Weekly News. — 1891-08-13 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

PRECIOUS ART POSSESSION.  OnFriday the great flolbein from Longford Castle was for the first time visible to the public, having been brought up from the ground-floor and placed on a screen in Room VI. of the National Gallery. The picture has for some months been in the hands of the cleancr,Mr. Dyer, thanks to whose great skill and tender care it has now emerged in all its pristine glory. As is almost always the case with Holbein's work, the colours have stood in the most remarkable way, and after three centuries and a half the picture may he said to be finer than ever —a painful example to English painters, who, following their great chief, Sir Joshua, too often paint in a medium that cracks after 20 years.and is hopelessly perished in less than 50. From the antiquarian point of view, says the Times, the "Ambassr_dors" are, in all essentials, the same as they were before the varnish was removed—that is to say, there is no change in those dates and other inscriptions which have at once guided and perplexed the criticsitnd interpreters. But one curious detail has emerge —a beautifully painted crucifix high up in the left hand corner half concealed by the green curtain. Whether this throws any light upon the religion of the persons represented is difficult to say ; probably, indeed, it only introduces a new element of uncertainty, for it would seem to contradict the Protestantism of the German chorale book, the words of which, it may be remarked,are now plainly legible. The globe, instead of being grey, is now of a rich blue, and the carpet that covers the table has come out in pure and brilliant condition. The same, to a still greater extent, is the case with the splendid costume of the principal figure; the red tunic, the velvet cloak,and the greyish-white fur being now fully visible in all their marvellous beauty. If anything has suffered it is the face of the second personage, which appears to be a little pallid, as though some of the carnations had flown. But this, if it be so, is but a slight blemish upon what will henceforward be universally reefkmised as one of the 10 or 12 great pictures in the world, and perhaps the most precious possession of the National Gallery.  The Hungarian paper Lupta states that Mdlle. Helena Vaccarescu, who has been in attendance on the Queen of Roumania in Venice, tried to commit suicide a few days ago. The Queen, adds this account, snatched the dagger from the would-be suicide's hand and prevented her from carrying out her intention.  A telegram from 8 !rlin states that a sailor has passed through the rteat Rhine whirlpool at Kleinlaufenburg clinging to a small raft, consisting of two trunks of trees. He was carried away two miles, and finally rescued alive. This is the first time within the knowledge of the inhabitants that anything has passed this dangerous whirlpool and cataract without being dashed to pieces on the rocks.  Jack: "I'll never smoke in the presence of a lady again." Tom: "Why not, if she doesn't object?" Jack: "I was once smoking while with a lady, and began blowing rings. he slipped her finger through one and considered herself engaged." Mrs. Brown: "And what are you going to give Maud Gipy for a bridal present, Mr. White?" Mr. White: l'Oh, I've settled upon something that I thought lovely, and I know it is just the thing she wants badly." Mrs. Brown: "What is it? Do tell me?" Mr. White: "A packet of letters she wrote to me while we were engaged."