The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1882-04-15


now as in the former warlike days. But
the old castle looked so old, to harbor
within it's ancient, hoary walls SO much
youth and freshness, so much love and
hope. Hearts must be warm and true to
bring brightness and cheer to sncl, Il
place, aud chase away the Scobwebs and
dust Of so many centuries. May choicest
blessings rest upon the young welded
pair, aud may the future years proudly
perpetuate the traditional record of the
Warwick family through the twenty
seven generations of its past history, that
q the SONS are all brave, and the daugh
tefs all ehaste "a race of manly men,
and pure, womanly women!
Stratford-on-the-Av No place i'll
all England has SO filed my thoughts,
since the carly childish days when my
father placed his volume OF Shakspeare's
plays in my hand, and told Inc that next
to the Bible, it was the greatest book in
the world. Tt was difficult to realize
that l, even 1, had reached at last this
little town, converted by the marvellous
genius OF one man, into a Mecca for the
intelligent readers of all tongues and
peoples. It is a quiet, rnprogressive
little place, apparently. Having pro-
duced a Shakespeare, it rests, contentedly,
upon its laurels, and seeks to achieve
nothing more in the worlds history.
The house Of Shakespeare is aquaint, low
cottage, bearing, indisputably, the inn
press Of another generation. The exter-
ior has been strengthened, and somewhat
renewed, but within it has remained un-
altered, since, happily, the stout oaken
wood possesses almost the endurance of
stone. We fingered longest in the low
ceiled room where he was born. How
little his mother thought when she held
her little baby in her arms and kissed
and loved it as all mothers do, that she
was giving to the world one at whose
soaring genius the nations wonder, aud
whose name shall live, honored aud g!o-
rious, while the English race endures.
The residence of Shakespeare in his later
and more prosperous days was long since
demolished; but we gathered laulberries
from the tree he had himself planted
(the one under which he used to sit and
quaff beer has been cnt down. and
drank some Of tbs sparkling spring water
which he was wont TO slse-would that
we could have imbihsd with it some por-
ton Of Inspiration akin to his!
can not now, OH the eve of my de-
parture, speak at length of the many
other "sights" Of Lonlon-of the Ma
tional Gallery with its bowildering col
lection of fine paintings; Of the marvellous
collection at the British Museum, the
study Of which were in itself an educa-
ton, and Of South Kensington Museum,
less extensive, though not less interest
ing; of the fresh, green beauty Of Hyde
Park, and the magnificent Memorial to
the Prince Consort, with its colossal
bronze-gilt figure Of Prince Albert, and
other splendid sculptures Of old Ken-
sington Palace where Queen Victoria
was born and spent all her childhood !;
and Holland House, near by, associated
with SO many political and literary llota-
bilitles, Moore, Rogers, Macau!ay, and
many others; of the Geological Gardens,
containing the finest collection Of ami
mails III the world Of Crosby Hall, one
of the quaintest and oldest buildings i'll
London, as well as once the residence,
for awhile, Of Richard III, and famous
Bank of England, and a host of other
places. The Dor6 Gallery Of paintings
afforded me most exquisite enjoyment, so
original are they i'll conception, SO won
derful in execution. They will linger
with me for days and days-a thrilling
memory. OF course, we could not omit
an evening visit to Nine. Tussanu's great
Wax-work Exhibition, whore the figures
SO niarvelously resemble living beings
that yon must observe closely and criti-
cally if you would not find yourself adj
dressing Il wax policeman standing with
official air amid the throng, or request
ing some old gentleman, carelessly mo-
nopolizing a bench, to move up and give
you &; seat. Why, Nell, what Will you
think when I tell you that was actually
taken for wax-worki was sitting quite
notionless, dreaming distant dreams,
when l suddenly became conscious that
two strangers were inspecting me curl
ously. Thoroughly enjoying the joke, l
remained immovable until one said to
the other, "Who is she, l wonder !"
then, at last, could not repress smile,
and as changed my position they moved
OH abashed. Among the figures are all
the Kings and Queens Of England. l
was interested III studying the faces of
the kings, and i'll observing how tho
strong Anglo-Saxon type runs throu gin
portraitnres must be i'll some degree
mythical.
STEAMER CIRcAssIA, October II.
Dearest, l have come to-day to pen
the closing words of my last letter to you.
Soon Shall be with you, face to face,
and we may review at length the Incl
dents OF these summer mouths OF which
I have been able to send you only brief
sketches.
We fingered but day i'll Glasgow
long enough, however, to enjoy its public
monuments and grand old Cathedral, and
to visit the extensive ship yard
OF John Elder d Co, to which, through
the kindness of friend, we obtained
tree access: lam not going to drift into
a dissertation on the intricacies Of ship
building, my dear, SO don't be alarmed
but, certainly, few OF the varied g sights
OF travel had possessed for me so absorb