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BERNICE FOSTER COBER September 2, 1950 This afternoon we added our selves to a long line of visitors waiting in the Tower of London courtyard to enter Middle Tower, which is one of the buildings on the west side of the acreage. As our turn came we climbed a steep flight of stairs, then passed through rooms displaying exam ples of old armor, weapons and even an ancient chopping block for heads. And, in due time, we ached Wakefield Tower, the re story for the British crown ewels. The jewels are displayed on pedestals, behind protective rods. Brilliant lighting brings out their full glitter. Yeoman guards keep the curious spectators slow ly moving. But no objection was made if one wished to walk around The jewel display more than once, to more fully see everything. Placed along with these crown , wels and scepters of state are several large, ornate silver bowls, labeled ‘salt dishes.” When I in quired about the unusual size of these salt bowls, I was told that salt was once a precious commod ity and royalty dispensed it, from these bowls, as a great favor to subjects who deserved recognition. What is termed in general as London Tower, is located on the left bank of the Thames river and occupies 12 acres of land. Tradi tion points to Julius Caesar as the founder of the White Tower, the first building erected on the site. This tower has solid stone walls 16 feet thick. Off and on through English his ty, monarchs lived in White ower. But from Queen Eliza eth's time on, the royal residence was elsewhere. Now there are 13 dowers, which comprise the ‘Tow of London.” The towers have housed many prominent people—much to their sorrow—including Anne Boleyn and Katherine Howard, two of Henry VIII's wives, Lady Jane Gray and her husband also served time there. During the course of the First World War use of the Tower as a prison was revived. On the south side, along the Thames, we saw the Traitors' Gate, through which many prisoners have been brought in from the river. Yoemen, or “Beefeaters” guard the tower and manage visitors. They look impressive in their gay uniforms which hark back to Tu dor days. The Yoemen of the Guard was first instituted in 1485, for sole attendance on the sov ereigns of England. So they are now the oldest existing group of this sort, anywhere. But their du ties have become purely ceremon ial of late years. Originally they watched their king day and night, both at home and on the battlefield, and were held responsible for his safety. Another of their jobs was to make the king’s bed. They were required to outfit themselves and furnish their own horses. From the first, they have dressed in a royal red tunic, which reaches almost to the knees. This tunic is ornate with purple facings and stripes and gold lace adornment. The sleeves are long and full. The knee breeches and long stockings also red. They wear a flatish black hat, with colored decoration around the crown. And their shoes are black, with red, white and blue rosettes. Topping the tunic collar is a fluffy double ruff of white, and they wear white gloves. It is thought that the term “Beefeaters” had its origin in 1669. For it was then that King Charles II reorganized the guard. He thought the Yeomen were sturdy and had such magnificent stature because they ate so much beef. So he assigned an extra ration of beef to them, giving rise to the nick name. The Beefeater who kept an eye on us until we entered the Tower was jolly. And, without losing any of his official dignity, harangued us with facts and figures, almost like a circus barker. We left the Tower by a winding stairway, separated from the one used by entering visitors. Reaching the lawn, our attention was quickly drawn to some of the largest ravens it is possible to imagine. How they did strut! Since my return home, Mrs. Fae Hendricks, the Journal’s wo men’s page editor, happened onto an interesting article about these half-same ravens, and gave it ‘to me, And I have gleaned other items on the birds. For they are noteworthy.) Through the Tower's history many birds found the grounds a banquet hall, for soldiers stationed at the Tower made common prac tice of throwing food remnants out the battlements. This made easy living for the birds. But it was not until the reign of Charles II that the ravens were shown preference. The only fort ress then built was the White Tower. Around it were the trees of Epping Forest, the woods of Kent and the Essex marshes. One day in 1605 many birds had gathered for their usual feast. The ravens, always suspicious of strangers, noticed that men were wrasping up on the White Tower. The ravens began to caw a raucous alarm. The Yeomen alerted by the ravens’ cries, seized Guy Fawkes and his fellow traitors, who were trying to carry out the “Gunpow der Plot.” From then on the ravens were honored as heroes and protected JENNINGS, NOTARY PUBLIC Secretary of State Frank M. Jordan has issued a commission as notary public to Edward M. Jen nings, Ukiah. The commission will expire in May, 1855, by the government The British have come to believe that if the ravens should ever desert the grounds, the Tower of London will fall and the British Empire col lapse. The ravens have come to be as indispensable to a true Brit isher as the crown jewels. Through the Napoleonic wars and other touch-and-go periods of British history the ravens stayed on. But when London and the Tower were blitzed during World War II, all but one of the big black birds flew away. A careful eye was kept on this lone brave bird, re puted to be 50 years old, as he daily took his wing-stretching ex ercises around the Tower. But V-E Day found him still in resi dence. A companion for him was brought in. But the veteran could n't tolerate being henpecked at his age, and took off. Hurriedly, five more ravens were imported as companions for the poor raven girl, Cora, who was jilted the moment she arrived. Cora now swaggers in the soci ety of Corax, Gunn, Garvie, Charles and Cronk. And they have become the most pampered of birds. Years ago a law was passed that the Tower ravens must be fed two good meals a day. Money for this comes out of the Tower budget. At the present time a Beefeater named Henry Thomas Johns holds the title of Raven Master. He must see that they are regularly fed and locked up at sundown. And he clips their wings once a year. He is awarded an extra seven pence (38 gents) a day for his bird duties. But if he wants a night out with the boys, he must appoint a trustworthy deputy to watch over the ravens until his return. The ravens’ tempers are short and they dote on tearing up Tower grass and flowers, pecking putty from the windows and stealing a bright feather from some lady vis itor’s hat. And the silken-clad ankles of women are irresistible to their huge black beaks. When they are seen walking about, the ravens appear almost as large as a 15-pound dressed turkey. They average about 26 inches in length and have a wing spread of over a yard. They dis gorge any indigestible substance they eat, such as bones, hair or feathers, like birds of prey. Au revoir. (To be continued) CLASSIFIED AD$ GET RESULTS
Newspaper Details
Redwood Journal Press dispatch
Ukiah, California, US
Mon, May 21, 1951
Page 7
Full Page
Clipped by
Cyndi P.
USA 16 Aug 2026
Other Publications Near Ukiah, California
Ukiah Daily Journal
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