The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1877-02-02
Among the Antiquities Ia the British
Museum.

Museums
knew that II was Of no use 10 At
tempt 70 see any thing thoroughly, for
these winter days are short, and Il gets
dark In London by $3.50. So wander
ca on without method or plan, and 1t is
Just as good way as any other, for
every room and every case within each
room contains abundant material for
study or contemplation. Here, for ex-
ample, in the British and Medieval
room are theearliest products Of human
industry yet discoyered--a number of
line implements, which have been found
from time 70 time with the bones Of the
mammoth and other extinct animals.
These are the Oldest remains OF
European man, and in another part Of
the museum one may see the fossils
among which they were discovered.
Then there are numerous relics Of the
lake people, that strange race which
lived IN dwellings built on piles In the
Swiss lakes. Many Of their "house-
hold gods are gathered here, and near
to them are sepulchral urns and other
objects which have been found in An
glo-Saxon cemeteries. But all these seem
to belong to yesterday compared with
small article which noticed in case
among what is known as the "Slade
Collection" 1t is an Egyptian amulet
with "Prenomen OF Nuantef w., a
monarch OF the eleventh DYNASTY
placed by Lepsius b. G.. 1928 to 238O.''
1t u about the size Of $40 gold piece,
made OF bronze. Even the mummies
IN the cases, in some of which the out
lines Of the female form are wonderfully
well preserved, can not be older than
this-although we have part of the cof-
fin and body Of King Menkara, who
built the third pyramid, and who was
the Mycerinus OF the Greeks. There
are in other cases some beautifully
carved female figures, and all sorts OF
household furniture, such as folding
seats, tables, and pillows. There is 4
little apparatus for painting the eyes,
and the wig of an Egyptian lady Of
rank, and the box for holding it." But
who could describe half the curiosities
brought together in the Egyptian gale
ries alone, 70 say nothing Of the infinite
number Of glorious works OF art stored
up in the Greek and Roman galleries
the statues, the vases, the jewelry, the
glass, the marvellous works in gold and
silver and other metals? The man who
attempted 70 carry out any such design
in single letter, or in 20 letters, would
only bewilder his readers and stupe-
fy himself. Everywhere l went
found but few people--it was Friday
last, public dag, but one on which
LII. -.
dom able or willing to get out for q
holiday. And scarcely any one else
seems to 20 TO the museum, except
scholars who are az work on special
subject, or visitors from abroad.
The number Of American visit
ors is generally large in the
course Of year. Last Friday think
there were not two dozen persons in the
building, leaving out students and
attendants. The basement" devoted
to shat astonishing history in stone OF
the great Sardanapalus had entirely
to myself, and much did marvel at
the vigor with which the carvings are
executed--the representations of the
hunting parties with their dogs and
mules and attendants, or Of Sardana-
palns In his chariot hunting lions, and
bringing them down at rate which |
would have astonished even Gordon
Cumming-all the figures, and each
detail Of the picture, down to the har-
ness, reins, and trappings Of the mules
being perfectly clear, sharp and dis
tinct. From this strange scene made /
up my way through the Roman gallery,
where young ladies we're industriously |
copying "Venus" or "Apollo," and /
TO that great collection Of manuscripts
among which are collected deed bear
ing the signature OF William Shaks-
peare, and letters or manuscripts
Of famous men and women
from Martin Luther to Macau-
ley, to say nothing Of the "char-
ters," which extent from the time OF
Ethelred CA. ID. 692) TO the reign of
Victoria. Cor. Nsw York World.