Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-11-06

years, to the time when human hands
first fashioned this strange monument
from the unqusrried stone, and wrought
upon its sides these curious symbols Of q
long-forgoiten tongue. Who may tell
the unwrit,en history Of the centuries
through which it has lived We say
lived, for it seems almost sentient being
some priest or king Of ancient Heliop-
oils, condemned to live on in stone, for
ever an exile. alone and unknown-yet
not alone, for in the Metropolitan Muse
um of Art, close at hand, are rare trea-
sures of art from its own and other laEds,
over which, as faithful sentinel, through
winters SHOWS and summers heat, by
day and by night, it keeps most loving
guard.
The generous wisdom and foresight Of
the founders Of the Art Museum can
hardly be too highly appreciated. Al
though the institution is yet in its infan-
cy, no where else in America can be
found so complete representation Of the
arts Of all ages and all climes. Thrown
open to the public eratuitously upon four
days in each week, this Museum must
inevitably become great educator. To
derive full advantage from il. one should
be near enough to make frequent visits
possible. Two or three hours at time
spent in studying som one department by
aid Of its handbook, would enable one in
a few months to easily and pleasantly
acquire a vast deal Of knowledge. With
but one day to spare for the whole Won
derful collection, one seems at its close to
have lived years since morning. 1t is
too much to grasp at once; yet in our
greed we are prone to make the attempt
Our plan was 10 take handbooks of the
loan collection Of paintings and sculpture
and the tapestries, and Of the pictures
by the old masters, and give careful in
spec,ion TO everything therein catslogued;
then TO spend the remainder Of the day
in looking, without the aid Of books, at
the other collections. In this way it is
possible to see all, and yet to have an
intelligent idea OF much that is seen.
The wonderful Cesnola antiquities from
Cyprus are here; here, too. are Egypt
ian, Babylonian, Phenician, Greek, Pc
ruvian. Mexican and Indian relics; be-
sides wonders of workmanship from Chi
ma, Japan, Rome, and many other places.
OF books there seems no end TO the an
lique and strange, and we realize the
strides which the printers art has made
within few centuries. Zone thousand
Nights and Night is here to be seen
in the original. A small portion of the
work has been read almost the world
over, under the title of Arabian Nights
Going back Of the time
Of book making, we find ancient Baby
lonan bank accounts baked upon bits of
clay. In the Cesnola collection is a sar-
cophagus Of king Of Cyprus, dating
back to b. C. 600. There is also the
plaster cast of a monument set up by
Sargon, father of Sennacherib, in Cyprus,
to commemorate his victories there in the
year 10 b C. The monument bears
the portrait Of King Sargon. eve never
see nor hear the name Of Sennacherib,
without an amused recollection Of West
ern divine who claimed the title of ID D.,
but who persisted in calling the old AS
syrian king =" SIENNA cherub. >" DIN one
Of the basement rooms is veritable
" Diogenes' tub The cynical old phil
osopher, bound to mortify the flesh and
eschew all the comforts Of life, certainly
chose his dwelling place wisely, for one
conceive Of anything but discom-
fort in such home, even though these
tubs were often large enough to be used
in lieu of cellars, or to serve as hiding
for q whole family, in an emergency.
This tub was an immense stone ar,
bullying in the middle, and having an
opening at the top, to admit vegetables,
children or philosophers, as the case might
require.
All this and much more for the Curl
osity-seeker. The lover or the beautiful
meanwhile finds ample scope for obser-
walton among paintings, statuary. Vene-
tian and Roman glasses, exquisite speci-
mems of china and other wares; precious
stones skillfully engraved wonderful
carvings; laces so delicately wrought that
only with the aid of a magnifying glass
can their beauty be fully appreciated
the Bryant Vase and other repousse work
in silver-indeed, time and words fail If
we attempt to even mention all that the
Museum already contains. II the plan
of its founders can be fully carried out,
the institution will be blessing TO all
future generations.
Al Il a 4 Al l..