Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-11-01
Letter from Boston.
Count Schwnbes'l GaIlery-ChicagO Pic
northumberland school
New TRANSACTIONS.

Count Schwnbesl GaIIery-ChicagO Pic
tures--T re--Lcctures--FrenCh school
New Transitions.
FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT
BosToN, Oct. 80, 1871.
This month has brought to a close the exhi-
btiOn of portraits known as Count Schwabe's
gallery of fallen heroes There has always been
mystery about the count himself and doubt in
the public mind as to the ownership of the pic
lures. The gallery has been on exhibition for
long while, sometimes in one part of the city,
sometimes in another; and earnest appeals have
been frequently made to the patriotism and love
of art IN the community, for money to build
gallery, and to house and honor the portraits in
a suitable manner Count Schwabe has received
considerable sums either in answer to his appeals,
or in the way of business, and there were heavy
mortgages on the pictures so Notwithstanding
| all reasonable delay and consideration
on the part of the mortgage holders,
the pictures had at last to be sold
at auction. Then it was discovered that
the labels had been removed, many of the pic
lulto liuil OLG lidlUe 10 uIOLDeF, and
there was almost inextricable confusion. A
large number of the pictures were paid for and
owned by friends, who lent them to Count
Schwabe, so long as the exhibition should be
free and public, but who now, of course claim
cd them. As clear titles could not be given to
any ofthe pictures, nobody wanted to buy them,
and they were sold to the first bidder who was
also the last mortgage, for s25OO. 1t is still
uncertain what will be done with the pictures;
some competent person was to arrange them in
their proper frames, most of which are orna-
mented with regimental insignia or numbers,
and to appraise them; then they were to be sold
to any person or society willing to pay the APP
praised value which is barely enough TO
save the mortgages from loss; or
they were to be put in some central
location, and sold singly, if possible to
the friends who had special interest in the por-
traits. The good paintings will probably be dis
posed Of in this way, and the worthless daubs
will be lost in some lumber room and we shall
hear no more about the counts generous pa
triotism" or unsuccessful humbug," for it
seems still doubtful whether his gallery was a
bluuder ofenthuSiasm or a swindle. At any
rate, art loses nothing by tie breaking-up of
the collection.
Last week fifty pictures, saved from the Crosby
opera house in Chicago, were exhibited here.
They were hastily cut from their frames and
carried away, some of them after the building
was on fire, and they show the marks of their
rough handling. 1t seems rather a pity that
Bachelors Last Hours of Lincoln" with its
''lorty-eight portraits of the most celebrated
men "-all brick-red-should not have been des-
troyed and something beautiful saved in its
place But it seems as if, to most
people, so-called historical picture, or a death
bed scene, however hideous it may be, has some
mysterious value, and the place of honor in this
exhibition was given to the poorest of the pic
lures, on account of its name. The best thing
saved is painting by Kretchmer, called the
Double Treat. 1t represents a bright looking
boy sitting at ease in an old chair tilted back,
and reading an evidently fascinating story from
big worn book. He holds in bis hand a slice
of cake, or perhaps bread spread with Jelly, and
has forgotten it half way to his mouth, while
be devourS instead the greater treat offered to
his imagination. Two of Coleman's pictures
were saved, The ALEXANDRA and the Moorish
Watch Tower; several Of Heades, one of Paul
Weber's, large painting of TAFT, landscape
| by Sontag, small sea view by Bradford, and
one or two of Bierstadts large pictures. One
would go to the exhibition for the sake of Chi
cago, if not for the sake of the paintings.
Edwin Booth is playing to full houses, and
people cry and sob at his Stranger as they cry
at nothing else But, after all, Richelieu is
his greatest part; it grows more and more won
derful to me every time see it; it is the finest
! and most perfect piece of acting ever seen in
Boston. The satisfaction one gets from it is
entirely different from the enthusiastic delight
that Fechters acting excited; that was full of
emotion, ardor, magnetism; the spectators were
swept along by the passion of the actor, and did
not stop to criticise. With Booth we realize
every minute how fine it is and appreciate
every detail that helps make the exquisite
whole. Divorce" which is still PLAYED at the
Globe to quiet audiences, is an absurd and
sensational play, with very good scene
ry and great variety Of pretty dresses
The lectures are so numerous that it is impos.
sible to keep an account OF them. Mr.. James
I. Fields seems to have made hit with his
Plea Tor Cheerfuness," Of which people speak
well; and we are to have an attractive novelty
in French lectures. Next Thursday Mr.. Co.
| querel gives lecture in French on Mendelssobn
| and the Reformation symphony, and the week
AFTER DR.. Lambert Sauveur begins a coursc Of
lectures on French literature, with one on An.
dromaque. DR. Sauvcur and Mr.. Henness have
opened school for French and German. in
which they teach not by hours or single lessons.
Int by regular course Of instruction, three
and half hours each day, and five days week
during the school year. They have had success
in New Haven, where they have taught for two
or three years; and they bring TO Boston the
best possible testimonials. They have esIab-
lshed school in Cambridge and one iu Boston !;
and they have already more than fifty pupils,
who are much pleased with the new and thor.
ough system of instruction.
Last year we had the Free Religious course of
lectures, on Sunday afternoons, at Horticultural
haii and the Evangelical course on Christian
lty ana sceptielsm," on Sunday evenings and
Monday afternoons. This year we hear nothing
of either; but the Unitarians have course on
Reasonable Christianity" delivered on sunday
evenings, at Hollis street church, and repeoted
on Monday afternoons at Kings chapel. Dr.
Bellows gave the first lecture, and Mr.. Coope,cl
the second. Then common sense is fudinp a
i quite uncommon number Of apostles, and il Is
to be hoped Of converts also. Rev. James Free.