Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1882-06-01

brary in the world, besides maps, en-
cravings, prints, etc. The new reading
room, which was opened to the public in
1857, is circular building in the inner
quadrangle of the museum, occupying
$4,000 square feet. 1t is built
ENTIRELY OF IRON.
1t can accommodate 800 readers, giving
each person a space feet in long.
There are 30 reading tables, and two set
apart for the use of ladies. The whole
building is open to public view on Mon
days, Wednesdays, and Fridays. The
reading room Is open daily seven hours in
winter, nine hours in summer A rainy
day is always nice for the museum, as
you can go nowhere else with comfort,
you are relieved at the entrance of wet
wraps and umbrellas, then free to wan
der where you will. One striking fea-
ture is the life-like appearance of the
animals, all arranged in tne most natu-
raj position. Darwin friends are num-
erous, but one scarcely feels like own
ing them as ancestors. Among the
birds VIE many beautiful birds of para
disc. The guide told me they belonged
to the crow family, quite as mischiev-
Gus and destructive. 1t is supposed
their name came from the fact, that the
first pair brought to England, were with
out feet, having been taken off in their
preparation, thus they were supposed to
float through the mir. Later live pair
came, when the mistake was discovered
the name however, had already been
given to them. They will not live more
than two years in foreign home. A
bird called
THE UMBRELLA GROW,
had square, projection on ana over his
head, not unlike the mortar boards worn
by the Oxford and Cambridge students
though adapted to his size. Under his
chin, is what appears like heavy black
tassel, thus giving him quite minis
terial appearance. Perhaps it was the
Rock who oificiated at Jenny Wren S
funeral. He looked very solemn and
knowing as he stood upon his perch
There were thousands of birds with each
nest. eggs the size of pea to those of
the swan and ostrich. Some peacocks
with tails spread, others trailing. Every
variety of shell. While sitting to rest
for it IS tue most worrying to the eye
and head, to say nothing of your feet
one of the guides, who are very chatty
always ready to answer your questions,
came and stood by me asking if | was
fond of shells, said he would point out
some of the choicest specimens.
| should have passed them by without a
second look. The rareness, makes the
money value. He pointed to pale buff
one, the only one of its kind, valued at
fl00, others where there wei two or
three at twenty forty or eighty pounds,
others that would have selected for
their beauty were not worth three pence
| looked in vain for the American eagle
as a sight of him would have been cheer
ing, but probably did not look in the
right place. The
DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF CORAL
were very beautiful, some like branch,
fiat and thin, fairy like in its texture.
One piece sound and as large as half a
bushel, was called musical, though no
sound came from it, but it has the APP
pearance of the pipes on an organ. The
pink specimens were very delicate and
open like n tree. | saw the shell of a
tortoise, that would hold quite party
of children. | spent three hours, and
visited the museum many times after,
but could not see all them, where there
! is so much of interest to look at and
admire. In one room some rare and
curious missals and manuscripts were
kept in cases, together with old treatie S
with other countries. On my return
home, I found Miss X. had a ticket for
me, with the others, to the Promen AIDE
Concert, it was the English Ballad
night, and the first thing on the pro-
gramme, was my favorite II dream't
that dwelt in marble hall s." which
could not resist. In the center of the
immense stage at
| COYENT GARDEN THEATER,
! ard in front, were raised seats capable
of holding the immense orchestra, aud
full band of nearly one hundred per-
formers. A prima donna every night.
have had the pleasure of hearing Will
helme, and Madam Norman Narada on
the Violin. The stage was used by
Senior Gatti, for refreshments. Some
were Waiting about while others occu-
pied the grand circle and boxes, others
enjoying the ices and cream or slipping
coffee, while listening to the enhancing
waltz music of 'Strauss."
The Hanson Cab is one of the
features of London, two wheeled We
hicle, with one horse, the driver behind
! and above Won. thera IL a Iittla from Il ,,r