Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-07-23
THREE MONTHS IN EUROPE.
BIRMINGHAM AND OUR TRIP TO LONDON

over four hundred thousand inhabi-
tants and one Of the greatest manufac-
turing places in England, its CHIEF
productions being hardware and fire
arms. OF the latter it is said that an
average of gun per minute is made
during the entire year. We wheel out
to Darlaston, nine miles distant, and
spend the Sabbath with friends. After
visiting Wolverhampton, five miles be-
yond, we return to Birmingham Tues
day, June 18th, to enjoy Whitsun-
tide holiday.
We visit the art gallery and museum.
The structure without is magnificent
and within the walls are beautifully
decorated with paintings mostly by
English artists. A great number OF
curiosities interested us, among them
the first locomotive steam engine built
by VIM. Murdock in 1881, and was
first tried on road in 1884. 1t was a
small affair, about Is inches in length
and hadn't the slightest resemblance
to anything intended for Il locomotive
of to-day. A comparison with one of
our great American railroad engines
impresses the time-honOred simile
"great oaks from little acorns grow
Later in the day, we visit Aston Hall
and Parks. The hall is an old struc-
ture dating back several centuries. In
1913, Oliver Cromwell stormed the
premises and traces of several cannon
shots are distinctly seen about the
buildings. The hall is filled with old
paintings and relies, some of great an
tiquity. DIR. johnson was frequent
guest at this house during his day and
in the room where he usually sat may
be seen the first edition of his diction-
ary. A painting of st. Sebastian by
Guido did not escape our notice. In
the evening, however, occurred an ex-
hibitiOn that ranks the grandest of
our lives, that great open air
picture, "The eruption of Vesu-
vius, or the last days of POM
peii," a gigantic painting several hun
dred feet in length by Hart, of London.
1t is constructed in sections showing
Mt. Vesuvius in the distance with Her
culaneum nesting closely at the foot.
Pompeii is at the left and in the fore
ground. At the center is flight of
broad steps leading to the temple of
Isis and at the right the market place.
The whole picture is a scene of bus
tling activity. Representatives of all
the professions, trades and denomina-
tions then known under the Roman
Empire are arrayed in groups requir-
ing several hundred performers. Thus
begins the first tableaux. A scene is
shifted and the amphitheatre or arena
is in view crowded with an excited
populace witnessing the different
sports common to that people. Soon
rumblings like thunder is heard, the
earthquakes, buildings totter and fall
Vesuvius smokes, and soon the whole
heavens are filled with fire and ashes.
The people are frantic with terror.
A few are conveyed out into the bay
in boats and are saved. The scene
closes and where Pompeii stood is now
a heap of ashes the same as where, for
nearly 1900 years, the city of the dead
was forgotten. 1t was the first presenta-
ton of this great picture and was ex-
hibited at a cost of $4,000. The en-
tertainment closed with some brilliant
fireworks including a portrait of the
Queen. We are satisfied and retire.
Wednesday morning we wheeled to
Coventry, distant eighteen miles, the
place where centuries ago lived the
far-famed Lady Godiva, wife of the
Saxon Leofric, who to obtain the free
dom of Coventry from taxation rode
through the city ON horseback naked,
the inhabitants having all except one
retired from observation, and he,
wicked wight, was punished for his
prying curiosity by the loss of sight.
An effigy called Peeping Tom," is
still exhibited at the corner of Hertford
street.
We have letters of introduction to
Prof. Wyles of Allesly College, two and
one-half miles from the city, and in
the after part of the day we spin out
to his home, delightful place in the
country. We find him absent but are
cordially welcomed by his daughter
who prepares tea for us and kindly
guides us about the premises. After Il
short but pleasant visit We proceed to
Kenilworth, seven miles away, and ar
rive there at sunset We are anxious
to obtain a glimpse of the old castle
before dark and draw near Just in time
to catch the few sunrays that linger
around the old ivy-mantled towers
The birds are swarming into their diff
ferent places of abode, and as we watch
them we are reminded that this was
once the abiding place of Geofiroi de
Clinton, Robert Dudley, Cromwel!'s
commissioner, De Montfort's son, Ed.
ward the Second Ga prisoner) Morti-
mer, John of Gaunt, time-honored Ian.
caster, Harry the Eighth, Charles the
First and his brother, assOciating with
these names their histories and the
tales Of Sir Walter Scott. We rub our