﻿THE CRYSTAL PALACE. 9 



there are all sorts of tools for mechanics ; yonder are silks, vel- 

 vets, laces, &c., for the ladies ; preserves and pickles for epicures ; 

 carpets and tapestries for parlors and drawing rooms ; silver ware 

 for the table ; and here, I declare, is a clock with a tree rising 

 over it, which is full of artificial birds, that keep moving about, and 

 singing too, in obedience to the machinery of the clock. And in 

 another place is a large bear, carved in wood, grappling with an un- 

 happy man, who undertook to hurt him. See, how his claws enter 

 the man's back ! It makes one's flesh creep to look at the poor fellow. 

 Bear hunting may be very fine sport, but I would rather be gazing 

 quietly at the wonders of this Palace, than hunting wild bears in the 

 forest of Ardennes, or any other forest. 



But here we are in the nave again. Let us cross over and peep 

 at Austria, Denmark, and Italy, on the other side. Here you find 

 lots of guns, pistols, dirks, swords, and some handsome cutlery. Well, 

 Austria needs such things, because she oppresses her people, and can 

 keep them only by the use of force. But we don't want to look at 

 weapons of war ; so let us walk over yonder, and study that group 

 of statues from Denmark. How beautiful they stand, those images 

 of Christ and his apostles ! In the centre is JESUS, looking so full 

 of tenderness, that the sight brings a tear to your eyes, and a 

 thought of affectionate gratitude swells your breast. On his right 

 stands Paul preaching with a soul full of power. You gaze on him 

 a while, and his voice seems to break on your ear in earnest tones. 

 Then you turn to Simon, Bartholomew, James, and Thomas, to Peter, 

 John, and the others ; until your heart is full of feeling, and your 

 mind of admiration ; you go away blessing the great Thorwaldsen, 

 for executing such a work of beauty. 



New let us step into Italy. Here you find, among many other 

 things, some pretty paintings, and some very fine statuary. The 

 veiled nun is especially beautiful, and a statue of Columbus wrought 

 in silver thread, or in filigree, as the artists say, will be sure to at- 

 tract all eyes. 



Passing leisurely along through the Italian department, we find 

 ourselves again in the nave. Here we pause to look at the figure 

 of the mother asleep on the prairie ; while a huge eagle is in the 

 act of endeavoring to steal away her child. From this, we turn to 



