Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1863-12-26

had never seen; and none Of the landmarks
visible, Of which we had taken the bearings Of
on entering. We could not even see the vast
park from which we entered We pulled out
our little pocket maps Of the city, but they
gave US no assistance aud we finally went
back OF the door-keeper, who, npon our ex-
planning our difficulty, pleasantly allowed us
20 pass IN again, and directed us what turns
to make to find the door by which wo had en-
tered.
From thence, bp the broad carriage road
that surrounds the park as the tire does tho
wheel, TO the Geological Gardens where, in
buildings erected for the purpose, we saw
larger collection OF birds, beasta, fowls, and
creeping things than Noah took into the ark.
II is the grandest menagerie In the world
Among the many curiosties Of the place, is
a pair Of ostriohss which, in their family ar.
rangementa, have established most equitable
division of labor The female produces the
eggs, and the male matches them. We saw
him, in his brilliant attire, sitting patiently on
tho nest, while his mate walked solemnly back
wards and forwards, sentinel to keep off in
truders and vigilant oAerseer TO keep him at
his work.
Passing down through tho park, We came
to large artificial lake, in which great mum.
bers OF swans and muscovy dnck wero dis
porting themselves, and there, although the
great city was all around US, we we're ns com
pletely removed from the sounds Of busy life
and the sight of the habitations of men, as
if we were instead, in the solitude of q West
ern forest or prairie, They call these parks
the lungs Of London, and thousands OF the
poor and the rich, daily avail themselves of
the opportunities they afford OF escaping from
the dust, smoke and turmoil of the city, and
enjoying the green grass, the great forest trees
and the pure air of the country.
We stopped in Baker straet to see the ex-
tensive collection of wax figures of Madame
Tussand 1t issaid to be the only exhibition
of the kind in the world worth seeing. Wax
men ahd women are at best, but poor carica-
lures OF humanity, but these are unusually
life.like, and the kings, queens, mobiles and
soldiers are arrayed in garments as gorgeous,
and apparently as valuable, as those Of which
they are copies. "0ld Abe" with Seward
and General Mcclellan are standing together
there apparently absorbed in the discussion of
some new way of getting 10 Richmond, while
jeff Davis Lee and Stohewall Jackson,
across the hall from them, look as il they un-
derstood that game, and had ready a decisive
move when it should be their turn to play,
lar features, kind blue eye and staIwart form
of Richard, the Lion Hearted, the kingly
knighterrant, and hero of so much thrilling
romance but gave very little attention to the
other sovereigns, who probably would never
have been known even to their own genera
tion but for the accident of their birth +
stumbled over the old Quaker, who sits on a
sofa reading paper, and begged his pardon
a9 thousandu Of ofhara hou oua dana bafr., Il
covering that he is only counterfeit man,
and / looked with reverential awe upon the
body of Wellington, England's greatest Cap
lain, laying there in state. l went into this
exhibition with the expectation of being bored,
out left it feeling that, to use form OF speech
which is the highest compliment an expert. |
enced traveller ordinarily pays to any sight |
however grand or interesting it may be, 'it is |
very well worth seeing" TO,
1t was five o'clock when we were through |
With this, and as one must dine even when in |
he midst of the sights Of London, we natur-
lily found our way to an eating house near
tegent street, and after substantial meal |
Iscended to the smoking room above to enjoy |
! digestive cigar. We found there o party of |
middle aged gentleman, who recognized us at
'nce as Americans, and who in short time,
we're plying US with innumerable questions
bout our war and the prospects for peace.
They listened with the greatest apparent in
crest and attention to what we had to say,
md begged to order some bottles of wine 10
rink our healths. They said they we're glad
o meet us, that they hoped our country would
oon be through with its troubles, and that
america and England would always be friends.
t was an exceedingly pleasant incident to us,
nd we thought better Of Englshmen than
ver before We met the same party there
afterwards at dinner time, and
ound them always the same kind hearted and
ocial gentlemen, The idea that Englishmen
re all exclusive, bearish and unsocial is one
'hich no traveller in their country who is not
erversely prejudiced, eutertains beyond a
inge day. Is there any place in all Ameri
a whore such graceful courtesies would be
ccorded to young Englishmen or other for
igners under the circumstances l have men
oned 2 think nof HHH.I .tf.| ....