Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-09-19
OUR EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENCE.
LONDON, August 7th, 1873.

LONDON, August 7th, 1873.
The museum at Glasgow, though |
comparatively small and just IN its
incipiency, seems to be arranged on |
the best possible system, giving, IN
the smallest space, the most compre-
hensive view of every subject sought |
to be illustrated. Take, for example, |
the manufacture and printing of cotton
fabrics. Under glass cases, IN regular
order, you see first the cotton plant,
then the full-grown stalk and the open
boil; then the crude cotton, as when
first picked, then the process of gin
ming, with the clean seeds, the card
ing, spinning and converting into
yarns, the weaving, coloring and
printing. The whole subject is ex-
hausted. 1t is the same in every other
department of industry, down to the
manufacture of pins and matches. In
the latter case you are shown the
wood. as first shaped for the machine,
the cutting into proper lengths, split
ting, &C., &c. And in the manllfac-
ture or working of metals into ma
chinery, every step is SO plainly illus
trated that a child can readily compre-
bend the various processes. A prac-
teal knowledge is thus impaired at
small expense, and in way winch
might easily be adopted by our Will
mington museum. A museum so con-
structed would certainly be more
useful than the usual tumble OF
curious fish and birds, and Indian war
clubs, and mummies, and uniforms OF
| distinguished generals, or autographs
| Of dead authors, which go to make up
the iunk-shops which pass for muse
ums. The student of natural history
| may visit collection to confirm the
| knowledge he has already acquired by
ut-door observation, but in such a
museum as the one at Glasgow the
practical man or the earnest boy may
learn that which will be material
help in useful, bread-winnlng pro
fession. Let the president and dl-
rectors make a note! And this re-
! minds me of suggestion OF Mr. David
- acRac, whom many Of your readers
Will remember, and whom l had the
pleasure Of meeting at Gourock, where
he is established. He was regrettlne
that no popular history Of the South
ern struggle lad yet been written,
containing graphic sketches OF the
various battles, selSes, marches ano
VARYING fortunes Of the war, such as
might be gathered from many par
ticipant now living, and which woulc
undoubtedly be much more interesting
than the official, semi official, ane
imaginary reports which, like species
of census table, now usglrp the place
OF interesting details; and he advised
hv all means, the establishment Of ;
historical department to our museum
which should receive and file al
| i, n
reports gathered both from the mel
and officers of the Confederate armies
: In this way the materials of valuable
history u.ay now be preserved 10
future use. In Il few years the TIM
viii have passed: This, I think, wa
one Of the objects Of the organization
perfected by the Iamented Col. Cowan
ana It's a shame that it should be per
1l1itted TO fall through Such schem
would not interfere with the project o
Col. Pool, bat each might assist TIN
other.
Among the many manuscripts pre-
served and shown at Burns mOnumen
in Edinburgh, is one fromth Bard to
friend, begging most piteously, TO
the loan Of ten pounds to save hin
from the horrors Of Il jail, with whicl
Il stern creditor then threatened him
The letter is familiar to most readers
bit acquires additional force ant
pathos when you see tho real bOl'
l hand Of Burns trembling along tn
soilel page, and feel the keen agon,
which he must have endured ere TIM
cry was wrung from heart and brain
Tn 22o,9tds to keep off starvation, ant
save from Il dungeon him whose nam
is now enrolled "abOve the northern
staire.' The moral, if one be re
Guirei. is very plain. Even Genill
must stOop to the base uses of rlgl'
I economy, or else suffer humiliation
and shame. There are other manu-
script letters which raise a smile Il
their froiiesome, reckless way of treat
; ing serious grievances, and there ar
; scraps Of song which speak to til
heart with the fresh and joyous spiri
of Immortality.
The monument to Scott is yer,
, magnificent, doubtless, bat, to N.
l taste, not so striking as the simpl
Doric column which stands IN Georg
Square, Glasgow The Edinburgh
!, monument is too elaborate. It is al
monument and no Scott But whel
you gaze up at the easy, graceful pos
of the statue in Glasgow, wrapped
negligently in the loose folds of tn
plaid, the head slightly inclined for
; ward, as if coming over some swce
border ballad, the grand life an(
l writings of the great minstrel, to us
a Yankee expression, speak forcibly t.
your elmer consciousness.
I would like to tell about the picture
galleries, and vent my Indignation a
> the unhoIy repetition n..every gallery
Of the crilcifxion, by weak hands-bu
the subject is too high and too deep.
In the party visiting Hollywood wer
gentleman and lady, the partner 0
his sheet no doubt, who were nucl
affected when shown the spot wher
Riccio was murdered. They held III
eirhands III pious, horror, and sighed
and walled mp their eyes, and sucked
their teeth, and said sob Dear.
"Oh Dear" ''Dreadful,'' Dread
fulr' as earnestly as if the TRACED,
were going on then and there unde
their sympathetic noses. Then there
| was a Irencllman, an expatriatet
communist who rushed franticall,
to and fro demanding "Vich vas x
room of Queen Marie?' and "Vere i!
Lourd Darnley's bet-clambre q a:
though lac had Petroleum design!
upon the establishments; but he only
grtlntcd with satisfaction when he re
ceived the desired Information and re
marked, II Yer glad [ see him."
Queen Alary's private staircase, con
silering where it leads to, proves thai
interesting young sovereign to have
been. like Joey Bagstock, 's7y, sir
deviliall sly And doubtless many {
winter s.EigIt when she ought to have
been ahed, she was meandering through
these tortuous passages and stail
ways, or pacing the lonely picture gal
Iery thinking over "GDoiJ,s Of Statc'
saw John I>nox's House, which IS quite
III cilaracter-''sO grim, SO dead.
l had always imagined Melrose Alb
hey rs situated on barren moor, fan
from human habitation, grand and
gioomy-with broken columns lying
around in picturesque disorder. Or
the contrary, it is almost III the heart
Of the village Of AIelrose, and the back
door Of the Abbey Hotel opens into