to the Winters than to the Fords.
To Alice it was very realistic, it was so full of English history.
She could tell her mamma much more than could the man, in his strange
costume, who showed them around.
That night the ladies and the two girls were too tired to go out again,
so Mr. Ford took Mr. Winter and they did a little sight-seeing on their
own account.
Wednesday was given up to visiting the Buckingham Palace stables,
where they saw the Queen's famous ponies that are only used on state
occasions; and the South Kensington Museum, which they found very
interesting.
[Illustration: TOWER OF LONDON.--_Page 40._]
In the evening they went to the theatre, and Alice thought it very
strange to go downstairs to their seats. The audience looked so much
better than in America, as the ladies were in evening dress and the
gentlemen in dress suits.
Thursday was a lovely day, and was spent at Hampton Court. They went on
the outside of a coach, and what a lovely drive it was through Richmond
and Bushy Park, with its wonderful horse-chestnut trees all in bloom!
[Illustration: HAMPTON COURT.]
The coach stopped at a little inn beside the river, where they lunched
before visiting the famous court, once the home of Henry the Eighth,
and presented to him by Cardinal Wolsey. It is now the home of certain
ladies of small income who are alone in the world. They are selected by
the Queen, and of course have only one portion of the palace.
The remainder is occupied as state apartments and a famous
picture-gallery, beside a gun-room only second in interest to that of
the Tower.
Friday was given to Windsor Castle and the Crystal Palace.
Saturday they shopped and visited the Royal Academy, where they saw a
beautiful collection of paintings, and only wished there was more time
to spend looking at them.
Mr. and Mrs. Ford decided to go with the Winters as far as Brussels, and
as they were to start on Monday it was thought best to keep very quiet
on Sunday.
Mrs. Winter said to her husband she wished they could stay longer
in London, where every minute had been a delight; but he said it was
impossible.