Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1921-02-16
The Strand, London, England,
Strand Palace Hotel,

The Strand, London, England,
Strand Palace Hotel,
January 6, 1921.
My dearest Mother:
These last two days have been
spent looking over art galleries.
There are so many wonderful paint
;ings to be seen that it seems positive
ly desecration to give so little time
80 each. At the same time many of
them that are so familiar to me from
having studied so much about them
that it facilitates matters very much.
For every minutes time ever spent
in studying pictures, am now being
compensated and my only regret is
that I did not spend more time at it.
Ny favorites have been Sir Joshua
Reynolds, Gainsboro, Murillo, Ru-
bens, Rembrant and Titan. Of course
Michael Angelo should be included
in these, but so far / have seen only
two of his.
There are many things we find
disappointing after having heard so
much of them, but not so with these
pictures. do not believe there
breathes soul that would not feel
the presence of genius in the mar
-velous beauty before them. Tell Gle
ora I saw our little favorite "The
Age of Innocence" in the original,
and it is as perfect as can be pictur-
ed, and love it, though there are so
many grander subjects still than this.
Those I saw yesterday were in the
National Art Gallery up on Trafal-
gar Square and quite an easy walk
from this hotel, so 1 shall go back
there every spare minute to be found.
Today we went to Hampton Court.
This is a palace which belonged to
Cardinal Wolsey and was given by
5im to Henry VIII. Since then it has
been the property of the .reigning
monarch, but is no longer used by
Them as residence. Queen Victoria
.apened it to the public and it is a
great educational opportunity for all
who are able to visit it. It's art gal
ileries are almost equal to the Nation
al and the gardens surrounding it are
wonderful, they fairly take your
breath.
1T gives you a weird sort of feel
ing to be standing in the haunts of
those old kings and queens and gos-
!siping about them with caretakers.
SO much for pomp and precedence;
the prince and beggar alike have but
one common end-death-and yet
we mortals are always striving for
the ;glories of the world, when the
experience of the ages teaches us it
leads nowhere; that nothing matters
but righteousness in the sight of
God.
1t was interesting to look over the
: Fbanqueting hall of Henry VIII where
on one side he danced and caroused
by turns with each of his six wives,
and on the other is the chapel where
his pious (?) soul exercised itself
with devotions. rather think his time
in that chapel was spent in planning
for poor Anne Boleyn and Katheryn
Howard to part with their heads.
The ride to Hampton Court in it.
self was most interesting. 1t is four
teen miles from London and gives
the tourist fine views of the suburbs.
We rode in the second story of a bus
smost Of the way, then transferred to
a sttram car" meaning what we call
street car.
It was rather cold riding so far in
the open, but when everything is new
to the eye, what matters small thing
like that, as the natives are welcome
TO the inside. 1t was possible to see
"a bit of country life in way, and
there was a general impression of
wonderful green fields and gardens
/. all showing the work of expert gar
-deners.
We returned by rail, however, as it
is much quicker and more comfort
able. 1t was good to get back to the
hotel even if the rooms were filled
with the inexhaustible crowd of
smokers and tea and beer drinkers
and enlivened always by fine orches-
tras.
The waiter told me at dinner he
knew was an American because l
Ir,o,,e oollod for water at every