EMANUEL HOSPITAL, that lovely old building in Westminster, was demolished in 1892. It was founded in 1594 by Anne, Lady Dacre (at one time maid of honour to Queen Elizabeth), "for the relief of aged people and the bringing up of children in virtue and good and laudable arts, whereby they might the better live in time to come by their honest labour." Her pensioners lived in this peaceful old-world spot in James Street, which lies on the way from Buckingham Gate to Victoria. After leaving the great mansions near the Park, it was wonderful to come upon this little green oasis, with a splendid wrought-iron gate in front, and surrounded by low red-brick buildings with tall chimneys, and its chapel in the middle. It had already been doomed to destruction when I saw it 118 FAMILIAR LONDON first, and the old inmates had not the heart to look after the flowers; but I believe that until then it had been beautifully kept and cared for. Now on its site stands a huge block of residential flats. James Street is now known as Buckingham Gate, and its romance and sentiment have perished with its name. I never walk through Trafalgar Square without wishing that Sir Edwin Landseer had modelled four lions in different attitudes, instead of having them all nearly similar. It seems to me the effect would have been much finer. However, even as they are, they are very splendid. One windy day I sat down with my back to a fountain, to sketch one of them, when a sudden gust blew my hat off my head into the very middle of the water. I jumped up, and am sure I must have gesticulated wildly, for, in almost less time than it takes me to write it, a small crowd had swarmed round the fountain, and the whole square was black with people and policemen hurrying up. In the meantime the hat, a blue straw one, was whirling round and round, preparing to sink, when a lamplighter appeared, and with great ingenuity managed to hook it on to his pole, and handed it to me, amid the cheers and the laughter |