Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-07-10
LETTER FROM EUROPE.
he Editor Of The journal.

-N'''Nt
Here we are in Ia Belle France-bright,
sunny land; but how we got here and what
we saw, on the way we will postpone describ-
ing until our next letter, in order that we
may finish up London and the Crystal Palace,
which want of time prevented us from doing
before leaving England. One has so much to
see here that he feels it almost crime to oc-
cupy time in sitting down to write long letters
and the only way to do it is to get up early,
before you can gain access to the places to
be seen. In London no one seems to rise
until about o'clock, except laborers. very
few places of business are open on the prin-
cipal streets until about 10, and you cannot
get your breakfast, shave, or much of any
thing else until that time. So tina. in reality
one loses nearly half the day before he can
get at sight seeing. 1t is of no use trying to
hurry things up or to change the accustomed
order of things. The Britain is conservative
and very tenacious Of the old ways. 1t was
quite an annoyance at first to US when we
found we could not get our breakfast ana DC
off as early in London as in America, and we
did not know of any other way OF putting
our early morning hours to advantage except
in writing letters, and this is our apology for
thus appearing before you. But if English
men get up late and thus shorten their morn
ings, they make itup by sitting up until mid
night. 1t is customary, if you are to call on
q friend in the evening, not to make your APP
pearance until about 9 o'clock That would
be very late with us, but as it is not dark in
London until nearly 10, it does not seem so
there. The mechanics and laborers, of
course, keep about the same hours as they do
with us.
AS matter of course we went to see the
Crystal Palace. 1t is in the Suburban town
of Sydenham, about ten miles from Charing
Cross. one of the great London centers, and
is reached by half an hours ride on the I'm
derground railroad. The country around the
Palace is very beautiful. 1t is fast becoming
a part of the great metropolis, and contains
many handsome modern country houses and
fine drives. The Palace itself is surrounded
by a fine park Of two hundred acres, adorned
with flowers and trees. The view from the
top OF the high tower, Oh clear day, is a
grand one. commanding as it does on one
side the city of London, and on the other the
sunny fields and forests. The building we
need hardly say is constructed of iron and
glass, and presents a really magnificent and
imposing sight. Its size is immense, 1900 by
400 feet, and 200 feet high. The interior of
the vast edifice is beautiful beyond descrip-
ton. Its proportions seem to be admirable.
1t was erected just twenty years ago, and yet
the attractions thither seem increasing rather
ba1 nd 70 Iait, tJ,ron Il,
thousands of visitors. 1t combines at once a
vast museum, menagerie, concert hall, thea
Ter, opera house, bazaar, picture gallery,
botanical garden, &c., such vast variety OF
attractions-ab twenty Boston Museums.
md all for one shilling admitance fee, and as
much more tor the finest Aquarium, probab
y, in the world, containing 80 large tanks of
unning water, in which are seen large
'ariety Of fish and marine plants, many of
hem very wonderful and rare, such as sea-
lorses, very curious little animals with bodies
gearing striking resemblance to the head
md shoulders of a horse, cutie fishes with
heir long arms branching out on every side
o grasp their pray, or folded up snugly at
Fill, reminding one strongly of the terrible
elbow who got hold of the hero of Victor
iugo's "Toilers of the Sea- and the beauti-
I'll sea anemonies, half plant, half animal,
up ilAC mueuiUUuIS iTOuI tuS EUCks
nd sending out from the tops of their cyln-
rical bodies fine fringe of various colors,
ONE pink, some yellow, some red, and some
Shite, looking all the world like flowers, but
hey are said to be capable of motion of an
Inferior sort. and on touching the top Of one
f them it closed up like sensitive plant.
No one can complain of the variety of pro-
ramme offered, several organ concerts, two
heatrical performances of very good quality,
nd a trapeze performance, besides an
normous amount of plaster of paris statuary,
models of renowned works of art throughout
he world); lifelikc models in groups, sur
ounded by their native scenery, of Hottentots,
Ethiopians, Patagonians, etc. fine
ountains, splendid architectural displays of
he different styles, u very large gallery of
me paintings, the most striking of which, to
ur eyes, were four remarkably life-like com
anton pictures of front, entitled-''the
ise," "the struggle" ''the Leap" and
landed" by Bracket Of Boston, a Justly
celebrated artist. Among the finest are sew
raj large sketches in Central Asia, by b.
veraschasin, representing the architecture,
ostumes, aud customs of the orientals One
lrge room is devoted to battle scenes, all
cry handsomely executed. Nearly all these
aintings, both in oil and water colors, are
" sale, the price being marked on the frames.
A wonderful performance on the flying
.apeze took place at II o'clock, near the CEN
IT of the Palace in front OF the grand organ I
nd orchestra; burlesque at /, and an ex- /
avsganza at 3 o'clock in the theater imme- !
lately opposite. The last performance was
iven with splendid scenic display, and con-
uded with gorgeous dissolving scene after
he manner of the Black Crook. Not the
EAST attractive part of the show are the nu-
lerous elegant bazaars for the sale of almost
very kind of wares, most of them branches
London establishments. They pay rent to
he Palace Company for the privilege. We
pent the greater part Of day in the Crystal
alace and then came away without seeing
lany objects of interest.
The next day we visited the Geological
iardens, made famous in our country by cuts +
4 the illustrated papers. We were disap-
ointed in the show there-probably our ex-
ectations were raised too hgh-still it is .
'ell worth seeing. especially il person has !
lot visited too many of our large travelling
nensgeries which exhibit about every won
lerful animal that the ingenuity of man can
apture. There are several very large ele-
'hants, one of monstrous size, rhinoceros.
md hippopotami from the Upper Nile. The
grounds are Hastily laid ont with gardens,
mall ponds, and walks in circular form from
which the cages of the animals are seen. The
zig fellows have large houses built for their
pecial accommodation and small artificial
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