KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



387 



pointed table," and waited upon by a modest 

 and most attentive damsel, let us confess to 

 having gone through the "business before 

 the house " with commendable zeal. Nor 

 should we be justified in omitting from our 

 records, that 



" In this village here, 

 Is sold the best beer." 



We verified it " again and again," in the 

 large room up stairs. We have oft heard 

 the expression — "mending your draught." 

 Here we learnt its meaning, and shall not 

 forget it when we again pass that way. In 

 speaking of that ale, we do not 



" Chronicle ' small ' beer." 



But let us on to the Gallery, and briefly 

 run our eye over one of the most beautiful 

 collections of Pictures extant. We must 

 not dwell to particularise these mighty efforts 

 of the old masters ; nor attempt to express 

 the feelings of delight with which we con- 

 templated the work of their hands. We only 

 regretted that we could devote so small an 

 atom of our time to the enjoyment of such 

 a luxury ; but as we came out with a 

 defined object, that object we pursued. We 

 shall assuredly soon again revisit the spot. 

 By the way, we will specify one picture — 

 lt the Locksmith," (see Catalogue, No. 299) by 

 Carravaggio. The longer Ave looked at it, 

 the more we saw in it to admire. The same 

 feeling predominated towards a very young 

 and most interesting little widow, who was 

 thoughtfully pacing the room with a cata- 

 logue of the Pictures in her fair hand. To 

 be honest, let us say that our attention was 

 not quite equally divided between the ' Lock- 

 smith 1 and 'the Widow.' Both were truly 

 admirable; but we had " a choice" — more 

 particularly as we had asked the Widow to 

 refer to her catalogue for our information, 

 and she had complied with the most bewitch- 

 ing grace. If we may explain the difference 

 between the two — the Widow had the more 

 "speaking" countenance, and seemed to US 

 therefore the more " natural." 



Before leaving the neighborhood, and im- 

 mediately contiguous to the College, we 

 observed two trees, tall and widely-spread, 

 covered with fair, pink blossoms, somewhat 

 similar to the delicate almond. We sought 

 out the gardener, and learnt from him that 

 they were " Judas trees." Like most of our 

 "gardeners," however, he knew neither the 

 ' why nor because ' of the name, nor from 

 whence the trees came. They were certainly 

 very beautiful — so modest, and so chaste. 



We now girded ourselves for a long walk, 

 and the golden sun bore us company. On 

 our progressive steps, we need not dwell at 

 length ; as the exquisite scenery of this and 

 the adjoining localities is so well known. 

 Proceeding towards Penge, our eye was 



refreshed by the picturesque scenery which 

 presented itself in a variety of landscapes, 

 " ever changing, ever new," — not only on one 

 side, but on both sides of the road, stretching 

 far away in the remote distance. Birds had 

 we too, singing to us all the Avay we went ; 

 and it was a question with us, — which felt 

 happiest ; we or our aerial attendants ? We 

 imagine the point to be difficult to determine. 

 Among the choir — the thrush, blackbird, 

 robin, blackcap, and chaffinch, were the 

 principal performers. The nightingale 

 occasionally indulged us with a hymn, — 

 and so were our enjoyments varied. 



Duhvich Wood — what a lovely spot! — 

 held us prisoners for some time. We here 

 found much to admire in nature's never end- 

 ing handiwork. Emerging on the opposite 

 side, we found ourselves in a lane skirted on 

 either side Avith the most beautiful trees, 

 many of them rejoicing in a profusion of 

 blossoms, — the rich perfume from Avhich 

 Avas grateful indeed Pursuing our road, 

 and mentally enjoying Avhat our pen can 

 never clot doAvn upon paper, Ave wandered 

 on, in a devious course (for Ave kneAv not, 

 neither cared Ave Avhere Ave were going), 

 till Ave reached the upper end of Nonvood. 

 Here Ave halted, to make some observations 

 on the extensive scenery that lay before 

 us, and to take a sight of the spot whereon 

 are to be erected the remains of the Crystal 

 Palace. This " great job," as it is called, is 

 already devised, and about to be carried into 

 effect. We hardly need say how rejoiced Ave 

 are, in common Avith all lovers of virtue, order, 

 and decorum, to find that the undertaking is 

 so far removed from its late site. There is 

 no doubt that many Avill be ruined by it ; and 

 as little doubt that many will make a fortune 

 out of it. Already a multitude of " shares" 

 are bought up by speculators to " sell 

 again," and dupes are as numerous as the 

 dupers. This will go on " as usual" till the 

 bubble bursts. By the way, Ave Avere, Avith- 

 out knowing it, in company the other day 

 Avith the Overseer of these Works. We Avere 

 seated vis-a-vis in an omnibus, and journey- 

 ing to toAvn together. We Avere amazed to 

 hear this gentleman — alone among so many 

 — expatiating on the millions of money to be 

 made in one year by this speculation. He 

 gravely assured us, and our felloAv travellers, 

 that tAventy single days (if the Aveather held 

 fine) would alone repay the ivhole cost of the 

 ouilding and grounds (498 acres) — leaving a 

 handsome surplus. We fought him valiantly, 

 point by point, statement by statement ; and 

 Avhen at last we said that all the tag-rag of 

 London avouIc! frequent the place, his remark 

 Avas — " Exactly so. It is numbers that Avill do 

 it. One man's money is as good as another's." 

 We asked him, " if he had any shares to sell ?" 

 He said, " Oh, no ! There is not one to be got 



