The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1875-03-04
AFTER DARK IL THE ABBEY,

Ss4oiNu inlo westminster Abbey. l
had no thought in going there but to
STROLL just as entered-inharmoniou
~, admit 'ook out purse from my
pocKst and counted three or four bank
notes. ought not to have done this.
Westminster Abbey is not bank; and
thougA:a good deal is done in Westmin
ster Abbey which might be done more
appropriately elsewhere, and good deal
Ii MOI done which the nature of The place
might suggest as religiousy fit, still.
counting oanknotss is decidedly out of
keeping with the original idea of a
church. My only excuse was. that as
every one in the building seemed to have
gone there for non-devotional purposes.
1t could make no great difference if as
sumed Tor an axiom what others merely
took for postulate. Be this as it NAV,
just as-l was counting my notes, through
some suspicion that had lost one on the
ROAD, observed most respectable old
gentleman standing within half a dozen
yards OF me and taking keen cognizance
OF my money. But let this fact pass.
Inc ola gentleman passed And with
him there went from my memory all rec
objection of his gaze.
| then strolled round the Abbey.
Johannes Smith, armiger, Smithorum
Lincolnlenslum orlundus,n was an in
seTipuon that engaged my attention
Lincoinlensium" was perhaps more dis
tlnctiVe than the somewhat promiscuous
Smlthorum," but neither of the two
could be said TO individualize the partic-
lar identity OF Smith. There was play
left for fancy as to "Smithi," even with
the narrowing of the county, and won:
dered whether that ancient Roman fani-
~ mad originally come over with Cesar
AS poniered these matters, noticed,
almost touching me, gentleman aged
perhaps sixty. On second glance
satisfied my inquiry that it was The same
gentleman who had 10 ked at my notes
But this did not matter The gentleman.
whoever he may be, had right both TO
LOOK at my notes and at other objects of
interest the Abbey. But at this par
ucuiar moment he was not looking at nv
notes. Ills countenance was uplifted
with view to the monuments. especial
~ TO the monument of "Smi h." He
had very white hair. He wore very gold
spectacles. His spectacles We're of that
demonstrative kind which throws the rest
OF the toilet into the shade. II is the
province OF gold spectacles to obscure
every detail of even the best-dressed and
most dist nguished of men; and there are
some gold spectacles in particular which
do this, such as those which the Shah
wore in London. The gentleman in the
AbDey had this class of spectacles. They
betokened mind accustomed to think
ana eyes that even needed repose Less
an ornament than meant for real use
,hey suggested library and tones They
had, too, bulk that was costly. The
gentleman himself looked costly. His
spectacles and himself were on a par
prominently financial and sound
lie wore blue coat. 1t was buttoned
up to the throat A white tie OF immacu
late purity surmounted the very blue
coat. Pantaloons of indisputable new
ness perfected the downward prophecies:
and boots that distanced competition
ended the man. RESULT: Aristocratic,
balance at his bankers, fine country seat
distinguished old family, with son per.
hans In the army or navy. This was the
impression produced.
Do felt VIII, n the gentleman, turn
ing toward me, inquired, with large-in-
coined smile: You like art?"
said that did, but that was not al
together proficient.
This 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 hazarded the remark
That bu: partially admired the beauties
OF the figure referred to. thought that
lady contemplating a medallion on
which was marital countenance was,
to say the least of it, somewhat unin
teresting, and unworthy of Westminster
Abbey.
He replied like man who deigned to
answer me. There was blandness of
authority in his way of speaking that did
not admit OF contradiction. He delivered
an opinion like one who decided, not
ike 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, l thought |
might now improve it.
These monuments he continued,
are 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 glorious pile,
and the paltry attempts at mere hui
man praise chiseled on most of these
marbles. How the past seems TO weigh
down the present. How small are we to-
d compared with the founders of this
church !"
fancied that this seemed learned by
heart. 1t was very well spoken, and II
II was his own it was evident he was a
mau of education. concluded that the
ideas were his own because they were
consistent with his form" But who
shall tell whether man is original in
the first five minutes of his acQuaint-
ANGER Certainly the words had that
nf snnpd nh saI a. l. j
been said once before and might per
haps be said once again. 1t struck me
as accidental that | was the recipient of
wisdom which was prepared and SEN
fenced Tor delivery. And then, too, there
is a way of saying good things which
shows that the talker wishes to elevate
himself much more than TO do Justice to
his theme; and my friends depreciation
of Westminster sculpture was obviously
the exaltation of-my friend. l renlied
IN few words, just to show that | under
stood both himself and the remarks he
had made. But he took up his theme and
expanded it.
The uses of the Abbey" he declared
In irritation, "are simply infaniile and
imbecile. Compare that oof, these walls
this idea, with the grasp of the Dean
and Chapter. 1t is fabric of really
great mind chatteled by mere childrens
toys"
This was sublime. | thought it desira- |
BILE to say that agreed with him, Not
wishing to provoke more deep thoughts |
would assuage him by graceful con- |
cession.
Il see you are man of ideas" he
continued {this at least showed his per |
ception); 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 OBJ
servaiions
was thinking how to get rid of him, |
for the Aboey was cold; and the chilli |
ness of the monuments, with the bonn
bast of my friend, suggested a speedy |
escape. l think he saw that had heard |
about enough, and was on the point of |
wishing him GOOD evening" This |
quickened his plans
You know the cloisters?" he asked |
me with eagerness-with tone implied. |
Ii you don't saould be extremely de- |
lighted to show them
did not know the cloisters. l had |
never been in them in my life. | had no |
wish whatever TO enter them, least of all |
on this chill winters eve, with the Their
mometer down below zero The wind. |
too, was blowing from the east, and there
was nothing outside to invite one. +
therefore reDlied that I would ,or ~ |