The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-02-10
the cCtiposer Ia sit down to his coup In
peace. Musical Monthly.

Palmerston was fifty years In the House
OF Commons before ne led mat assembly,
and during that half century, aith0psh
constantly In Office. he mad not Reeh a
tendant In the House. Il can't get UNI,
three-decker Palmerston 10 bear dOWn'
MT. Canning used 10 say. and Paimerston
always hesltated TO formulate views upon
any subject which was not bus soeclat
care AT the moment. He refused 10 sci
his mind 10 work on hypothesis. IN fact,
he was a typical man OF the world, and,
as = has been often said. a man OF the
world Is 10, an imaginative animal.
Wien Lord HoughtOn found himself
next TO Mr.. Gladstone AT dinner half a
century ago he found him excited about
China and the cattle plague, and half
dozen other things; when he found him
self next to Lord Palmerston he could
get no further than the Inevitable ha-ha
and laissez-faire. What was admirable,
however, in Lord PalmerSton was the
ever-present sense of the dignity of Eng
land. 'orell ". Gu.zot from me" sad
Metternich, that one does not with i'm
punity play little tricks with great coun-
tries" Lord Palmerston never stopped 10
little tricks himself. and would not toll
crate them IN others.
This attitude, together with his firmness
about the military forces Of the Crown,
and his cheerful confidence I'm the for
tune and stamina of his countrymen In 1858
and 1891, were thoroughly appreciated by
the Queen. 50 that when the end came
she would look back ana mourn honestly
at the breaking Of another Ink with
the past" and feel sincerely ana deeply
In her desoate and isolated condition how
one by one those tried servants and adj
visers are taken from her'-Nineteenth
Century.
Russians are noted for their suoersti-
tons ard for the numerous legends they
have handed down from father to son.
\ curious legend is related in an English
paper concerning the Russian custom,
which prcscribes that the new Czarna
must dress on her wedding morn before
the historical wedding table which be-
longed 10 the Czarna Maria lvanowna.
This precious piece or furniture was
gift from her imperial fance, and the
legend relates II Is the most wonderful
nuptial gift-fnOWn. The young Princess
Maria was very pleased and proud OF
IL: she was also very beautiful, loved and
was adored by her future husband. ON
her wedding day. while her ladies were
dressing her before this table. All al once
the precious mirror aid not reflect the
superb beauty OF Maria lyanoWna, ,aor
her magnificent dress, nor her rparkiln"
gems. Instead OF that a rapid vision
passed along its clear surface, scenes OF
blOodshed, struggles. misfortune, IN Whlcn
APPEARED the figures Of her husband, ana
of sons and grandchildren destined 10
wear the heavy crown Of the Muscovite
succession. The poor Birl was terribly
frightened, and tainted at the sight OF
these dreadful scenes. and TO which N
ture events gave a tragic conformation.
Maria Ivanowna, to whom this revelation
was one Of advice and instruction, cN-
pressed the desire that this golden toilet
table should be used by each successive
Czarina on The day Of her bridal with
the intention, perhaps that II the vision
should again reveal the mysteries Of the
future 20 another bride. IL would ierve
as an admonition that earthly happiness
Is not TO be attained here below. even
on the steps OF n throne.