New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-09-16
ryRox A STAFF CORRESPONDENT ~ the IsrrcNE.1

Interesting
than century and quarter has passed since the
wirced and powdered and iewelled days Of Beau
Nash The Avon is spanned by bridges that
Smouet never dreamed of and Sheridan never
The town has crcpt up both the valley slopes
nearer and the hilltops that used TO look
down upon it. Along the margins of the river
upon which l had the pleasure OF rowing, this
morning, for several miles many of the old gray
stone structures mouldcring in neglect and de-
cay; but a tram-car rattles along the principal
streets; the bootblaclI ana the newsboy are as
active and vociferous rs though they were loose
in Printing House Square the sidewalks arc
crowded with busting thrOng, and all sorts OF
carts and carriages dash and scramble over the
pavcment-whilc where of old the horn used 70
sound gay flourish and the coach 10 come SPIN
ming in from London now IS heard the shrek ana
clangor Of the steam engine dashing down the vale,
with morning papers and with passengers three
hours from town This indeed is not the sea-
son.. and to-day it has rained with jealous fidelity;
so that Bath is not in her glory. Much how
ever can be seen; and the essential fact that she
is no longer the GanSborough belle and beauty
that she used TO be is distinctly visible.
You must Weld your mind entirely 10 Fancy II
you would coniure up, while walking IN these
very modern streets. the gay and quaint things
described in Humphrey Clinker" or Indicated In
The Rivals The Bath chairs, sometimes pulled
BY donkeys and sometimes trundled by men, are
among the most interesting ana characteristic
relics yet to be seen Next door 70 the Theatre
ROYAL where l attended last night and saw Mt
Toole as the Don. which is exceedingly funny.
stands building. Just at the foot OF 1ascolgne
Place before which the traveller pauses with
some interest because upon its front ne may
read the legend neatly engraved on white
marble slab that " In this house lived the cell
ebrated Beau Nash. and here he died, February,
l76l- II is an odd structure, consisting OF two
stories and an attic. the front being OF that
everlasting. tedious stucco that came IN with the
perent There are eleven windows in this front,
but four Of them are painted on the dead wall.
The premises are now used by an auctloneer In
the celebrated Pump Room. raised alott IN the
alcove at the eastern end, still stands the ciIgy
of the Beau even as it stood in the days when
he set the fashions. and gave the laws, and regu-
lated the customs, and the King Of Bath
but the busts of Newton and Pore that formerly
stood on either side of this statue arc gene. Pos
siblv the reader has. before now, CHANGED 70 come
uuon the epirram which was suggested by TINS
singular group:
"rhis statue placed these busts between
Gives Satire all It's strength;
Wisdom and Wit little seen,
But Folly az full length"
ferent meaning 10 different cars. Douglas Jer-
rold made play about Beau Nash-an Ingenious
effective. brightly written piay-in which he is
DISPLAYED MS anything but foolish. 1t al depends
on the point Of view.
Nv interest IN Bath was chiefly dramatic
Ouin was buried in Bath Abbey Church. ana
Bath is the scene Of Sheridan's human and hurnor-
GUS comedy Of The Rivals" It would be
pleasant 10 fancy the trim figure Of the trucu-
lent Sir Lucius O'Trigger strutung along the
Parade or bieif and choeric Sir Anthony Aoso-
Lutte gazing with imperious condescensloh upon
the galaxy Of the Pump Room Acres IN his an
surd fnery, Lucy with her armful oil semi
mental novels. and Mrs Malaprop il her Bath
chair. Therefore 10 Bath l came. The Abbey
has a noble west front and magnificent carved
oak door. seemingly very old, and certainly II
Is a superb church; but the eyes that have Just
rested upon such cathedrals as those OF tdln-
burgh and Glasgow, such heavenly jewel as
Poslvn and above all such an astounding ana
overwhelming ecclesiastic edih3e as York Minister
can dwell quite calmly on Bath Abbey a most
surprising feature in it is its mural record OF the
dead that are entombed beneath or around H.
Sir Lucius light well declare that there Is
snug lying in the Abbey" Almost every
foot OF the walls is covered with monumental
slabs and like Captain Cutie after the we'd
ding OF DOmDeV ana LOIlu OAoHeOA' -
vaded the church and read the epitaphs' -solic-
;tous to discover that Of the renowned gum
His tablet have been told, was formerly IN the
chancel, but now it is rather obScurely placed
In a porch, at the northeast corner of the church.
on what may be tcrricd the "at~r wall Ot The
sanctuary. II presents the face OF the famous
comedian carved IN white marble and set against
black slab. Beneath is the date OF his DEATH
lob MDCCLXVI, Aetat LXXIU," and his cpl
taph. written by David Garrick At the base
are dramatic emblems-the mask and the dagger
As portrait this medallion Of Quin bears
every internal evidence Of scrupulouS hdeuty TO
nature and certainly IL is a fine work Of art
The head IS dressed, 1t was in life, with the
full wig Of the period. The features are dell
cately cut and are indicative Of certain aus
,ere beauty of couutenance-imp impressive, if not at
tractive The mouth IS especially handsome the
INNER lip being d perfect Cupid's bow. The
face is serious. expressive, and fraught with in
felect and power TINS was the last great de-
elaimer Of the old school Of acting discounted
and in a measure destroyed by Garrick; and here
are the words that Garrick wrote upon his tomb ::
"Tbat tongue which set the table on roar
And charmed the public ear Is heard no more;
Closed are those eyes, the harbingers Of wit
Which spoke, before tho tongue, what Shakespeare
writ
Cold is that hand which, living stretched forth,
At friendships call, succor modest worth.
Here lies JAMES QUIN. Deign. reader, 10 be taught
whaie'er thy strength Of body, force Of thought,
IN natures happiest mould however cast,
TO this complexion thou must come al last"
printed reminder Of mortality is quite su-
/. perfuons in Bath FOR you almost continually be-
\old seicted and deformed persons, who have
co< here to take the waters For rheumatic
sunersS. this place is a paradise-as. indeed, 1t
& for. ~ wealthy persons who love luxury.
Walter SavSeS Lapdor said that the only two
CITIES offEurope in which lie could hive were
Bath{ah3 Florence: but that was some time ago.
WheAyou have walked in Mlsom-st aud LanS-
downei Crescent sailed upon the Avon mot the
snatf@ed Avon. but another observed the Alb