Last week London lost the last traces of a sentimental old symbolthe Crystal Palace. A Victorian monster of iron and glass, surrounded by gardens full of melancholy statuary, the Palace had been since 1854 London's high-toned version of Coney Island. Thousands of contemporary Londoners had their first childhood outings there, listening to holy choirs, brass bands, evangelists; watching cricket, soccer, motorbike races; running through the gardens, boating on the pond. In World War I the grounds and building incongruously became H.M.S. Crystal Palacei.e. a "training ship" for naval reservists.
In November...