DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1310#0088
66 THE GREAT EXHIBITION
four inches in diameter, at a distance of 110 yards, made 95 hits out of 100. Behind
these engines of destruction were arranged those subservient to peaceful occupations,
agricultural and mineral, in all their useful variety, to processes connected with the
culture and weaving of flax, hemp, and silk, in all their various branches.
Crossing the grand avenue, we observed several splendid carriages, and a profusion of
furniture, carved and richly covered with velvet. Two oaken cabinets particularly struck
us, of a grave and ecclesiastical character, ornamented with figures of angels. On ascend-
ing to the galleries we found, at the top of the stairs, three figures, of life-size, in
embroidered ecclesiastical robes, that far outrivalled all the glittering wardrobe to be
seen at Madame Tussaud's. These represented the Archbishop of Paris, Afire, who was
killed in the last revolution at the barricades; St. Carlo Borommeo, an Italian saint
and archbishop, whose embalmed body, enclosed in a glass-case, we have seen at
Florence, in the costly chapel dedicated to his memory, enriched with gold and precious
stones, which is annually opened on a particular day, that the benighted bigots of that
city may worship at his shrine. Our English Thomas a Becket was the last of these
worthies that greeted us on mounting the staircase. At a later period of the Exhibition,
however, the French Archbishop Afire gave place to Fenelon, whose Telemaque was so
familiar to our schoolboy days ; and the Italian saint, a good man, by the by, had also
disappeared to make room for another French worthy, but the renowned St. Thomas
a Becket stood his ground to the last. All these three lay figures, however, for some
reason or other, wore white gloves, instead of the purple gloves of the archbishop, and
the bright scarlet of the cardinal. While examining the embroidery of these robes,
which the maker warranted to wear a hundred years, and then clean, we found ourselves
side by side with two gentlemen actually wearing, the one scarlet, and the other purple
gloves; such were the strange coincidences of the Exhibition! They proved to be
Cardinal Wiseman and one of his bishops examining the costume of Thomas k Becket!
In the same galleries were cases of medals, cameos, bronzes, a shield and dagger, and
other ornaments richly chased in iron, all displaying very considerable taste and executive
skill; but, to own the truth, neither statuary, nor lay figures of archbishops, nor the
large display of Koman catholic works, nor any object connected with art, science, or
literature, excited half the sensation among the ladies, as did the tempting outspread of
delicate lace, from Brussels, Mechlin, and other districts, for ages celebrated for its
production. It was curious to witness the enthusiastic admiration with which the various
articles of dress, robes, flounces, veils, collars, &c.j fabricated out of the fine spun thread
with more than Arachnean delicacy, were regarded by the numerous female visitors who
absolutely haunted the enchanted spot, devouring with their eager eyes the coveted spoil;
while exclamations of the most enraptured delight burst from their ruby lips. This love
of dress may be considered inherent in the sex; from the unenlightened savage to the
courtly duchess, all are swayed by its influence. We remember an amusing story by
Peter Pindar in evidence of its supremacy, in which he relates how on a visit of some
country female cousins to the great metropolis, when he thought equally to astonish and
delight them by a first sight of St. Paul's, which was breaking on their view as they
. paced up Ludgate-hill, the eyes of his fair companions were suddenly attracted by a rich
display of ribbons, laces, and shawls in a mercer's window, from which no argument or
inducement held out by the disappointed bard, could for a long time prevail on them
to withdraw their eager attention.
The Belgian diapers and damasks, although somewhat coarse, were serviceable, and
of tolerably good design; we cannot however commend those which had the human
figure introduced in them; one in particular was intended to represent the king of the
Belgians on horseback, the effect of which was exceedingly ugly and inappropriate,
four inches in diameter, at a distance of 110 yards, made 95 hits out of 100. Behind
these engines of destruction were arranged those subservient to peaceful occupations,
agricultural and mineral, in all their useful variety, to processes connected with the
culture and weaving of flax, hemp, and silk, in all their various branches.
Crossing the grand avenue, we observed several splendid carriages, and a profusion of
furniture, carved and richly covered with velvet. Two oaken cabinets particularly struck
us, of a grave and ecclesiastical character, ornamented with figures of angels. On ascend-
ing to the galleries we found, at the top of the stairs, three figures, of life-size, in
embroidered ecclesiastical robes, that far outrivalled all the glittering wardrobe to be
seen at Madame Tussaud's. These represented the Archbishop of Paris, Afire, who was
killed in the last revolution at the barricades; St. Carlo Borommeo, an Italian saint
and archbishop, whose embalmed body, enclosed in a glass-case, we have seen at
Florence, in the costly chapel dedicated to his memory, enriched with gold and precious
stones, which is annually opened on a particular day, that the benighted bigots of that
city may worship at his shrine. Our English Thomas a Becket was the last of these
worthies that greeted us on mounting the staircase. At a later period of the Exhibition,
however, the French Archbishop Afire gave place to Fenelon, whose Telemaque was so
familiar to our schoolboy days ; and the Italian saint, a good man, by the by, had also
disappeared to make room for another French worthy, but the renowned St. Thomas
a Becket stood his ground to the last. All these three lay figures, however, for some
reason or other, wore white gloves, instead of the purple gloves of the archbishop, and
the bright scarlet of the cardinal. While examining the embroidery of these robes,
which the maker warranted to wear a hundred years, and then clean, we found ourselves
side by side with two gentlemen actually wearing, the one scarlet, and the other purple
gloves; such were the strange coincidences of the Exhibition! They proved to be
Cardinal Wiseman and one of his bishops examining the costume of Thomas k Becket!
In the same galleries were cases of medals, cameos, bronzes, a shield and dagger, and
other ornaments richly chased in iron, all displaying very considerable taste and executive
skill; but, to own the truth, neither statuary, nor lay figures of archbishops, nor the
large display of Koman catholic works, nor any object connected with art, science, or
literature, excited half the sensation among the ladies, as did the tempting outspread of
delicate lace, from Brussels, Mechlin, and other districts, for ages celebrated for its
production. It was curious to witness the enthusiastic admiration with which the various
articles of dress, robes, flounces, veils, collars, &c.j fabricated out of the fine spun thread
with more than Arachnean delicacy, were regarded by the numerous female visitors who
absolutely haunted the enchanted spot, devouring with their eager eyes the coveted spoil;
while exclamations of the most enraptured delight burst from their ruby lips. This love
of dress may be considered inherent in the sex; from the unenlightened savage to the
courtly duchess, all are swayed by its influence. We remember an amusing story by
Peter Pindar in evidence of its supremacy, in which he relates how on a visit of some
country female cousins to the great metropolis, when he thought equally to astonish and
delight them by a first sight of St. Paul's, which was breaking on their view as they
. paced up Ludgate-hill, the eyes of his fair companions were suddenly attracted by a rich
display of ribbons, laces, and shawls in a mercer's window, from which no argument or
inducement held out by the disappointed bard, could for a long time prevail on them
to withdraw their eager attention.
The Belgian diapers and damasks, although somewhat coarse, were serviceable, and
of tolerably good design; we cannot however commend those which had the human
figure introduced in them; one in particular was intended to represent the king of the
Belgians on horseback, the effect of which was exceedingly ugly and inappropriate,