Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1914-12-04

mansion overlooking st. James
"a park and The Mall, which was
~ for so many years the town
house of the dukes of Suther-
land, has been thrown open to the
public as the London museum.
The lofty rooms are flooded with
light even on a dull day, and they form
an admirable setting for the valuable
exhibits that have been assembled and
arranged under the careful supervi-
sion of Guy Laking, the director, and
his colleagues.
There are three great features of the
new museum-the collection of early
seventeenth century jewelry (buried,
perhaps, at the time of the great fire
or the plague, and found under Lon
don house at the time of it's demoli-
ton two years ago., the greatest col
lection of Cromwellian relics ever as
sembled, and the equally important
collection of costumes, chiefly of the
Georgian period, which fill two of the
state rooms on the first floor
Gold and Silver Room.
One of the principal attractions is
the gold and silver room. 1t contains
a unique survival of the early part of
the seventeenth century in the shape
of collection Of jewelry- discovered
in the city. This treasure was found
buried in box and was part of a jew
eler's stock. There are many dupli-
Gates and some Of the articles are in
an unfinished condition.
Altogether $40 pieces we're discov-
cred, including rings, pendants, chains,
scent bottles, pomanders, and watches,
and part Of communion set in crys-
tai and gold. The delicacy and ele-
gance of the designs and workman
ship are remarkable and in one or two
instances it is curious to recognize
the resemblance of the ornaments
fashioned in JacobeGn times to the art
Eouveau of the day.
One of the most interesting of the
rescued relics is a cameo portrait of
Queen Elizabeth, evidently carved by
the same hand as that which execut-
ed a precisely similar portrait pre-
served at Windsor castle.
Rich in PaIeolithic Implements.
The museum is rich in paleoliMlic
Implements wonderful celt was dis
covered within the last three weeks in
Piccadilly circus-in neolithic nipple.
ments, and in weapons of the bronze
age. Some admirable bronze swords
have been found in Sion Reach, Mill.
wall, and Wandsworth, and are here
displayed to indicate the civilization
which had been attained before the
advent of the Romans, to whom the
visitor is introduced by natural tran
sition.
The former dining room of Stafford
house has been converted into Lon
dinium." Here are writing materials
artistic trifes, toilet appliances, per
fume, and manicure boxes and toys
From Roman London the itinerary
leads to the Saxon, Danish, and Anglo
Saxon collections, whence one passes
/ to the advent of the Normans. At the
end of the corridor is a room contain
ing medieval relics dating from 1906
to 1900.
1t is perhaps when the staircase is
assembled and the time Of the Tudors
is reached that the romance and color
Of London in old times are most for
chilly brought home to the mind. The
arms of Henry VIII, Edward vi, Mary
and Elizabeth are effectively displayed
and many curious and illuminating sur
vivals of theis reigns are to be seen
Relics of Sixteenth Century.
Here, for instance, is the elaborate
and handsome steelyard of Sir Thorn
as Gresham. Various domestic uten
sils, examples Of metal work, few
samples Of. costumes, Examinations
and landscapes help the visitor to Wis
ualize life in the sixteenth century
The proclamation for the resumption
of relations with Spain after the de
feat of the Armada and the warran
for the arrest and execution of thu
earl of Northumberland, both signed
by Queen Elizabeth, afford a viviC
glimpse of the character of that poten
tate, from whose presence one passes
into the room containing relics o
James | and Charles /.
A crucifix found in Goswell roat
strikes the note of the ecclesiastical
tendencies of Charles time, Stuar
badges, symbols, personal ornaments
furniture and many documents are Il
ne seen here before one reaches tn,