The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1889-02-18
LETTERS FROM rHB OLD COUNTRY.


Interrupted DN the pressure OF -CtSLt9 "a
the Legislature. The letters are now re-
sumed for completion IN response 10 the
( desire Of many readers Of those formerly
pubiished.-ED.
A very pleasant experience has
been given US the past week, in
meeting with some Of the bright
friends who shared in the delights
of our Killarney trip. Their wander
ings have led them through the most
charming Of the continental ezcar
sions and scenery, and now on their
homeward way, they rested q week
in London. Loath to part with
them, we resolved to share their
/ Journey for a few miles, and notwith
standing the fact that a heavy storm
of wind and rain was rendering
/ travel difficult and sightseeing i'm
| probable, we rolled out Of Padding
ton depot in good spirits and glad Of
The change. For days and weeks Of
! experience with the ragged edge Of
| suspense render even atmOspheres
teeming with history and brlstling
with present events, oppressive and
lacking in interest. In an hours
time we had left the dreary storm
| behind, and blue skies and light
clouds looked down upon US, as we
! alighted at Oxford. A carriage and
intelligent driver were soon helping
us make the most of the few hours
we could devote to this learned place.
! Our first visit was to Christ Church
! College This is the largest Of the
! tWenty-One colleges which are used
in constructing this seat Of learning.
t 1t was founded by Cardinal Woolsey
| in 1925, and marble statue Of him
| self Is over the massive gateway
! through which we pass III entering
the first quadrangle. This gateway
is surmOunted by tower in which
hangs the famous bell, "Great Tom"
Weighing 1900 lbs. We pass from
one quadrangle to others, visiting
| chapel, libraries, nails and courts, all
full OF deepest interest. Rare old
pictures, grand carvings, quaint win
dows and superb entrances. D0rmi-
tories occupied by the Prince of
Wales and Prince Leopold, also
Gladstone, are pointed out. Incl
dents in their school lives related,
and finally we are ushered into the
broad walk" one OF the finest ave-
nues in England. The vista seen IN
two directions, is over One-fCurth Of
a mile, and the grand old trees that
clasp hands overhead, were planted
over 200 years ago, by Bishop Fell,
who is immOrtaljzed in the minds Of
many by the lines:
do not like you, DR.. Fell; the reason
why [ cannot tell.
But this ! know full well, I do not like
you, Dr. Fell.
We are driven rapidly from one col
lege to another. Weeks would
scarce suffice for visit to each, but
some point OF architecture, spire, or
window, gateway or court. was
chosen 10 add to the mosaic, tbat
memory was iniaying from this visit.
We visited the chapel of hcble Col
lega, hoping to find there Hunts
famous picture Of The Light OF the
World" but learned toe lare, VIC
should have looked Tor il ia the
library Of the same college. How
ever, in the same chapel, we found
some marvellous rn0saics upon the
walls, illustrating the relationship Of
the Old to the New Testame nt,
through scenes in the PatriarchaI,
Jewish and Christian periods Of the
Church. Some exquisite carving ana
stained glass added to the emDeIlish-
ments also. A few minutes were
spent IN the Chapel Of New College,
which though implying youth and
modern style, by It's name, was
nevertheless founded IN 1886 and IS
among the Oldest of the colleges
1t was peculiarly rich from its com
mencement, being most literally en-
bowed, and as the centuries have
worn upon it's original construction.
the RESERVATIONS necessary have been
made with the view of preserving as
perfectly as possible, the original
plans of the founder. The details Of
the interior of the chapel, are very
rich, and the west window pleased
US more than any we have ever seen. !
1t was painted from designs fur /
nished by Sir Joshua Reynolds, and /
is remarkable for the absence Of the |
brilliant blue and red so common in |
4hSh1O1lcA N1LNNO"o- AIO putty VI I
the subjects made prominent by the |
white light, in contrast to the heavy
shadings Of the background, was
very impressive. A half hour was
spent in the Bodleian Library This
contains 10000 manuscripts, and .
100000 volumes. A copy Of every
book printed in England and copy
righted, has to be placed upon the
shelves, consequently the growth is
steady and rapid. CuriOsities in
literature are many. An illustrated
account of the incarnation Of
Yishnu, covering strip Of papyrus
four inches wide and forty seven
feet long, is artitically displayed,
and is beautiful in color and execu-
ton. The gallery above contains.
beside a number Of paintings, the
models Of ancient temples. The
Cathedral of Calcutta in miniature
of alabaster, is as beautiful a con
ception in architecture as it has been /
our good fortune to see. The Sheldo-
MAN Theater Is the place where all
honorary degrees are conferred on
the most distinguished men of the
age. The roof of this hall is the
largest known that is unsupported