The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1879-01-29

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Bavaria: some disappointment in love which
has rendered him q recluse; avoiding and
disliking publicity, he cultiVates the MUSES.;
it is said rants at times all alone over pages
of LoheDgriu and Niebelungrid, and is him
self poet of no ordinary merit. Wagner
is one of his best friends. The king is also
great friend of science, as the finest oppor-
tunities for study on every hand attest One
of the noblest buildings in the city is the
Polytechnic School of Architecture, Sculp-
ture and Painting, which he has erected and
made free to students.
Naturally, we visited the immense and
famous statue of Bavaria just outside the
city, in the Theresian Meadows, where the
autumn fairs are held, and the more sdven-
turOus of our party climbed up into the head
to get the extensive view. 1t is an immense
bronze femslAstatue, holding in her elevated
hand wreath ST laurelS; beside her crouch
es the Bavsrian Lion of immense size. 1t
is difficult to remember figures, but it will
give you an idea of its immensity to say, that
as we were approaching Munich, we saw the
wreath, far above the tops of the highest
trees; afterwards in the foundry We saw the
model of the hand, the little finger was
larger than your humble correspondents
hand. 1t was the grand conception of
Sehwanthalers the greatest sculptor of Mu-
mich; his works are seen in every part of the
city. We visited his grave, and that Of
Baron de Liebige in the cemetery, which is
now quite full, and some handsome monu-
ments of the wealthy families in vaults,
around the walls. In the rooms of the
Morgue, situated in the same grounds, We
beheld spectacle strange and almost appall-
ing! They have in Munich peculiar Gus
tom of placing all their dead here, for two
days prior to burial. We approached, and
looking into the inspection-windOw, saw sew
eral cOrpses exposed to view, lying in state,
all ready for the grave. Here, as every
where On earth, it seems, the poor were d.
Vided from the rich, and there were 1st, End,
and Sd class rooms. The best rooms were
elabOrately adorned with the rarest flowers,
in clusters and festoons, and the dead were
literally embowered in beds of roses. One
was that of an old gentleman So years old,
a collector of antiquities, q serenely placid
countenance. Ii was meet to put flowers
about him, but then there was poor old
woman among the third class, whose remains
not a single flower adorned. Some of the
little children were sleeping apparently as
sWeetly, as in their cradle beds. To the
fore6nger of each person, except the babes
was adjusted long cord, attached to bell,
placed in the ofice of the MOrgue, so that in
case of reviving consciousness, the least
movement would apprise the constant watch
ers day and night. Very wierd and strange
it sll seemed to US, but a wise precautiOn no
doubt: the publicity given, we could not ad'
mire.
We went through several of the churches
and cathedrsls of Munich, but will only men,
ton one, that of the Basilica of ST. Bonita
cius, the patron saint of Bavaria. 1t was
built by Ludwig l., on the occasion of the
tweuty,6fth anniversary of bis msrriage-day
"a silver-wedding gift. How happy he was
from such long union, the BasiliCa can
we'll attest when we are told the pillars of
solid marble each cost 5000 marks apiece.
Il is dedicated to st. Bonifacius, and the
immense frescoes on the walls and ceilings
narrate the chief events of his life. In the
last one we see his murder by robbers. The
mosaics over the high altar of saints is beau
tiful, on a gold back ground.
We went to the Bronze Foundry too,
where SO many American monuments have
been cast. 1t was with great pleasure and
almost moistening of the eye, we saw the
immense models of our Washington on horse
back, and the whole group around him, just
as they now stand in our Capitol Square in
Richmond. We found our little party stand
ing close to them, and lingering around them,
as if we had suddenly seen and recognized
old and familiar friends. We were conducted
through the Foundry, saw the various pro-
cesses, at last the great store, from whence
it all emerges at last, thing of life and
beauty. We saw other models of monu-
ments there, for the great fountain of Gin
cinnati, one for st. Louis, and another for
California.
We could write you also Of the beautiful
sud extensive Englisa Park, through whose
shaded avenues we enjoyed many drive
the Stained, glass factory we visited, where
they arrive at the greatest perfection in this
art; also the gallery Of the Winner collec'
tiou, having on exhibition the largest and
best paintings on porcelain, of copies from
the old masters, these and many other things
we might dilate upon, bat perhaps We have
already written too much and too sdmiringly
of Munich.
Some day, if your patient readers are moi
utterly weary with these imperfect jOttings
we will write something of Geneva, and the
good work going on here 10 this city of Cal
vim. Yours truly, NJ b. 7.
In THE library of Stepney College, Eng
land, is preserved little sign board on which
is printed
BOOTS AND SHOES,
MADE AND MENDED HERE BY