Travellers' Stories by Eliza Lee Cabot Follen
page 27 of 40 (67%)
page 27 of 40 (67%)
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Lector, si monumentum requiris,
Circumspice. Obiit 25 Feb. MDCCXXIII., aetat. XCI. We subjoin a translation of this inscription for our young friends:-- "Underneath lies buried Christopher Wren, the builder of this church and city; who lived beyond the age of ninety years, not for himself, but for the public good.--Reader, if you ask for his monument, look around you.--He died on the 25th of February, 1723, aged 91." He is called the builder of the city, as well as of the church; for Sir Christopher Wren was the architect of more than fifty of the churches in London. One morning, our friend, Miss S., was kind enough to accompany us to Greenwich, where, you know, is the Hospital for disabled sailors of the British navy. The day was warm and lovely, like what we call the Indian summer in America. We took an omnibus to London Bridge; from thence we proceeded by railway, and in a few minutes were in Greenwich. We entered the magnificent old Park, and wandered about for a long time, to our hearts' content, among the venerable old trees, admiring the graceful deer that were enjoying themselves all around us. At last we came to the top of a charming hill, where we sat down to rest and look at the river. Several of the sailors had arranged spy glasses of various sizes for the accommodation of visitors, and for the good to themselves of a few pence. We patronized one of these, and then descended to the Hospital, which is the main object of interest. It was just time for the old |
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