The Portland daily press., 1875-12-11
From the London Belgravia ,Magazine.l
After Dark in the Abbey


thought in going there but to stroll. Just as
ed-inharmoniously, admit took
out purse from my pocket and counted
three or four bank notes. l ought not 10
to have done this. Westminster abbey is
not bank; and although good deal is done
in Westminster abbey which might be done
more appropriately elsewhere, and a good
deal is not done which the nature of the
place might suggest as religiously fit, still
counting bank notes is decidedly out of keep
ing with the original idea of church. My
only excuse was, that as every one in the
building seemed to come there for nom
devotional purposes, it could make no great
difference i'll assumed for an axiom what 9TH
els merely took for postulate. Be this as it
may, just as was counting my notes, through
some suspicion that | had lost one on the
road, observed most respectable old gen.
tleman standing within half dozen yards of
me, and taking keen cognizance of my mon
ey. But let this fact pass. The old gentle
man passed. AND with him there went from
my memory all recollection OF his gaze.
then strolled round the abbey.
Johannes Smith, armiger, Smithorium
Lincolniensum oriundus," was an inscrip-
ton that engaged my attention. 'Lincoln-
iensium" was perhaps more distinctive than
the somewhat promiscuous ''Smithorium :"
but neither of the two could be said to inii-
vidualize the particular identity of Smith,
There was play left for fancy as to "Smithi,"
even with the narrowing of the country; and
I wondered whether that ancient Roman
family had originally come over with Caesar.
As pondered these matters, 1 noticed, al
most touching me, a gentleman aged perhaps
60. On second glance satisfied my inquiry
that 1t was the gentleman who had looked at
my notes. But this did not matter. The
gentleman, whoever he might be, had right
to look at my notes and at other objects of
interest in the abbey. But at this particular
moment he was not looking at my notes. His
countenance was uplifted with view to the
monuments, especially to the monument of
"Smith." He had very white hair. He wore
very gold spectacles His spectacles were of
that demonstrative kind which throws the
rest of the toilet into the shade. 1t is the
province Of gold spectacles to obscure every
detail of even the best dress and most distin-
guished of men; and there are some gold spec
tacles in particular which do this, such as
those which the Shah wore in London. The
gentleman in the abbey had this class of
spectacles. They betoken mind accustomed
to think, and eyes that even needed repose.
Less an ornament than meant for real use,
they suggested a library and tones. They
had, too, a bulk that was costly. The gentle
man himself looked costly. His spectacles
and himself were on a par-pre-eminently
financial and sound.
to the throat. A white tie of immaculate
ity'surmounted the very blue coat. Pan
falcons of indisputable newness perfected the
downward proprieties; and boots that dis
tanced competition ended the man. Result:
aristocratic, balance at his bankers, fine
country seat, distinguished old family, with
son perhaps in the army or navy. This was
the impression produced.
So 1 felt, when the gentleman, turning
wit 1oru
smile, "You like art?"
said that did, but that was not alto
gether proficient.
"The figure is remarkably fine," he kindly
advanced for my instruction. you notice,
from whatever point you view it, the effect is
equally perfect. Look this way.'
looked. But l hazarded the remark that
but partially admired the beauties of the
figure referred to. l thought that lady
contemplating a medallion on which was
martial countenance, was, TO say the least of
it, somewhat uninteresting, and unworthy of
Westminster abbey.
He replied like man who degned to an.
swer me. There was a blandness of author
ity in his way of speaking that did not admit
OF contradiction. He delivered an opinion
like one who opened an argument.
was glad to have guide who had views
OF his own. Having gone into the abbey to
waste my time, thought might now i'm
prove it.
'sThese monuments" be continued, care
badly arranged. They are heaped together
without plan. Admirable some of them in
the merits of art, they are spoiled by idea or
location. There is want of harmony and
whole. What a contrast, indeed, between
the exquisite thought impressed on the glo-
rious pile, and the patry attempts at mere
human praise chiseled on the most Of these
marbles! How the past seems to weigh
down the present! How small are we to-day
compared with the founders of this chW ch p
fancied that this seemed learned by heart
1t was very well spoken, and if it was his
own, it was evident he was man of ednca-
ton. I concluded that the ideas were his
own, because they were consistent with his
"form." But who shall tell whether a man
is original in the first five minutes of his &C
quaintance? Certainly the words bad that
sort OF sound which implied they had been
said once before. and might perhaps be said
once again. 1t struck me as accidental that
was the recipient of wisdom which was pre-
pared and sentenced for delivery. And then,
too, there is way saying good things which
shows that the talker wishes to elevate him
self much more than 10 do justice to his
theme; and my friends depreciation of West
minister sculpture was obviously the exalta-
ton of-my friend. replied in a few words,
just to show that understood both himself
duu lie IcudIkS Ut udu DuL ue LOOK
up his theme and expanded it.
"The uses of the abbey he detained in
irritation, "are simply infantile and imbece.
Compare that root, these walls, this idea
with the grasp of the dean and chapter. 1t
is fabric of a really great mind chatted by
mere children's toys"
This was sublime. l thought it desirable
to say that agreed with him. Not wishing
to provoke more deep thoughts, l would
assuage him by graceful concession.
81 see you are a man of ideas,' be contin-
ued this at least showed his perception);
and then we wandered all over the abbey,
and inspected the various points.
He smiled at the monuments as we passed
along, and made disrespectful observations.
Here are some of them: Robert Smith, he
considered, looked very uncomfortable; and
Campbell, who doubtless wrote well, had
some rather weak lines at his base. Mrs.
Rowe was seen wiping The widowed eye with
too crisp stone pocket handkerchief; and
Dryden, who had the countenance of gen.
tleman, was painfully devoid of any body.
Peel was decidedly average, and Canning too
would-be heroic. Lord Glare, who had taken
offa coronet, was looking up from luxurious
sofa; and William Wilberforce suggested port
wine and more than episcopal arm chair A
marble erected by the East India company
was strikingly stiff and unnatural, while
little more of the modest and little less OF the
classic had certainly been in Christian taste.
Such were the observations of my friend. 1t
will be seen that he profoundly appreciated
both art and congruity of place. 1t is posi-
BILE that similar reflections may have been
made by good many minds nor could my
friend lay claim to be original, save in his
selection of me.
was thinking, how TO get rid of him, for
the abbey was cold, and the chilliness of the
monuments, with the bonbast of NV friend.
suggested speedy escape. l think he saw
that / had heard about enough, and was On
the point of wishing him "Good evening"
this quickened bis plan.
''You know the cloisters p he asked me
with eagerness-with tone which implied,
"If you don't, / should be extremely delight
ed til show them.'
did not know the cloisters. had never
been in them in my life. l had no wish
whatever to enter them, least Of all on this
chill winters eve, with the thermometer down
below zero. The wind, too, was blowing
from tie east, and there was nothing outside
to invite one. therefore replied that would
now return home. and l made some excuse
about "family.'
NOT - L.