, 1873-12-14
A Literary Curiosity


In the Boston Public Library tlore is book
which deserves to DO classod with tho famous
Portuguese "New Guide Of thu Conversation"
as one Of tho curiosi.ios of literature. 1t III on
titled "A Guido for Strangers III tho City Of
With With the following ' aaveltisenont @ tSSSe @TIe
underwater prevents every Gentleman and
Stranger Tint all tho alterations. and improve
monss which may be projected aud oxecutad
III one or other public establishment, shall be
Immediately ractiAed, and that tho plates OF this
work shall therefore reinain untouched. Phil
lippo Vllle tho Editor" A few pages are desot-
cd to on historical account Of the city, III whc1,
truth, remnrks that, "When thore is quostion OF
establishing tho beginning OF Homo famous ctIes,
they have recourse to moryeilluuB ovcnoments,
and for not throwing onrsolf In tho doubtfulnosa
Of fabulous antquitiog, We shall only keep us
to What history offers" He has no need, how
ever, to trust ''ou the annals" as .tthe con-
stsnction Of her buildings nronves its ancient.
na91 vsn.os and On sa e1amIning ths city, one shal
age" 1ts origin was Of midlling extend.
His most considerable augmentation has been
done by john tho Third IN 1914; by Charles tho
Vth IL 1543 tho city, could not contain tho
prodigiouH nonbre Of inhabitants, who came
thIther from every part, for establishing thoul-
Bolvos, encouraged BY tho situation Of his Port,
and tho wealth and abundance of this trading
city, an enlargement Of 1900 stops III lcnth OF,
ts "aS as Ro'o9 = o. grDua
shall stlll speak afterwards" But leaving theso
dry details, we pasa to the description ct the
bridges: "Four magnilic swipng bridges OH
tho. same manner as those III Holland serve
for the communication Of tile quais, from the
cisadel, till the doks, thoy are placed on the
ontranco OF four canals, wich entor In the
town, worry commodious and Buro for vessels of
small description to load and unload thoro."
NJ: ge y s most interesting & howHoyer IN hls
turo country Commencing with the cathedral,
ho says: "Eyery one ayoud, this ten1plo is faro
out tho finest ~ the Kingdom, Its lengthness Ia
Of moro than 600 steps its largenegs Of 2ioaud
| its elevation Of 800. This monument
WIS burned in 1855, excepted tho choir. great
| part OF it had boon damaged with
out tho vigilance Of the burghnaster.
io:n a,,i';. II a597 ts masnitlo Tomp'lle m aaa
hand. Tho fame yoar they sold very cheap. tho
precious things, which had boen respected till
this .poriod,, and aoon tue enemcs Of holy
religion attained thoir wishes. this tomple ropre
ssns u aw s psseSB G % SaSa Scsa sa
celves, Il was only by zeal for arts. aud i il
steepie, yet Gig it days and these two monuments
wore for ever demolished. In 1910, tleso mouu-
II, and by tue solitude Of lhe adminiatra-
ton, at the grcnt satisfaction Of kho trle
friends Of religion" Following the loud
OF our author, We pasB through tho
Cathedral, stopping for an instant
before ~ the Pulpit aculpea by P. Vorbruggou,
until wo come to nubens' mastor-" neaco,"
'sThe Deacont from the Oross." At this point
the simple descriptive style is dropped, aud
Tie Iirth. .throes Of genins ars vivdly portrayed @
as follows: Rubens has been Leasing III sev-
oral parts OF this picture, 1t IL amoothea and uc-
complisllel, aud however all ia vigorous and
aniinatel." The highest eloquonco IL roaoled
In In
discerning to every figure his just part Of allie
| tion In this hard caso, and with the greatost
| knowledge ha unites sentiment Of loyo to that
Of vonoraton, 1t IL an llartfelling Bccl,e, which