The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-08-09
Miss Marion Kelly Gives Some
 Charming Descriptions COLLEGES AND CHURCHES.
Splendid Architecture and Beautiful Portraits of England's Illustrlous Men Make Profound Impression.
 Atmosphere of High Culture.

Miss Marion Kelly, daughter of Chan cellor R. V. Kelly of Anniston, contrib utes the following interesting letter, un- der London date. June 25i
 After Stratford-on-Avon the party went to Oxford, tho seat of the greatest universities of the English speaking na- tions. to which by the will of the late Cecil Rhodes of Africa. an American from each of our states may be admitted. Oxford Is not the town of one college only, as we so often think, but of a great number of separate colleges. As in all places where there is d predomi- hating influence 1t is shown in the things offered for sale; so the shop windows are filled with caps and gowns for various degrees, white kid gloves and mems hol- sday clothes.
 We went from the train to the Bod leian library. which is one of the finest in the world, on account of the very rare collection of books, manuscripts, and il- luminated monastic manuscripts. The picture gallery is filled with paintings of kings and heroes; and there are busts of famous men scattered through the gallery. There were English and Eng fish till 1 became reconcled to our ex- clusion, when whom should l see, with serene and peaceful face, but Benjamin Franklin! It was such surprise, for we know he was no graduate of Oxford, nor of any college in fact. yet on account of his wonderful knowledge and statesman ship he above our other heroes was es- teemed worthy to be placed beside the rulers of the nation
 The Duke of Welington's bust is very fine One knows from history what an influence he exerted over the personnel of his army. But having seen the bust one can understand the manifold quali- ties he must have had; for the head is massive, with strong brow. nose in- clined to the Roman; sensitive lips that are yet thin and close; decisively firm chin; strong jaws a well developed face. intellectual and tender but thoroughly masculine. l am very much in love with the duke from having seen only mar hle image, and how much more his off, cers must have felt the influence when the man could give life and fire to his facel
 In the room in which the illuminated manuscripts are kept there is d bust of Shelly, done in light wash apparently. From where l stood I could see the face, and it's beauty was so attractive. from the little unconscious sadness perhaps, that l began a nasty sketch of it in my notebook, thinking it the head of one of the most madonna-lke women had ever seen, and with purity of expression almost etherial You will know how sur prising was the discovery made when the crowd moved aside showing that 1t was not a womans face at all, but that of one of the greatest English poets
 You should see an illuminated manu- script But their workmanship does not strike me as being beautiful, and the figures and faces are so conventionalized that they long ago ceased to be even car features of the human form. Still there is wonderful collection of these manu- scripts. which are of inestimable value and on which the Catholic monks spent years of their lives; but 1 like their stat uary much better than their manuscripts
 The Christ's Church is the great school of Oxford. It was here that King Ed ward was educated and here the nobil- ity of the land are received. Gladstone