Morning journal and courier., 1894-03-06

sixteenth century are almoet e finely eHe- cuted as are thoee of the present time. As for the hundreds of tonnes of the French masters of the fifteenth to the nineteenth century, they are filled with numberless works, priceless in value and of the deepest interest to thoss who study their contents.
 The man of leisure who desires to i'm prove his mind and time can find here in Dresden, e in many other European cit- ies, vast treasure houses stored with the accumulated treasures of centuries, deep- ly interesting and of enduring benefit.
 This comes from the fact that all things here have the solidity and continuance born of hoary antiquity; for centuries wise monsrchs have collected for their successors valuable and rare works of art Dresden owes debt of deep gratitude to Augustus the Strong, who did his part % nobly to foster science and art, thus mak- ing this city great focus of splendid art in Europe. Dresden Is the cradle of Roo CO art, and Its lovely effect is to be seen here in all parts of the city. It was in the commencement of the eighteenth century ton of porcelain. Dreeden was also the headquarters of Semper, one of aerma- ny's greatest architects, from whose wcn- derful achievements this city has attained special distinction among the cities of con- tinentsl Europe.
 In reference to porcelain, let the visitor to Dreeden enter the Johanneum museum, where are twenty thousand specimens of Chinese, Japanese, Indian, French, Dres- den and Italian workmanship; this is the finest collection In the world, and the eye revels as it fessts upon the representations of all manner of things In heaven above, L., klxo L. AL- under the earth. Some of the Chinese specimens date back for sges; the six great blue and violet china dogs are very rare and ancient. The famous Dragoon vase presented by Frederick the First, of Prus- sis, to Augustus the Strong, of Saxony, in 1717, In exchange for a regiment of dra- goons, is very beautiful. Room after room is filled with specimens from the ear ly centuries down to the present day.
 The collection of Dresden china is re- markedly fine and interesting. Porcelain was first discovered in Dresden by the fs- mons chemist Bottiger about the year 1700; the manufacture was shortly after wards removed to Meissen on account of the rich deposits of white clay found In that locality. The English term "Dres- properly styled here "Meissen" china.
 The collection of msjolics, faience and terra-cotta Is very valuable and of very beautiful and unique designs.
 Very many visitors throng the rooms of this famous porcelain collection, and to thoroughly inspect and examine its con- tents long lifetime would bs necessary.
 Augustus must have been 8 man of rare culture to have fostered art in its various forms, thus conferring special honor upon this beautiful city, rendering it one of the art centers of Europe.
 In Dresden there are many museums and art collections, also fine libraries where one can sit and study to his hearts con- brary of Dresden, was founded by Angus tus about the middle of the sixteenth cen tury; it contains four hundred thousand volumes, six thousand manuscripts, thirty thousand maps and two thousand speci- mems of early topography. Many of the manuscripts are of the twelfth, thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, and are specially interesting to the student who with hun gry soul drinks deep of their unique con- tents. The contents of this Royal library is of priceless value and occupies 8 whole pslace-the Japanese pslace-situsted right on the bank of the Elbe, surrounded by beautiful gardens terraoed down to the rivers aide. Should you have the desire
 
 in the great hall and read from the largest book in the world, the hieroglyphic codex of Yucatsn, which is more than twelve feat long.
 The Ssadt museum is @ sort of city his toriosl society; here'can be seen the oldest document in Dresden, dated March 27, 1260; an Indulgence letter dated at Avig- non, September, 1919; another March IS, 1862. A series of beautifully formed wax tablets-1437-1456-a many illumins- ted books of great age.
 In this museum are ten quaint paintings of the Ten Commandments painted fn 1920. The rooms are filled with pictures of old Dresden, models of old buildings, ancient wood carvings from churches of the ante reformation period, autograph letters of historic personsges, and in fsct the whole museum is 8 perfect historical society, containing great chain, as 1t were, of valuable links uniting Dresden of the present day to Dresden of seven hundred years sincs.
 I was particularly interested In the pie lures of Dresden as it appeared some three hundred years since, when the city was contained within the walls of the Neu stsdt on the ,uth bank of the Elbs river; @ small city at that period Comparative ly speaking, even then 1t was & large ciiy In Ss1ony. Now up and down the banks of the lordly Elbe it spark'es like 8 per- feet gem, and with broad streets and su- pero public buildinge, and possessing all the requisites of a perfected modern city, it is rightly, indeed, the metropolis of Ssxony, one of the besuti -ul cities of Eu. rope.
 Near the Stsdt museum stands the cele- brated Frauen kirche, the largest church in Dresden, with holding capacity of three thousand peo ols. The dome is very lofty, the lnstern being three hundred and ten feet in height. This Is a singular edi- flee, having three tiers of galleries built quite around the auditorium.
 The floors and stair cases are of stone, and to judge from the altar paintings, can- delabrs and immense crucifix in the chan eel. one would scarcely believe the follow CTS of Martin Luther worshipped here.
 Crossing the Neumsrkt in front of the Fraueu Kirche, we enter Augustus strssee, on the side of which is built the Johan- neum museum. One eide of this long building extends a very long distance down the street and on the outside wall is painted a representation of the Saxon rulers from the time of Konrsd der Grosse CAD. 112O down to the present Saxon King Alhreoht the Good. This painting is some three hundred and fifty feet In length and is very interesting. At 6 glance one can readily read the Saxon his tory for the past eight hundred years.
 Entering the massive gateway, and after crossing two or three very large courts, we come to the museum, erected some three hundred years since.
 This is the famous Historical museum; here are many large rooms filled with vea- pons, srmor and all sorts and kinds of sn- oient objects of artistic and historical value.
 This is considered the most valuable col lection of the kind in Germany. Here fs Q splendid assortment of carved furniture of intricate design, andi marvellous work manship, carved in the fifeeenth century; here are beautiful ebony and ivory csbi- nets, including the celebrated jewel cabinet of the Electress Sophia, made in the year 1900; a splendid specimen of the superior workmanship of that period; it Is one of the finest works of srs in Europe.
 The cabinets referred to above are nearly as large as pianos.
 The eye Is bewildered as 1t beholds the glittering array of intricate and superb clocks, drinking horns and drinking cups of glass and ivory, fashioned with the skill for which the early part of the sixteenth century was so remarkable. We must pause a moment to examine the great drinking goblet and sword of that great man who dared oppose the might of the Roman Catholic | church, and ct whose historic name even now the heart of every true German thrill. | with prsise-Martin Luther.
 To judge from the capacity of this gob- | let Luther must indeed have been e lover | of rfoht oood cheer Here are all eoYta of