Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1893-04-06
For the Ellsworth American.
Rambles in Old England.

have cleared that bold promontory
Java Head, that guards the western gate
way o the Far East; that noted head
land that has faced the billows Of The In
dian Ocean. basked In the brilliant sun
.ight Of the tropic, ,trcmbled under the dark
cinder laden skies of earthquakes and vol
canic eruptions for unknown ages past /
have 300 miles of rolling ocean before me
before turn the next corner, 4 good ship
clear field, and ask no fayors
feel relief after having cleared the
thousand and one hidden dangers of the
thlns and Jaws seas, that is not realized
by those whose navigation consists in
steering horse and buggy on a dark night
along some Of our New England roads, on
each side OF which rises line OF bould-
ers 50 high and close together that
sheep would need daylight to lind his way
through them; or in guiding an OK team
through the devious ways Of some old and
almost forgotten wood road, whose OBJ
structions are, now aud then, the lifeless
body Of some old monarch Of the forest
that has stretched his aged trunk aud life
ie>s limbs across the way. and over whose
fallen form younger generation Of the
forest have risen, leaning toward each
other, locking hands as il were. bowing in
silent worship owe. the departed hero.
When the lockout halls the quarter deck
and shouts, breakers" :" or "a log" the
m4n-yard i laid aback. or the team hove
10 for a few moments while the "old man"
goes ahead with axe, watch-tackle and
capstan bar, and in few minutes the
channcl Il clear ana the craft filed away
on her course once more. The anxiety
have felt or the relief | now feel is not
what viii interest any one. so | will tell
them Of something else whether it pleases
them or not.
wish | could condense the wanderugs
OF many days among the sights of London
into one letter that would give even
faint idea OF few Of the many things
worth seeing in that city If could, |
could interest nnety-nine out OF every
hundred readers, providing they had never
been there. Out of many ra nbles, which
viii | choose: / will tell you Of day
spent in Madam Tassand & Sons exhib-
tiUn of wax works, the most renowned on
earth, description and an account +
which is a subject worthy of the best o
descriptive powers, which will assure you
that this description does not amount TO
much. By the aid Of memory. my log and
a printed catalogue of objects | will tell
you OF few items. The founder of this
wonderful exhibition, Madam Tassand,
in 1880, aged 30. Her father was an aide
de-camp TO General Wurmser While a
child she was left an orphan and went to
France to live with her uncle, NJ. Curtius,
who was an artist attached to the court of
Louis WI. With this uncle she learned
the art of working in wax, ami was en-
ployed while young to instruct the kings
sister, the Princess Elizabeth, in the same
art.
Apparently she lived many years with
the royal family and became very warmly
attached to its members. Who can imag-
inc the mental anguish and sorrow she
must have endured upon being compelled
by the officers of the Reign of Terror to
handle and make models of the bleeding
heads of that family, with whom happy
years Of her youth had been past. imme-
di4tely after they were guillotined! At
the end of the Reign of Terror she left
France and landed in England, a stranger,
friendless, penniless and alone.
At first she had travelling exhibition
through England and after a time settled
in London. After being moved and en-
lsrged several times it located in its pres
ent place, and has developed into the most
wonderful exhibition of this kind In the
world. The building consists of four large
halls, two rooms, Nos. and 2, called the
Napoleon rooms, the ground noor gallery
and the chamber of horrors. To thorough
ly understand the mauy persons and scenes
illustrated in this vast building is to quite
well understand the history of Europe for
the last ten centuries, and to understand
the history of France from the beginning
of the Reign Of Terror to the last day of
Napoleon III. Here one can see figures
life-size Of all the rulers of the different
divisions of Europe for the last thousand
years, arrayed in the armor or costume of
their time, besides the most noted people
of nearly all other countries during the
same time.
The first four halls are filed with the
members of those royal families men
toned, dukes, earls. mobiles, noted states
man. generals. actresses, actors, singers,
&c. The present royal families of Eng
land and Prussia, comprising the children
and grandchildren Of Aunt Victoria are