Aug. 16th. I was shown about the port, the shipping, shipbuilding, etc., and after visiting among the Saints and others I went back to London. I spent two days in and around Crystal Palace. Each day I saw Blondon walk a tight wire across the transcept, over 100 feet long and 40 feet high, I think; slowly at first as if feeling his way, then faster, then stopped by the way, sat on the wire, lay on his back, stood on his head. Then he came out with a stove on his back, placed it on wires, prepared and kindled a fire, cooked eggs and pancakes, ate and sent a sample down to the audience. Then he crossed blindfolded and then with a man on his back. I saw a trapeze and gymnastic performances and heard a grand orchestra. I had a grand view of the park and surrounding country from the tower.
I saw a large collection of busts, statues, fine arts and stuffed animals from all parts of the world. I was especially impressed with the "Jeptha and his Daughther." The artist took the point in the poem where, looking up, he breathed the name of God in agony and she knew then that he was stricken. It was so life like. I was also impressed with the Savior being carried from the cross to the sepulchre. Two men carried Him in His shroud, His feet and hands showing the wounds. One women held His head with a look that seemed to say, "Oh, How I would like to avenge this." Four others followed, one supported the mother whose upturned face showed the extreme expression of anguish.
It was so perfect and grand. From the hundreds of efforts of the grand old Masters that I have viewed, these two and the Infant Jesus in the arms of one of the Wise Men of the East who came to worship Him - the mother in the manger, a halo of light from the infant head casting a light and shadow to and from the other Wise Men and the others present. This and a later Briband Scene in Melbourne , Australia, reported Nov. 15, 1875, have impressed me the most.
I spend one day in the Alexandria Palace and Park. These were grand views. One day in Madam Tussaud's Wax Works was very impressive and her Chambers of Horrors was indeed horrible. In the former, were life size features of the leading men of the world dressed in the costumes of the age and country in which they lived. Our own leading men from Washington to Lincoln and Grant were next in prominence to England's. The Chamber of Horrors showed all the barbaric methods of torture and execution, including the guillotine, the substitute for the headsman's axe. Then I was shown through the Houses of Parliament.
I was surprised to see the uncushioned benches in the House of Lords and the low throne of the Queen, only raised one step and a seat each side for her maids of Honor on the level floor. We were also shown the jewel crown, valued at 5,000,000 pounds, that is placed on her head when she graces the throne. At Westminister we stood upon the slab in the stone floor that covers the remains of Livingstone. The Houses of Parliament, Westminister and St. Paul's are grand structures to visit. We were shown through St. Paul's Cathedral from basement to tower. Their whispering gallery, (circular), from which our large Salt Lake Tabernacle is modeled, except for the straight center between the two circular ends, is grand. We tested its whispering capacity.
We were shown through the Zoological Gardens. Spent a day by special permit in the Woolwitch Arsenal, and, as the "Eastern Question" was on, a very large force was manufacturing various instruments and implements of war from an eighty-one ton cannon - the largest now in construction - down, and all sized of balls and shells for mortars and guns.
We traveled through the different parts of London on railroads that ran over the tops of the houses, giving elevated views. We also crossed under the Thames River through a tunnel -- a novelty -- and rode to different parts on the underground railroad which ran for several miles through various parts of London.
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