New-York tribune., 1906-02-11

O. silver gilt nestle and mortar a bowl a S-nal
basin with handle, rupotrc. six ebony cozes
and covers a pair OF scales with their Weighs
knives and other small surgical implements. a
bIowpipe. and. finally. some thirty-eight en-
isters and bottles for the preservation Of dru-s
the canisters being made OF silver. Here is one
appointment Of luxury in which the past Eives
fits usual lesson to the present The medicine
chest in question is not only useful, but. open
or closed. if may Judge from Mr.. LakinSs
plate, it is a thing of beauty There is one cab
met at Windsor for which ronanticalIy hist1ri-
cal claims have been made. 1t was bequeathed
to Queen Victoria in 1868 by a member OF me
BeIhaven family. who cherished it as a piece
OF furniture which Mary Queen OF Scots had
herself used With it went lock Of her hair and
a purse she had made A silver plate tells al
this. but it has suffered the fate OF many sup
IOsedly authoritative inscription Mr.. Lakius
after searching technical scrutiny of the cab
met. cannot allow that it could have possibly
been made anterior to the second quarter of the
seventeenth century. He does not question the
good faith OF the former Scottish owners, be-
lieving. indeed. that they nay have at one time
possessed true Queen Mary cabinet; but he
suspects that in course of generations the
original mislaid or overlooked: the Iegend
however. remaining to be readily attached to the
first piece Of old looking furniture that came to
hand" OF the lock OF pale auburn hair kept IN
the cabinet he does not care to say anything.
beyond the criticism that it looks wonderfully
young, fresh and feminine it lies coiled on the
white satin lining of its case"
The English rulers have always obtained
much Of their furniture from abroad Italian
and Flemish work displaced at court the solid
monumental productions OF Tudor times The
artisans who came over with Dutch William
had considerable influence upon English taste
The ideas Of the Orient also were brought into
the country and the excavations at PompeiL
with the light they threw on classic forms were
also effective at one time But French methods
first and last supplied most OF the furniture now
assembled at Windsor Castle. either In pieces
brought across the Channel OF In others execut-
ed in London after Partisan models In tba
years Immediately following the Revolution
countless chateaux and houses in France We're
swept OF their possessions. to the great advan-
tase OF English buyers The classical fashion
SET oy Napoleon, quite as much the pressure
or financial misfortune. was responsible for this
MT Lahins remarks that from 1920 till as late
as 4ofO London found its markets overstocIed
With French furniture of the great periods II
Is at this point that he pays warm tribute to
one of the former occupants Of Windsor. saving
1t Is to King George Tvs fine taste and anorer,a-
reI tr2s 1ne non must be ever grateful for the
buckingham Palace Almost ali the fine T5Tetf 1i
the Countess cIoct eio oroIdzes the o6jets dart
the all but complete series OF Oriental
porcel4lnS were purchased by him ThOurh san
ISe1IlS the influence OF his time he acquired Ot5o-ts
OF such artStc and intrinsic value ana at prices 81
CONVENIENT that the money then expended thOlsyn
very considerable sum. represen 3 TO-DAY btt a
CheSe countless acquisitions OF Kins, CSeorse N
tno furniture and enrichments OF our royaI pala~as
wouu nave Deem as much out OF character WITH
theLr surroundings they now in keeDine Wis
ue Ioyh dignity which they. IN a way helo 10
Mr- Lakins has positively to ftaIlcfze The
nsures To emphasizes the bargain which was
made In one royal purchase The cou1roda "
Resener. a masterpiece OF the late Louis Nv
period. which he reckons among the choicest
things at Windsor. was bought in 1875 for f107
Placed IN the market to-day this beautiful rjeca
or furniture would probably soar to three frr-es
before the auctioneer had registered more .aa7
the first few bids There are other exan,D..S or
French workmanship at Windsor OF the sar,e
supreme perfection. and there are many which
IL not 30 consunmate, are, at all events f1r
above the average The selection OF them ei,-,-
In the Illustrations to Mr.. IakinsSs voiur7.
would alone be OF interest But IT Is esDecf,r1,y
suggestive to compare the authentic foreign
pieces with the cabinets. tables and SO on pro
cuced by English craftsmen in emulation OF
uer Paris1an rivals The native work is often
beautiful. but 1t never quite reaches the stand
and az the BrencA