The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-01-07
A San AntonIan in Dresden.

Mr.. Ed. Stoves, Jr., writing from Dresden,
December 18th, 1881, gives a glowing account
of the wonders of that celebrated city, he
says: 1."
''Dresden is beautiful city. and has many
places of interest. The national picture gallery
of oil paintings, ETC., is one of the largest col
lections in the world. 1t contains paintings
from the earliest times to the present date, ad-
ditions being made continually. ~
The treasury of the Saxon royal family de-
posted in the place cslledthe Screen Vaults, Z"
is perhaps the most renowned collection of
valuable things on the continent of Europe.
1t occupies eight rooms of the
royal palace Z of Dresden. The first
room entered was the "Cabinet of Bronzes,"
containing lis statues, groupes, and model
of all sizes-all works of art. . v
: /, The second room is the s"Cabinet of Ivor-
ies," one of the richest collections known in
Europe, amounting to $50 in number. The
following is a list of some of the carvings !:
"A ludicrous representation g naked women
(ugy) washing one another; pitcher repre-
senting the allegorical exhibition Of the five
senses, personifed by five women; group
representing q fight between ( two
drunken beggars; Diana with the nymphs4
surprised by Acteon; toilet table
which belonged to Magdalen Sibyl,
consort OF George II; two candle sticks with
elegant carving, Jupiter sitting on the back of
flying eagle; the olympus and the twelve
gods, the intoxicated Silenus, etc.
: The room of mosaics contains mosaics, en-
ame.s, ambers,, ostrich eggs corals, shells,
etc. The collection Of mOsaics are beautiful
specimens of modern and antique art both
Florentine and Roman workmanship.
The 'silver room" contains beautiful COL
lection of solid gold and silver vessels. These
vessels are still used on state occasions,
for ornaments or ornamental Bullets,
at the balls and gala dinners
tew Of the pieces: A baptismal basin of gold
the year 1911. A jewel box ornamented with
and intended for the holy sacrament (of the
18th century, an inkstsnd belonging to
Augustus III, bearing date January 6, I7,4;
group made Of silver and sharks teeth a
Mexican yot,ve gift, ETC..
The room of precious things contains large
number of costly vessels cut out of stones, col
iections Of canoes, gems, etc. l noticed a
large cameo four and a half inches high, the
portrait of Tiberius or Caesar Octavianus,
Augustus, carved in the second century after
Christ. The stone has three colors, and is
elegantly set in gold. A vase of onyx set in
gold 6ligree work in the 10th century. A clock
called the Tower of Babel, made in the year
1914, from the top of which comes forth every
minute crystal ball and runs down around
he tower until il reaches the vase, when it runs
into hole and is again conveyed, mechanical
~, to the top, Saturn strikes every minute
with his hammer; a massive quartz ball, the
largest and clearest known, weighing Is
pounds, and AN inches IN circumference, a
crystal beer pot remarkable for its size, the
lid Is inlaid with jewels and canoes, repre-
senting value of $1,000; the rock crystal
goblet of Martin Luther, the celebrated COL
den egg, most surprising and ingenious
work. 1t was given to Augustus the Strong
by Polish gentlemen, as gift of courtesy.
When opened at the bottom reservoir
of perfume is disclosed, sopenedl at
the top, at frs. the yolk a an cog, in gold and
enamel; under this is a chicken of the same
material. Inside the chicken is seal, in
shape of Polish crown. richly adorned with
diamonds. This crown also opens and pre-
sents diamond ring, unde. the largest stone
of which is painted a burning heart and mot
TO: constant ct Fideli," etc.
The jewel room contains the most costly OBJ
jects Of the entire collection, the renowned
green diamond-tbe largest in the world,
weighing 4oH karats, or 100 grains.
The description of the je sels is quite par
ticular and very interesting.