Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-11-26
j .sT5 sr.s-.,,er -,s For the SPECTATOR.
THE JUDGE AND MYSELF. :
SOMETHING ABOUT OUR TWO WEEKS
/ - III i-- IN PARIS. sLF rrrf


SOMETHING ABOUT OUR TWO wEE1
/ -7.s1 'A2- IN PARIS. sLr ~
With the exceptions of the Pope
Museum in the Vatican and the ifiz
gallery in the Pitt Palace-the one !
| Rome and the other in Florence. r,
spectively-we do not remember any or
greater collection of art, in the way !,
paintings and statuary. than that va
amount in Hs-r - ssee si'N :
THE GRAND OLD LOUVRE I'll a
that rears itself SO grandly.in all it, ma,
sive strength and size; standing in a
its palatial beauty and extent on th
banks of the Seine, in the heart OF tbs
gay capital, of which it is one Of Il,
chief ornaments. A noble old palace {
Itself; silent and inanimate particI
pant In many rare volumes Of Freno
history, and Of late yeara the noble r
pository of 80 much that II glorious an
beautiful in art. lllss.Nsif 1a!'f.
It is one of the most charming resort
in Paris, containing, as it does, so man
treasures on canvass and in marble, col
lected from every cline, far and near
the productions of master minds, tn
works of genius for centuries back ii
the past. are here preserved with miser
" care, but generously and most frssl,
on exhibition for the Inspection, admi
ration, and enjoyment of all. Th
Judge and myself made several extend
ed visits to this delightful place. w,
spent hours looking at and admiring tn
numerous splendid paintings, the count
less charming statues; works that wers
Antique, Ancient and Modern, all gath
cred and stored here In one immense
treasure e-house,l the property and also
the pride and glory of great nations
nation great in SO many respects, but
conspicuously so in the enc that reveals
her rich and mighty possessions in art.
treasures. 1t Is surely one to be proud
or 1t Is an heirloom, q costly gift to
her posterity to be appreciated and en-.
Joyed by many generations. There il
no question at all, but that the contem.
piatlon OF the beautiful in art, as in ma
ture, serves to elevate and ennoble both
mind and heart of the man, woman,
and child who gazes with eyes of admi-
ration. The very presence and actual
contact OF art invariably appeals to the
finer, better senses of US all rather i'm
proving the good that is in US, and sup
pressing the evil tendencies-(at least
for time.) In the grand salon of the
Louvre we noticed quite number OF
artists, male and female, engaged in
copying well known paintings. I fre
quentIy observed the Judge watching
very intently some one of these artists,
who was too much Interested in his
work to see the proximity of my friend,
or his approving looks. Sometimes, in
the artistic exuberance of the moment,
when particularly impressed with fine
and faithful copy of noted picture
that some seedy looking artist would
De working upon, the Judge would ve-
hently dep!ore his ignorance of the Ian
guage, regretting his inability to express
to the painter his appreciation Of the
work. At such times charity compelled
me to regard my companion's deficien-
cy or Toss as the artists gain. even
reJolced that there was no demand for
my whole stock of sympathy, which
the poor man would have needed could
the Judge have talked to him, or tack
led and button-holed him for q good,
square, uninterrupted conversation on
the fine arts generally, in their practical
bearings and relations. I remember
on more than one occasion he refused to
discuss ART with me, because, as he as
serted and claimed, I was inclined to
address, my remarks rather to superb
cial sort OF theortzing, than to any real
acquaintance with the practical charac-
ter of the subject, which really interest
ed him greatly, and was very dear to
MIN. We never had any discussion on
this theme while visiting the Louvre.
we mutually admired what we saw,
only lndulging running comments of q
pleasant nature on what pleased and in
terested US jointly. The Judge being
my senior, and man of good common
sense, did not often combat his opin-
ions, but generally yielded any disputed
by abandoning the premises and
still retaining my own views this man
ner OF a compromise kept US on peace
Footing and preserved our friendly ties
and feelings. / do not advise this plan
to others, and would not pur-
sue it as rule, since it would be high
ly detrimental to any real progressive
for think 1t very proper
and necessary for men to compare their
respective ideas upon various subjects
and discuss them.
The contents of the Louvre were so
extensive and magnificent that our OBJ
were of such cursory nature
as only to elicit our closest attention and
commendation. The simple
catalogue, containing the names of its
almost numberless treasures, made q
large closely printed volume of between
700 and 800 pages. During~that most
disastrous period, Immediately after the
late Franco-Prussian war, the terrible
frenzy of the destructive communists
nearly led them to destroy the Louvre
with its valuable and priceless posses
sions, which never could be replaced
bad they once been given to the same
flames that devoured their near and
honored old neighbor, the TuilIeries.-
Fortunately the most desperate efforts
Of these devastating wretches did not
succeed, and the Louvre, with all it's
precious art-gems, still stands to the
fame and honor of France. We find
the proposed scope of this article does
not permit us to give any description OF
any particular painting or sculpture,
the number being too great to receive
more than this desultory notice
of the place containing them, with their
quantity and quality in general.
While we sojourned in the elegant
city we made several visits to some Of
THE MOST NOTED CHURCHES,
the first in age and importance being
old Notre-Dame, which we attended on
one occasion and heard a Te Deuns,
when the glorious strains of the mighty
organ pervaded the entire interior Of the
venerable edifice; the Judge pronounce
ing it the sublimest music he had ever
heard. Many rich and famous scenes
have been performed within its sacred
walls. The FIRST NAPOLEON was
crowned Emperor of the French here
with the most august ceremony. The
Prince Imperial was christened here
with devoted thousands reverentially
looking on the child, who now enjoys
mans estate, land tOh0 may get rule
FRANCE, when the THIRD EMPIRE
shall witness the departure of the present
paste board Republic, which has already
existed far beyond the expectations Of
its most sanguine friends. May the
event be peaceful one, and the present
apparent prosperity of France be true
real, and lasting.) We would not be
surprised if at some time in the future
he should again be 'ithe observed of ali
observers" in OLD NOTRE-DAME DE
PARIS" May I be there to see" 8
more interesting (if not SO amusing,
performance than John Gilpin's ride