Year: 1878

NO. 3.


The Prince Of Wales--Loan Collection---The


Great Exposition.


AS I intend that these letters
shall be an epitome and reference
for after time of the magnificent
Exposition whose wonders I now
attempt to describe, those who
read them will do well to follow
me carefully, and I will do my best
to make them see through my
eyes it's marvellous collections Of
genius and art, which they have
been unable to visit themselves !;
and even to those who have been
fortunate enough to see Paris
during this holiday season, but
whose:opportunities of observation
have been more limited than my
own, I hope they may not be an
unpleasing souvenir, serving to re-
mind them of events and scenes
not often witnessed in the life of
any one, and which having been
once seen are, to be remembered
with pleasure forever. With this
brief introduction I now proceed to
the fulAllment Of my task.


On a gentle slope which rises
from the east bank Of the Seine,
standsa magnificent building whose
mighty wings stretch away upon
either hand many hundreds Of feet.
Seen from the distance the effect is
not particularly striking; but as
you approach it, it seems to
rise to colossal proportions, and
the grand entrance facing the Tro-
cadero is worthy of the magnificent
structure. Giant figures guard the
portal as if they stood there sen.
tinels over the wonderous treasures
which the people of every land had
entrusted to their keeping. On
one side Of the gateway stands a
figure representing Australia, and
on the other the Goddess of Liberty
with her shield, emblematie of the
United States Of America. And
along the entire line are grand
figures representing the nations Of
the earth. AS you enter the door
you find yourself in lofty hall one
thousand feet in length and over
sixty in height, Eescoed in crimson
and gold. On a costly pedestal,
Immediately before you, is splen-
did equestrian statue of the Prince
of Wales and around the base, in a
dazzling groupe, are the presents
received by his Royal Highness
during his recent tour of India.
These costly gifts by the Princes
permission were exhibited at the
South Kensington Museum, but
even in the most popular resort
in England, they could be seen but
by comparatively few; and it is a
matter of sincere congratulation
that His Royal Highness has not
only given his personal supervision
and care to aid the success of this
great Exposition, but he has con.
tributed such a rare and costly col,
lection Of valuable and curious
things, as it has seldom been the
good fortune Of any one individual
on this earth to call his own. AS
you survey the entire collection and
look up at the imposing statue
which they surround, you might
imagine them the spoils of some
conquering hero; on the loot of
some oriental palace. One case is
filed with massive pitchers, salvers
and goblets of rare workmanship
and of the finest gold; quaint
figures and curious designs are
embossed on them, some Of them
perhaps containing the secret his
tory of the dynasties to whose
glory they once contributed. Look
ing into this costly collection and
shutting out for a moment your i'm
mediate surroundings, you realize
in it's fullness all tho or;ldod ola
inoOl '. ~..v nallows the story OF the
Arabian nights. The tale Of the
beggar boy Of Bagdad finds here
its realization, and the miracles OF
the Geni of the Lamp are before
you in all their glittering reality.
But do not pause too long for this
case; costly as it is, is but a small
portion Of this marvellous treasure
house. Near by is an ivory palace
engraved with the most beautiful
scroll work, the interior gorgeous
~ ,,-SJa1, 7onT.