The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-02-18
VISIT TO A ROYAL PALACE.
4 TENERABLEt PILL IN THE AN
 CLIENT QUARTER OF YTENNA.

Dresden, Feb. 1, 1895.
 To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER
 In my last letter think we had just completed our drive about the "Prater' Now let us visit the "Hofburg," or roy al palace, situated within the Ring strasse, in the ancient quarter of Vien- na. This is a venerable pile with many modern additions, it has been the resi- dence of the Habsburg princes for over six hundred years, and is one of the most interesting spots in Austria. As colossal bronze equestrian statues of the Arch Duke Charles and Prince En- gene of Savoy. This latter statue is a superb work, the horse is balanced per fectly upon his hind feet, the centre of gravity being perfectly arranged at this small point of contact. In most eques- trian statues the following tail and hind feet unite to balance the superincum- bent mass, but know of no other eques- VI liH 6Le1luS d5 DGduIllully pdldllSCI elp this statue of Prince Eugene. The sup erb statue of Emperor Marcus Aurdius on the Capitoline hill at Rome is rlount- ed on glorious charger having three feet on the ground, the last survivor of 95 equestrian statues of ancient Rome.
 The equestrian statue of Colleoni erected in 1495 in front of the Church of San Giovanni Paolo" at Venice, which Rustin considers "the most glor- rests upon three feet. Close by the burg, is the celebrated ''Volksgarten" a public resort where nightly in sum- mer numerous visitors assemble at small tables and while sitting under the trees listen to most superior music. This is a lovely spot with winding paths and green lawns, with fountains and beautiful flowers right in the center is the Temple of Theseus, where for merly stood the famous statue of The seus, by Canova. This temple is exactly like that pretty temple of the same name at Athens, just below the Aero polls. I visited that ancient temple some years since and was astonished to see its exact counterpart in the Volksgarten in Vienna. Near by is the statue of Emperor Francss l., husband of Empress M. Theresa. There is still another equestrian statue of Emperor Joseph II. in the Joseph Platz. In fact Vienna is full of statues. as thick al- most as a forest with leaves.
 The Imperial library in the palace is one of great interest.
 As we ascend the staircase we notice many Roman antiquities and statues of the Habsburgs. The ceilings are sup erbly painted and the different rooms are very beautiful. The library con tains 45O,0O0 volumes, 10000 MSS, and 12,o00 volumes of music. Here are no less than 6,S0O books which were print ed prior to 15O0, these are the famous
  "Incunabula," of untold value The Bibliophile could delight himself | here, and could fairly exist on the old l books and MSS. for whole life time. l There are in this library no less than 100000 engravings and 40,000 portraits. | Passing through the library we enter | the treasury. Here are to be seen an | immense number of objects of great | value and historic interest, extending | far away back to the early days of the Hapsburgs, in fact many items belong to period far anterior to the coming of that powerful family into Austria
 The celebrated Florentine diamond is preserved here; a peasant sold it for one forn after the battle of Marot Charles the Bold bought it for f250, ,0OO; it weighs 134 carats, very costly affair for a hat clasp. Some of the most cost ly and beautiful objects in Europe are to be found in this treasury.
 Beuvenuto Ce1linni's salt cellar, a most superb work, and one of the finest things ever produced by that great artist Is to be seen here, a gem of art ever to be admired Many relics of the dreadful Thirty Years" war are to be seen here, and as beheld them they seemed to tell afresh of those dreadful days. Imagine if you can whole gem eration of dreadful war Imagine the green sward of Austria and Germany torn up and trampled down; the fruit trees, hedge-rows and pleasant dwell lings, blown away with gun powder and the whole land desolate hideous place of skulls! Austria we'll remem- bers those gruesome years, and as for Germany the recollection is wierd one indeed; from occupying the highest poll itical position In Europe, she sank so ] deep In the accumulated mire of thirty years. that, weakened by disease and f war, her population shrank to scarcely i 5, 100000 of poorly clad, half-starved in- : habitants. To this day the baleful in- fuence of that war is felt all over Ger many. In the treasury there is very valua- l ble collection of coins and antiquities, S the inspection of which will more than T repay visit; this collection is so var I led in detail that it has no superior and c