Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-02-09

cOutemplhtlOn OI ukuEe ottSiuB w Vnc
OF the settees-occupied partly BY live
people Of which the place is much fire.
quented, and few others who were alive
once beforehand engaged our attention
for some moments. This particular
figure was OF very distinguished and
dignified looking gentleman, sitting per-
fectly moti0nless, with his hands lean
ing on his cane, and It had been mat
ter Of conjecture with Us for some time
whether this figure was alive or nn-aiive,
but by persistent watching we had come
| to the conclusion that he was alive. We
had searched on the floor at his feet and
been unable to find any number-every
wax figure being numbered with cor
responding number In the catalogue,
which gives you all desired Information
regarding the figure 10 question.
| Here was our chance, so we called TO
our companion, who had the catalogue,
telling her to come and see who this one
WIS whom we had been regarding so
long with decided interest, from the
fact that he strongly resemhled an old
sxeethesrt OF ours, In the long gone
| rainbow-hued days OF our youth.
She stood before the insnimate object
long and earnestly, searching for his
number, the wicked demon In us, mean
while, drawing her out to mention In
admiring terms his exquisite natural
ness OF pose, and beauty OF feature and
physique, but being unable to discover
anywhere any number, and at last look
ing into his face, "the babe looked mp
and sweetly smiled" and tho smile soon
developed into a broad grin, and then
into 'jolly good hearty laugh" and a
THANK you kindly, dear Jane" meta
phoricaliy speaking; and the object Of
cur intense interest and ardent admira-
ton, got up and walked away.
You can imagine the discontinue Of
our companion, and 1t was even suggest
cd that this man was put there on pur'
pose to fool people; but that did not de-
| tract from the assurance that our victory
was all the more satisfactory. from the
fact that the disciple OF the bsckwoods
Of Maine had vanquished on her own
ground the born-ard-bred Londoner, who
had visited the place scores OF times be-
fore.
Iu the "bsck parlor" Is fine string
band which discourses sweet music, and
az we sit and listen, these quaint snt
curious groups Of royalty, arrsyed In
their robes Of splendor, and In their
characters as well, are source OF in-
creasiug delight, and we don't mind
confessing to q decided liking for these
kings aud queens and dowagers, even at
the risk Of being counted person OF
doubtful intelligence; aud that we lose
sight OF the fact that their jewels and
crowns are Of glass and brass, and We
expect To see them clapping and cheer
ing with the rest OF Us, when the or
chestra renders particularly pleasing
selection.
We can't tell you about all these H.
lustrious personages, OF whom we make
the acquaintance here, but will intro
duce YOU to the first one who greets Us,
willilm the ConQueror. He Is chiefly
noted for the Curfew Bell and the
Doomsdav Book; the former being n
signal at O'Clock At night, for every fire
and light TO be- extiuguished; the latter
the first record or sort OF register OF
deeds for taxing purposes, begun during
his reign, which commenced 1906. The
original copy IA exhibited under glass
case at the British Museum.
You will not be so much interested 10
the other kings and queens perhaps, as
10 few other indiyiduals--Julius Caesar,
for instance, the greatest OF the old
Roman Consuls, and most victorious OF
her military commanders, born b. g, 100
Among his literary works his accounts
OF the Gallo and Civil wars are alone
known at the present day.
This figure who stands here dressed In
the peasant garb OF her youth, is Jenny
Lind, the Swedish Nightingale"-the
obscure peasant girl, who with that
golden voice, brought the whole world
TO her feet.
But perhaps the most interesting OF
all is Madame Tussaud herself, a little
s'dried up" old woman you would call
her, who originated this great enterprise
herself, and from few small beginnings
done with her own hands, she evolved
this interesting exhibition and accumu-
lated great wealth.
Another room, well worth seeing, Il
the one devoted to relics Of Napoleon
his carriages, wardrobe, jcwelry, plct-
ures, ETC., aud the coronation robe Of
his empress, also his own, made Of
purple velvet, and lined with the skins
OF GOO0 ermines, and weighing S0pounds.
The three eagles surmounting II were
captured at Waterloo.
The most extraordinary relic In the
world Is that melancholy one OF the
French Revolution, the original knife
that decapitated 22,000 persons. Also
the original guillofine, called philan-
thropic (?) machine for beheading peo-
pie, invented by NJ. Guillotine, French
physician.
We shall not take you into the "Cham-
Der Of Horrors" for already you have
had enough Of horrors, but we will 60
instead to the Parliament Houses. These
immense buildings cover over more than
ten acres Of ground, and contain eleven
courts, 100 stairways, and 100 apart
ments, and cost Sl5, 1000. There are
three towers-Victoria Tower being the
one through which the queen enters on
the opening Of Parliament. This tower
has an immense clock, the four dials OF
which measure twenty-three feet each 10
diameter, and It takes five hours to wind
up the striking parts. The interior Is
fitted up with lavish magnificence, and at
one end Of the hall OF the House OF
Peers, Is the sumptuous throne OF Queen
Victoria.
Westminster Hall, which now forms
Q vestibule Of the House Of Parliament, Is
rich In historical associations, nearly
all bloody, as Is the entire history OF
England-but we cannot say much, as our
own liberty was bought with blood, and
1t will take good many Star SpaDgled
Banners of Peace to wipe out that
stain.
In this hall the English monarchs down
to Geo. w, gave their coronation festivi-
ties. Oliver Crom wells body Was drag
ged from Its resting place la Westmin-
ster Abbey, and here on one Of the PIN
nscles Of this same Westminster Hall,
his head Was exposed, where 1t remained
thirty years, till at last high wind car
ried 1t to the ground. One Of the seu-
tries picked It up and sold 1t, and il
afterwards descended to q relative Of the
family, who has II In bis possession at
the present day.
We can't enlighten you to any great
extent on the workings Of English poll
tics, except that the House of Commons
is made up exclusively Of rich men.
They receive no salaries, and they must
be rich In order to keep up their posi-
tions, 50 It is not to be expected that
they will legislate for the benefit of the
poor, any more than they do 10 the
United States. The suffrage Is not alto
gether what It should be, perhaps, any
more than 1t Is In the United States! By
which, do not understand us that We
want to vote, for nothing Is farther from
our desires. Here, unless q mtn owns
nrnnerfy thai hrinRa In n{ll a rear OF