St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1876-04-28
Letters from Abroad.
DRESDEN AND ITS TREASURES ES-PRAGUE
AND HER ANCIENT WRITINGS-NIENNA
AND HER ATTRACTIONS.
Robert College, Constantinople.
March 81, 1876.

AND HER ANCIENT WRITINGS-NIENNA 4
AND HER ATTRACTIONS.
DRESDEN. Feb. 81. le76.
first saw Dresden 10y daylight on ii
rainy, dark morning, and the modern
Florence looked much like Syracuse
upon similar day. But sunshine gave
it ii pleasanter aspect. The city is sit
uated upon the river Elbe. Il river at
this place about half as large as the
Hudson at Albany. At distance is IL
range of hills which relieves the general
level. The surroundings of the city are
somewhat picturesque. 1t is an Hnta
vorable season of the year to see the
natural beauty of the country. The
SNOW is gone. the streams are swollen,
it i> rainy and clondN, neither winter
nor spring.
Dresden is an old town, its history
goes back more than six hundred Years.
and for tour hundred Years it has been
the residence of loyalty. Augustus the
Strong. who lived nearly two hundred
Years ago, did much for its improve
ment. Several of the principal build
ings were the product of his energy and
enterprise. Much of the town is cen
turies old. Bnt it has also had ii recent
growth. \ few Years az" there seems
To have been il time of growth and en-
largement in many of the cities of Ger
many Bimdrck pIat- and Ton Woikte
piat-. with their large blocks. tell plain
ly enough where they got their names.
This city has been il tavorite resort for
English and Americans, but learn that
there are fewer here now than formerly.
There are four churches where the Eng
liSh language is used.
THE PICTURE GALLERY.
The picture gallery is one of the finest
on this side of the Alps. 1t is very
large, containing more than two thou
sand paintings. | do not propose to
describe them all. Among so many of
course ii great number have no particu-
lar merit, but a large number are by
the renowned masters. The most fa-
nous of all is Raphaers Sistime M;,dou-
na. Copies of this in engravings are
common, so that the figures and group
ing are known. Ia the gallery here, it
hangs in one of the apartments by
itself. should judge that the frame
containing it is about SX5t feet. 1t was
purchased for the gallery for the sum of
forty five thousand dollars. have Civ
en- these few facts about the picture. 1t
is one of the rarest works of art in eX-
iStence.
THE GREEN VAULT.
The .Green Vault" is the next most ia
nous place to visit. 1t derives its name
from the color of one of the rooms. 1t
consists of eight contiguous apartments.
IL , Of, ,r,l.l .,nI
pearls and diamonds, Jewels and crys-
tails. ivory and precious stones. and ev-
erything else precious that should be
claSsed with these things. These are
wrought and cut and shaped into hum,
dreds and thousands of rare pieces of
workmanship, royal presents and treas
ures from crown ami scepter to clocks
made of gold and ornamented with pre-
cious stones. vases, etc, etc. One piece
of workmanship represents an Oriental
Grand MOgul on his throne, his guards
and courtiers about him, elephants rich
" capaIisOned bringing embassies and
gifts, figures representing the different
positions in life, from the highest to the
lowest, hundred and thirty two in all.
wrought in gold and enamel. 1t is said
that a man spent his whole life in max
ing this representation. As "a work of
art it is very curious, but it seems to me
the man might have devoted his life to
il better purpose. In fact. as looked
at this multitude of costly things. it oc
Cured to me that some Cromwell may
sometime lay his violent hands upon
them and say that the Lord has need of
them for another purpose. | do not
know how much of treasure and human
skill and work it is desirable to have
expended in such ways. Things of
beauty have their uses. suppose the
diamonds were made for ornament. Ev-
ell this collection of treasures affords
pleasure and instruction to very many.
have written these last sentences to
modify the seeming intimatiGn that
these things of untold value might be
put to better use. | will write meth