Birmingham age-herald., 1895-08-18
No ELECTRIC CARS,
BUT PAUL PRY DIDN'T MISS THEM
'Busses and the Underground RaiIways-A Visit to the National GaIlery-Before
 the Great Masters.
I.nndon- InlY 1a. 1895.

tainly have said no, I could not even exist without them. and yet in London l spent a right pleasant time and covered an enormous extant of ground and yet have not seen an electric car. They i handle the crowds almost altogether by means of omnibusses, and also by under ground railways, which are tolerably pleasant, though for any, distance they become noticeably close and smoky. Then, too, these busses are such de- ightful way of seeing the sights; they seat about sixteen inside and outside no less than twenty. You ascend the circu- lar steps in the rear to the top of the buss and the seats are arranged facing the driver. which makes sightseeing very delightful from this elevated posi- tion then, too, they seem to go every minute over every portion of London, and the conductors are particularly ac- commodating, and as they pass or stop at certain corners call out their interest ing points of destination, so that we could go anywhere in London without particle of trouble; then, too, the fare was only 2 cents for quite long dis tance, 4 cents for very much longer, and as far as you'd care to ride, very likely, for cents, or "thripence." We availed ourselves with a great deal of pleasure of the buss rides and often rode at night, just to see the city, as they run until after midnight. One of the most impress sive monuments in London, and the city is full of them, we remarked that Eng land certainly honored her public men, and I do think this public and beautiful recoe A ton of their valor and bravery is calculated to inspire patriotism of the highest degree. Well, this monument, in Trafalgar square, one Of the finest open places in London and ,al, great center of attraction, dedicated to Lord Nelson, and commem- crates his glorious death at the battle of Trafalgar in 1895, gained by the Eng fish fleet over the combined arnaments of France and Spain. In the center of this square rises the massive granite column to the memory of the hero and is crowned with a statue of Nelson by Bailey, and is 17 feet high. The pedestal is adorned with reliefs in bronze cast with the metal of captured French can non. while below is Nelson's last com mand, '.England expects every man will do his duty" The monument was erected by volutary contributions, ana while severe and simple in style IS yet one of the most impressive monuments m London. plainly discernible from great distances owing to its great height. Just back of this monument are two very at tractive fountains, in the rear of which rises the national gallery. This Brit ish gallery was founded in lS24, ana IS certainly one of Englands triumphs, for III one obtains a very meagre idea or the beauty of the pictures during few weeks stay. Those which delighted me most in the entire collection were by the old master, Guido Reni, beautltul not only for their richness of coloring, put for the dramatic grandeur Of drawing: "Youthful Christ Embracing St. John, "Ecce Homo" "St. Jerome" and others.
 Then the very large collection or Iurh- CTS work Joseph M. W) delighted me,
 T tn1d like them. There are so many by hlm III one large room he must have passed life of unsurpassed industry, as l know he did of unrivaled success. In ms Worhs is conspicuous his masterly and VIZ orous execution and brllllancy or coior- ing. while in some the subdued colorlng and effective light and shade makes them beautiful Many of them reminded me so much of our approach to Glasgow up the Clyde, which is beautiful river. AS we neared the docks we looked over the sides of the vessel and there was misty rain falling while the sun shone on un- certainly producing an effect, as we saw many of the old buildings along the river docks for some distance ahead that was the beautiful effect of nature seen in many of Turner's pictures. We also saw a very large collection of works by Sir Edwin Landseer, copies of which are no doubt familiar to every young student of art Another particular picture that we recognized as a gem was The Derby Day." scene on the race course at Ep- som, 1856, and painted by William Firth, R. A.. a small picture, only about 31a feet and 7lb, but so distinctly and beauti- fully painted such brilliant coloring. A number of works by Hogarth and a splendid collection of Sir Thomas Law renee. Many excellent portraits by him, one of Benjamin West duplicate of the one sent to America; also portrait of SildOnS that fine
 There are large collection of Gains borough's, too, which are very beautiful he excelled in portrait, landscapes and fancy pictures. portrait of Ralph Schomberg, Esq, and also Musidora bathing her feet, were especially fine. She is seated on the bank of a shaded stream with one foot in the water.
 For To! conducted by the laughing loves, This cool retreat his Musidora sought;
 glowed
 And robd in loose array, she came to bathe Her fervant limbs in the refreshing stream"
 Then very prince of portrait painters was Moroni, and by him we especially liked Portrait of Lawyer, and Morin a Tailor. There were rooms filled with pie lures of the Umbrian school, which I must own I was not sufficiently educated to appreciate, also the Venetian school, with rich colorng. Many pictures by Raphael Sanzio, Madonna and Child, especially fine. A very fine Murillo. St. John and the Lamb, I believe 1t was; however I found the Dutch school de- lighted me immensely by their brilliant coloring. There was one by NanDyck, Charles I, especially fine. Many by Rem brandt and some noteworthy works Qf Rubens, the Brazen Serpent, Triumph of Julius Caesar, beautiful and exquisite small pictures by Wourverman and Cuyp. Wind Mills and Ruined Castle in a Lake, a Battle, by Wourverman, full of animated action. of the utmost trans parency and executed with admirable precision.
 Indeed was charmed with this Dutch school and found it so hard to leave-and yet so much to be seen how could a few days amount to anything in the gallery. What an education an opportunity in the midst of such a number of people as are congregated in London as this national gallery" and yet I wonder if they avail themselves of this educational factor. I doubt it very greatly, for to speak very modestly and of quite an extreme length I'll admit from this gallery is our own Art league in Birmingham. and yet re- member very distinctly many creditable displays and unusually interesting col lections of art tastefully arranged, and II T 1s..lI