UNDERGROUND LONDON.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2569, 2 April 1877, Page 3

UNDERGROUND LONDON.

Subterranean London is a world .liti-lo known; bat yrlhafiDijiis'rMiive'liistory. Fn>ni every.''ordin:n iy:' Ih'i>uV- pipes, which convoy the -ewag ■ oj'lho household, run into Inrgrr fiijn:*. fttid-.h-sr ng^iu into culvert?, or brick parsa^es until nt l«*t the main sewer is r>a< hed. A sewtr is in eltV-cf an undert-riuhd road, and it i.« dilfi(Sn'liVtp'.'orii.i .nn/|id.e.a ais t< (hei .et> ; Vtr*it..us hihkti tutlii «.f fhe s\s;eni of severs which runs uikWm*. Jn .l?«ri,-,. f":in» n Awn pi' wi'Mj »,-g->'«?ifi-ii'w/^fift'• ?wn. M> to speak, is lik«- may be giilu-red under compnrativfly agr fable circu'rastum?ev: on stated oecea>ions * limited number of pr-rsiins are admitted* to %'isir les 6guots. and all who_ Save Hie*' privilege »n» asitorii.Mied at 'he deariline's «>f rln-tinriff: yrdurid vaults; with their weirtu'pt white washed walls. tl.ieirnfWt sidei'ialks. fl(nik. ing tht'alrnostc.Vnip e!ely.&-o4':nsi;d nver of sewage, over wh'iru/jlie'" visi.t«-'r. ( is swiftly"carriod on train. cars',, or tovved along in.barges..rvery. main and branch si>wer being labelled 'auh the name, of the corresponding street ab >ye. lv Londun a ."iibterraru-an ni'tw. Ik of r se-'f crs, much loss pleasant to .explore, lies everywhere tinder our feet Ji is easy to talk; of- .the Cat* • | combs, of.. Kome, about which many a romance hag been written, or about the subterranean -reserv irs of Constantinople or the tiiant oaves of Kerttuc-ky." It; is doubtful.-however, whether there- is ailywhere in the whole 'world such a Cp<:yleau labynntli as the London sewers- ,• As we | uiake ouirway aloiig the LoiiHon streets i .we; here and, there cotriiv across a. large 1 iron trap "door let into . the pa>ehi<mt-, while'oeCHjiioiiaily we fi id that the trapdoor itself U open, and a second door of ;iionne,twprt,.allowing free pn&saue to light and air, is 1 ft in; its -ulaee. If we stop to look down tins ap rluiv tre see a. sort of well/ the shaft of <*yli;ch is lined with,'', brickwork,,.' and .in the corners of which are series qf iron .st-ps. f'ruling a k-nd "f ladder from th«». ; bowels..of ,the earth, into .the open . air. . Presently a glimmer if light appears;; it grows: larger an! steadier; Hie (rnio-door is pushed open; a bein;i enioues. clad in -huge boots that, reach to his fhjoh v with/ h. Inntenrin his bond and a slfov>l overhin shoulder Solemn-y an-i deliberately' h> climbs, into the openair, shuts'the door, breathes a" deep sigh of relief, tliru«!B I.v's pipe between".hj*. t- efh. and goes'his. wiay., Htsis a ".flusiier," «>i* in more ,ordin<i,ry\ parlance, a sesrerman. ; who has, just left, hid underground.labors. '_.-•: - ... ;.