Semi-weekly Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1851-1852, 1851-11-14
From the London Times.
VISIT TO THE CRYSTAL PALACE BY
MOONLIGuT

To those who have seen the interior during
the day time filled with thousands OF spectators,
and anitated by all the hustle of sig tseeinS,
il is difficult to realize the aspect which the
same scene presents when the crowds have de-
nartpd when the gates are closed, and the 20.
I;ce have taken under their entire control that
y,et collection of the trophies of human Indls
fry. One can scarcely comprehend the strength
of ,ba, roufdenc. in the law and IN t1e securl-
- of uroper,y which reconces fifteen thousand
cxl;biters. gathered from every civilized coun
trv in the world, speaking different languages,
and brourht up under different forms "i gov
.r,,,ar,. 10 trust the most valued evldeuccs |
the;r skill their weaIt, or their enterprise, night
af,cr u;oht. to Il bndy Of about fifty police n'cn,
pai little above the orI'Iiari wages o' ia""t'
and armed against dangers from without WIN
no weapon more formidable than baton.
Russian ieweer is the Only person we have
heard of as showing any uneaslness III the eS'
ercise of this confidence. lie wanted To DE-
convinced that his diamonds were safe, and
accordingly he applied Tor an order to visit them
nv nisht His request was granted, aud he
soon had a practical test OF the wachul care
taken of his property.
Standing in front of his glass case, and sat.
;sfvinp himself that all was safe, he ilappemed
IN tnru round, and there to his astonishtnent he
fo,nd that he had a constable at either elbow
superintending his movements. aud by no means
d;s,osed from their looks to take his honesty
for granted. We visited the Crystal Palace
two puhts ago, but in less sceptical spl'lt
than the Russian jeweller, and for a different
purpose. We wished to see the aspect OF the
interior under the influence of clear moon
light to observe how each object of interest
varied in expression when looked at through ii
now medium. TO contrast with the hustle aud
tbronping excitement of the day, the effects OF
silence. solitude, and darkness. Let the reader
accompany US in our survey, and share IN the
impressions which it produced Entering by
the south transept shortly before 10 o'clock,
the moon, now nearly full, was shining through
its arched and transparent roof. Standing III
deep shadow MacDowalps Eve was seen,
among other objects, upon the left, looking
more beautiful in form from the surrounding
obscurity. In the centre every thing was plain
ly revealed, the pinnacles of the crystal foun
tain appeared tipped with silver, and in the ba.
sin below, the ribs and sash bars overhead and
the sky be vond them, and portions Of the adja-
cent galleries, and the occasional glimmer of
gas.lig ghts, were all reflected with marvellous
distinctness. The jets of the fountain no Ion
ger played, and the stiffness of all around was
unbroken An air of solemn repose pervaded
the vast area the very statues seemed to rest
from the excitement of the day, and to slumber
peaceahly on their pedestals Some were en-
veloped in white coverings, which in the doubt.
ful light gave them sufficiently ghosty ap.
pearance; others remained unprotected from
the chilling night air, and braved exposure to
cold, as they have already, we hope, successful
ly done to criticism.
At one point Of intersection between the
nave and transept, Virginius, under the fare of
gas lamp from the China compartment, bran.
dished the knife with which he had sacrificed