Greenwich

gren'ij, a village on the southern bank of the Thames, six miles below London Bridge. It may be reached by train or boat. The hotels are famous for fish dinners. When Parliament closes for the season it is customary for the cabinet officers and prominent members to repair to Greenwich for a whitebait dinner. It was formerly a place of royal residence. Greenwich Hospital for aged and disabled sailors now occupies the site of the old royal palace. Henry VIII and his daughters Mary and Elizabeth were born here. Greenwich Park, laid out during the reign of Charles II, occupies 174 acres. It is clothed with fine old chestnuts in which a herd of tame deer may be seen. It is a favorite place of resort for Londoners. A hill in the center, 180 feet in height, is crowned with the famous Greenwich Royal Observatory, from the meridian of which English astronomers make their calculations. The meridian of Greenwich is, in fact, accepted by geographers of all countries as the prime or first meridian. The correct time for England is indicated here every day at 1:00 P. M. by the descent of a large colored ball. The time is telegraphed to the most important cities throughout the United Kingdom. Admission to the observatory is permitted only to scientists of renown. At the gate, however, a clock shows the correct time to all callers. Brass standards of measure are also let into the walls. They are noted with interest by many callers. An adjacent moor, called Black-heath, was the place of assembly made famous by Watt Tyler and Jack Cade.