Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-11-09
loupoN MUSEUM ORGANIZATION
English Collections Cr1s3a9 Rapidly
al kensington Palace

English Collections Growing Rapidly |
al keasington Palace
| The new London museum beng organ
l7ed at kensington palace Is beginning
10 take definite shape under the direc=
ltion of Guy La1ing, keeper Of the King
arlnof at Windsor castle, and compiler of
the catalogue of armor in the Wallace
collection Reference has already been
made at some length in these columns 70
the presentation OF the Hilton Price col
lection OF London antiquities By an
anonymous donor to form the nucleus
of a London museum, TO b. organized
ON the lines of the Musee Carnavalet in
Paris
In the meantime the collection Is grow
ling rapidly, and for some weeks past Mr.
Laking and his staff have been bnsily
engaged in arranging, sorting and CLASH
fring the objects which are stil1 pouring
| in upon them from all sources, in re-
Spouse 10 the trustees appeal for any
thing Of particular London interest oYert
5000 relics as miscellaneous as they are
Interesting have to be grappled with, and
lit Is no light task to show 10 the best
advantage exhibits Of 50 varied a nature.
Nothing is sent away unexamined, for
what appears on the surface 10 be the
veriest rubbish NAV contain some hidden
Pressure such as crushed pewter plate
bearing the cipher of Queen Elizabeth,
when Waa turned up by a workman
pick In the Hilton Price collection Is a
10th century sword. half of which was
found many wears ago in the river mud
at Eattersea, while the rest Of II. frag-
linent of blade containing the end of an
Inscription which began on the first half
Twas picked out Of the excavations dur
ling the building OF the Tower bridge
When placed together. il was found that
the TWO pieces fitted exactly.
The latest addition 10 the museum Is
me series of old English historical cos
tunes collected by Mr. Seymour Lucas
r. A This collection is considered to be
the finest that has ever been made. and
contains costumes ranging from the
period of Henry VII, 10 that Of George
III It had its origin in Mi Lucas de-
sire to produce in his historical pictures
every detail as near to the actual event
as it was possible to get it, thus no
sought for the garments worn at thar
day. and succeeded in quite a miraculous
way In obtaining them He spared HIM
self no trouble, and for the last 80 years
has been gathering them in wherever
their historical accuracy could be
vouched for
Many of them have figured in his pie
lures notably the Elizabethan costume |
In which Drake is playing bowls when |
the Armada is in sight. Among the cos
tunes are some leather coats highly en-
broidered in gold and silver thread and
no less than 40 hats of the reign of Hen
~ VIII. which were found in the famous
rubbish heap of London called the Lon
don Ditch There are gloves, hose and |
pointed boots as well as quantities OF
women's dresses of all periods These |
will all be placed on figures and arrang |
ed according 70 their dates among gen
uine furniture belonging to their periods |
Other collections will be incorporated !
with Mr. Seymour Lucas A number Of |
costumes have been placed at the dis
posal of tho curator by the King and |
Queen. which will bring the collection
right mp to the present day. Some ara
dresses which belonged 10 Queen Vic
tora in the early DAYS of her reign
These Illustrate The fashions of the early |
Victorian era. Her majesty's coronation
robes the coronation robes of Edward |
VII and Queen Alexandra and the dress |
Worn By Queen Mary at her wedding. |
are all included and viii be of great |
value in completing the interest of the !
show Il Is hoped that the museum will |
be open to the public late in the autumn /
and the collection will remain in ken
sington palace until a more fitting and
permanent home can he erected Lon
Con orrespondenca