Shepp's Photographs of the World

BLARNEY CASTLE, Ireland.—Here are observed the ruins of a famous old fortress, visited by thousands of tourists every year, on account of a tradition which has been attached for centuries to one of the stones used in building the castle. Its walls are 120 feet high and 18 feet thick; but it is principally noted for the "Blarney Stone," which is said to be endowed with the property of communicating to those who kiss its polished surface, the gift of gentle, insinuating speech. The triangular stone is 20 feet from the top, and contains this inscription: Cormack MacCarthy, "Fortis me fieri fecit A. D. 1446."

Fig. 2

LAKES OF KILLARNEY, Ireland.—These are three connected lakes, near the centre of County Kerry. The largest contains thirty islands, and covers an area of fifteen square miles. The beautiful scenery along the lakes consists in the gracefulness of the mountain outlines and the rich and varied colorings of the wooded shores. Here the beholder falters, and his spirit is overawed as in a dream, while he contemplates the power and grandeur of the Creator. The lakes are visited by thousands of tourists annually. The above photograph gives a general view of them.

Fig. 3

DUBLIN, Ireland.—Dublin, the capital and chief city of Ireland, is the centre of the political, ecclesiastical, educational, commercial, military and railroad enterprises of the kingdom. It is the residence of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and it claims a high antiquity, having been in existence since the time of Ptolemy. In the ninth century it was taken by the Danes, who held sway for over two hundred years. In 1169 it was taken back by the English, and seven years later, its history began to be identified with that of Ireland. The city is divided into two parts by the Liffey, which is spanned by nine bridges. This photograph represents Sackville street, one of its principal thoroughfares.

Fig. 4

GIANT'S CAUSEWAY, Ireland.—The Giant's Causeway derives its name from a mythical legend, representing it to be the commencement of a road to be constructed by giants across the channel from Ireland to Scotland. It is a sort of pier or promontory of columnar basalt, projecting from the north coast of Antrim, Ireland, into the North Sea. It is divided by whin-dykes into the Little Causeway, the Middle or "Honeycomb Causeway" here represented, and the Grand Causeway. The pillars vary in diameter from 15 to 20 inches, and in height, from 10 to 20 feet. It is a most curious formation.

Fig. 5

MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS, Glasgow, Scotland.—Glasgow is one of the best governed cities in Great Britain, and has a broad, bold and enlightened policy that conduces to the health, comfort and advancement of its citizens. This photograph represents its municipal buildings and a statue of Sir Walter Scott. The building is large and imposing, and of a mixed style of architecture. It was erected in 1860, at a cost of nearly half a million dollars, and has a tower 210 feet high. The Post Office, Bank of Scotland, Town Hall, Exchange and Revenue Buildings are close by.

Fig. 6

LOCH LOMOND, Scotland.—Here is presented the largest and, in many respects, the most beautiful of the Scottish Lakes; it is nearly twenty-five miles long, and from one to five miles wide. Its beauty is enhanced by the numerous wooded islands, among which the steamer threads its way. Some of the islands are of considerable size, and, by their craggy and wooded features, add greatly to the scenic beauty of the lake. Loch Lomond is unquestionably the pride of Scottish Lakes. It exceeds all others in extent and variety of scenery.

Fig. 7

FORTH BRIDGE, Scotland.—This bridge, crossing the Firth of Forth, is pronounced the largest structure in the world, and is the most striking feat yet achieved in bridge-building. It is 8296 feet long, 354 feet high, and cost $12,500,000. It was begun in 1883, and completed in 1890. It is built on the cantilever and central girder system, the principle of which is that of "stable equilibrium," its own weight helping to balance it more firmly in position. Each of the main spans is 1700 feet long, and the deepest foundations are 88 feet. The weight of the metal in the bridge is 50,000 tons.

Fig. 8

BALMORAL CASTLE, Scotland.—The above-named castle, the summer residence of Queen Victoria, is most beautifully and romantically situated in the Highlands of Scotland. The Queen has two other residences, one on the Isle of Wight, and the other at Windsor; but the Highland home is the most pleasant and attractive. The surrounding country is rich in deer, grouse and every other kind of game. The place is always guarded by soldiers, and no one is allowed to come near the castle, unless by special permission. The cairns which crown most of the hills, are memorials of friends of Her Majesty. The property covers forty thousand acres, three-fourths of which is a deer forest.

Fig. 9

CLAMSHELL CAVE, Island of Staffa, Scotland.—The above cave is located on the Island of Staffa, in the Atlantic Ocean, not far from the mainland. It is one of those remarkable islands whose wonders have been known to the world for but little over a hundred years. The name of the island signifies columns or staves. At one time the coast was visited by violent volcanic actions, the effects of which may still be traced. Staffa is a little over a third of a mile in circumference, and presents a most interesting field of study for geologists.

Fig. 10

EDINBURGH, Scotland.—Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and one of the most romantically beautiful cities in Europe, is finely situated near the Firth of Forth. It is the seat of the administrative and judicial authorities of Scotland, and is renowned for its excellent university and schools. Its authentic history begins in 617, when King Edwin established a fortress on the Castle Rock. It consists of the picturesque Old Town, familiar to all readers of Walter Scott, and of the New Town, started in 1768. This photograph represents Princess Street, the principal thoroughfare of the New Town, Scott's Monument, and Castle Rock, the ancient seat of Scottish Kings.

Fig. 11

LIVERPOOL, England.—Liverpool, the second city and principal seaport of England, is situated on the right bank of the Mersey, three miles from the sea, and one hundred and eighty-five miles from London. The town was founded by King John in 1207, and its growth for several centuries was very slow. In 1840 regular steamboat communications were opened between it and New York, which, no doubt, established the modern pre-eminence of Liverpool. The importation of raw cotton from the United States forms the great staple of its commerce. The docks which flank the Mersey for a distance of seven miles, and give employment to thousands of workmen, are its most characteristic and interesting sights.

Fig. 12

LIME STREET, Liverpool, England.—Situated on the north-east side of the River Mersey, near its mouth, stands the above city, extending for miles along its banks. Liverpool is noted for the magnificence of its docks, which are constructed on the most stupendous scale, and said to cover, including the dry docks, over two hundred acres, and fifteen miles of quays. Its principal avenue is Lime Street, represented by the above picture. The large building in the centre is the Terminal Hotel, of the London and Northwestern Railway, which starts from the rear of the building.

Fig. 13

MANCHESTER, England.—Manchester is the chief industrial town of England, and the great metropolis of the manufacturers of cotton, silk, worsted, chemicals and machinery. Most of the streets of the older parts of the city are narrow, but those in the new parts are wide and attractive. The above picture represents Piccadilly Street, which is one of the principal thoroughfares. This avenue is bordered by magnificent shops, and always crowded with pedestrians, omnibuses and other vehicles. The statue in the centre is that of the Duke of Wellington. Piccadilly has a very animated appearance.

Fig. 14

WARWICK CASTLE, Warwick, England.—Warwick, a quaint old town with 12,000 inhabitants, is situated on a hill rising from the River Avon, and is a place of great antiquity, having been originally a British settlement, and afterward occupied by the Romans. Legend goes back for its foundation to King Cymbeline, and the year one. On a commanding position, overlooking the Avon, stands Warwick Castle, the ancient and stately home of the Earl of Warwick. The Castle, which is one of the finest and most picturesque feudal residences in England, dates from Saxon times.

Fig. 15

SHAKESPEARE'S HOUSE, Stratford-on-Avon, England.—Of all the ancient castles and monuments throughout England, the house of William Shakespeare at Stratford-on-Avon is perhaps the most interesting and popular. The chief literary glory of the world was born here, April 23, 1564, which gives his home an ancient and noted history. The house has undergone various vicissitudes since his time, but the framework remains substantially unaltered. The rooms to the right on the ground floor contain interesting collections of portraits, early editions of his productions, his school-desk and signet-ring. The garden back of the house contains a selection of the trees and flowers mentioned in his plays.

Fig. 16

BRIGHTON, England.—This town, situated on the English Channel, forty-seven miles from London, extends three miles along the coast, and is fronted by a sea wall sixty feet in height, which forms a magnificent promenade. The town has elegant streets, squares and terraces, built in a style equal to the best in the metropolis. Its fisheries furnish large quantities of fish to the London market. In the time of George III., it was a mere fishing-village; but since his day, it has become the most fashionable watering-place in England.

Fig. 17

OSBORNE HOUSE, Isle of Wight, England.—This is the residence of the Queen of England; it was completed in 1845, and is located near Cowes. The latter town is on the north coast of the Isle of Wight, directly opposite to the mouth of Southampton Water. The port between them is the chief one of the island, and the headquarters of the Royal Yacht Squadron. Behind the harbor the houses rise picturesquely on gentle wooded slopes, and numerous villas adorn the vicinity. Magnificent residences and castles are located near by, of which the above picture is a fair representation.

Fig. 18

HAMPTON COURT PALACE, Hampton Court, England.—This palace was built by Cardinal Wolsey, the favorite of Henry VIII., and was afterwards presented to the King. It was subsequently occupied by Cromwell, the Stewarts, William III., and the first two monarchs of the House of Hanover. Since the time of George II., Hampton Court has ceased to be a royal residence, and is now inhabited by various pensioners of the Crown. The various rooms that were formerly occupied by the royalty, are now devoted to the use of an extensive picture-gallery.

Fig. 19

GREENWICH OBSERVATORY, Greenwich, England.—Greenwich Observatory is situated six miles from London Bridge, on a hill one hundred and eighty feet high, in the centre of Greenwich Park. It marks the meridian from which English astronomers make their calculations. The correct time for the whole of England is settled here every day at one o'clock P. M.; a large colored ball descends many feet, when the time is telegraphed to the most important towns throughout the country. A standard clock, with the hours numbered from one to twenty-four, and various standard measures of length are placed outside the entrance, pro bono publico.

Fig. 20

WINDSOR CASTLE, England.—This favorite seat of the sovereigns of Great Britain, twenty miles from London, at the town of Windsor, was frequently extended under succeeding monarchs, until finally, in the reign of Queen Victoria, when it was completed at a total cost of $4,500,000, it became one of the largest and most magnificent royal residences in the world. The Saxon kings resided on this spot long before the castle was founded by William the Conqueror. In its vaults are buried the sovereigns of England, including Henry VIII. and Charles I. The interior of the castle is richly and profusely decorated, and filled with pictures, statuary, bronze monuments and other works of art.

Fig. 21

GREEN DRAWING-ROOM, Windsor Castle, England.—Windsor Castle, the residence of the Queen, is one of the largest and most magnificent royal residences in the world. The interior of the drawing-room, which is fitted up at an expense of many hundred thousand dollars, gives a person a fair conception of the elaborate and artistic display to be witnessed in numerous other apartments. The interior, beautified with colored marble, mosaics, sculpture, stained-glass, precious stones, and gilding in extraordinary profusion and richness, places it among the finest castles in all Europe.

Fig. 22

MIDLAND GRAND HOTEL AND ST. PANCRAS STATION, London, England.—The roof of this station is said to be the most extensive in the world, being seven hundred feet long, two hundred and forty feet span, and one hundred and fifty feet high. The hotel is the terminus of the railway by the same name, and is one of the largest in London. Travelers arriving at the metropolis of the world, by almost any of the large railway lines, can secure hotel accommodations at the end of their journey in the Railway Hotel.

Fig. 23

THE STRAND, London, England.—This street has been so named from its skirting the bank of the river, which is concealed here by the buildings. It is very broad, contains many handsome shops, and is the great artery of traffic between the city and the West End, and one of the busiest and most important thoroughfares in London. It was unpaved down to 1532. At that period many of the mansions of the nobility and hierarchy stood here, with gardens stretching down to the Thames. The buildings on the left are the new Law Courts.

Fig. 24

CHEAPSIDE, London, England.—This street is in the very heart of the "city" and is especially noted for its so-called "cheap shops," where is offered for sale every variety of articles, from a locomotive to a toothpick. The street is constantly so crowded with vehicles, that pedestrians are often delayed from fifteen to twenty minutes in crossing from one side to the other. It affords much pleasure to stroll along Cheapside and watch the crowds of pedestrians and vehicles pass up and down the avenue. The buildings lining Cheapside have an imposing appearance, and are of uniform architecture.

Fig. 25

ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL, London, England.—Conspicuous, on a slight eminence in the very heart of London, stands the above-named cathedral, the most prominent building of the city. It is claimed that in Pagan times a temple of Diana occupied the site of St. Paul's. The present church was begun in 1675, opened for divine service in 1697, and completed in 1710. The bulk of its cost, amounting to nearly $4,000,000, was defrayed by a tax on coal. The church resembles St. Peter's at Rome, and is in the form of a Latin cross, five hundred feet long and one hundred and eighteen feet wide.

Fig. 26

THE BANK OF ENGLAND, London, England.—This irregular, isolated, one-story building, covering an area of four acres, and located in the central part of London, is the largest and most powerful institution in the world. It is the only bank in London which has the power to issue paper money; its average daily business is over $10,000,000. It employs 900 people, and usually carries in its vaults from $75,000,000 to $100,000,000, while there are from 100 to 125,000,000 dollars of the bank's notes in circulation. On the right is the Stock Exchange, giving 1000 stock brokers daily employment.

Fig. 27

TOWER OF LONDON, London, England.—This celebrated fortress is located on the Thames in the eastern portion of London. Some of the most interesting events in the history of the Old World are clustered around these ancient relics. Some say the tower was commenced by Julius CÆsar, while most writers affirm that William the Conqueror commenced it in 1078. The tower-walls enclose about twelve acres, on the outside of which is a deep ditch or moat, formerly filled with water. The tower was for a time a residence for the Monarchs of England; afterwards a prison for State criminals.

Fig. 28

LONDON BRIDGE, London, England.—Centuries ago the Saxons and Romans erected various wooden bridges over the Thames, on the site of the present London Bridge; but they were all carried away by floods, or destroyed by fire. This bridge was begun in 1825 and completed in 1831 at a cost of $10,000,000. The bridge, 928 feet long and 54 feet wide, is borne by five granite arches, that in the centre having a span of 152 feet. The lamp-posts on the bridge are cast of the metal of French cannons captured in the Peninsular War. About 15,000 vehicles and 100,000 pedestrians cross the bridge daily.

Fig. 29

WESTMINSTER ABBEY, London, England.—The Abbey, built in the form of cross, four hundred feet long and two hundred feet wide, is of Gothic design, and was founded in 610 A. D.

"That antique pile,
Where royal heads receive the sacred gold;
It give them crowns, and does their ashes keep;
There made like gods, like mortals there they sleep,
Making the circle of their reign complete.
These sons of Empire, where they rise, they set."

Fig. 30

HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT, London, England.—These edifices form a single pile of buildings of the richest Gothic style. They cover over eight acres, contain one hundred stair-cases, eleven hundred apartments, and cost $15,000,000. They are perhaps the most costly national structure in the world. The Queen enters on the opening and prorogation of Parliament through the Victoria Tower, which is three hundred and forty feet high. The imposing river-front of the edifice is nine hundred and forty feet long, and adorned with statues of English monarchs, from William the Conqueror to Queen Victoria.

Fig. 31

TRAFALGAR SQUARE, London, England.—Here is one of the finest open places in London. This great square, which is a centre of attraction, was dedicated to Lord Nelson, and commemorates his glorious death in the battle of Trafalgar, October 22, 1805, gained by the English fleet over the combined armaments of France and Spain. In the centre of the Square, rises to the memory of the great hero, a massive granite column, one hundred and fifty-four feet high, and crowned with a statue of Nelson. At the foot of the pedestal is inscribed his last command, "England expects every man will do his duty."

Fig. 32

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, London, England.—The above palace, being now the Queen's residence and occupying the site of Buckingham House, was erected in 1703 by the Duke of Buckingham, and purchased by George III. His successor remodeled it in 1825, but it remained vacant until 1837, when it was occupied by Queen Victoria, whose residence it has since continued to be. The palace now forms a quadrangle, and is three hundred and sixty feet long. It contains a sculpture-gallery, a library, green drawing-room, throne-room, grand saloon, state ball-room, picture-gallery and private apartments.

Fig. 33

ROTTEN ROW, London, England.—Rotten Row is the finest portion of Hyde Park, irrespectively of the magnificent groups of trees and expanses of grass for which English parks stand pre-eminent. The Park is surrounded by a handsome and lofty iron railing, and provided with nine carriage entrances. In the spring and summer the fashionable world rides, drives or walks through the Row; and in the drives are seen unbroken files of elegant equipages and high-bred horses in handsome trappings moving continually, presided over by sleek coachmen and powdered lackeys, and occupied by some of the most beautiful and exquisitely dressed women in the world.

Fig. 34

ALBERT MEMORIAL, London, England.—This magnificent monument to Albert, the late Prince Consort, was erected by the English nation at a cost of $600,000. On a spacious platform, to which granite steps ascend on each side, rises a basement adorned with reliefs in marble, representing artists of every period, poets. musicians, painters and sculptors. In the centre of the basement sits the colossal bronze-gilt figure of Prince Albert. The canopy terminates at the top in a Gothic spire, rising in three stages and surmounted by a cross. The monument is one hundred and seventy-five feet high, and gorgeously embellished with bronze and marble statues, gildings, colored stones and mosaic.

Fig. 35

ANTWERP, Belgium.—Antwerp, the capital of a province of its own name, stands on the right bank of the Scheldt. It is strongly fortified; its walls and other defenses completely encompass the city on the land sides, having more than twelve miles of massive ramparts. The appearance of Antwerp is exceedingly picturesque, an effect produced by its numerous churches, convents, magnificent public buildings, its elaborate and extensive fortifications, the profusion of beautiful trees, and by the stately antique-looking houses which line its older thoroughfares. Of the docks, dock-yards and basins, constructed by Bonaparte at an expense of $10,000,000, the last only remains. Its harbor is one of the finest in the world.

Fig. 36

PANORAMIC VIEW OF BRUSSELS, Belgium.—Brussels, the capitol of Belgium and the residence of the royal family, is situated nearly in the centre of the Kingdom. The above picture presents a general view of the city, the tile roofs of the houses, with the Palace of Justice looming up in the background. This stately edifice, completed in 1883, was erected at an expense of over $10,000,000. This high tower of marble forcibly suggests the mighty structures of ancient Egypt or Assyria, and the vast amount of energy spent in their erection.

Fig. 37

PALACE OF THE KING, Brussels, Belgium.—The above edifice originally consisted of two buildings, which were erected during the last century. These were connected by an intervening structure, and adorned in 1827 with a Corinthian colonnade. It is one of the principal and notable buildings of the City of Brussels. The interior contains a number of apartments handsomely fitted up, and a great variety of ancient and modern pictures. A flag hoisted on the palace announces the presence of the King.

Fig. 38

BOURSE, Brussels, Belgium.—In the central portion of the City of Brussels on the Boulevard Anspach, rises the Bourse or New Exchange, an imposing pile in Louis XIV. style. Its vast proportions and almost excessive richness of ornamentation combine to make the building worthy of being the commercial centre of an important metropolis; but it has been sadly disfigured by the application of a coat of paint, necessitated by the foible nature of the stone. The principal faÇade is embellished with a Corinthian colonnade, to which there is an ascent of twenty steps.

Fig. 39

CITY HALL, Brussels, Belgium.—This is by far the most interesting edifice in the city, and one of the noblest and most beautiful buildings of the kind in Belgium. It is of irregular, quadrangular form, one hundred and ninety-eight feet in length, and one hundred and sixty-five feet in depth, and encloses a court. The principal faÇade is of Gothic style, and the graceful tower, which, however, for some unexplained reason does not rise from the centre of the structure, is three hundred and seventy feet in height. The entire building dates back to the fourteenth century, and is still occupied by municipal offices.

Fig. 40

CATHEDRAL OF STE. GUDULE.—In the central part of the City of Brussels, overlooking its lower section, is the above edifice, one of the most imposing and most ancient Gothic churches in Belgium. It consists of a nave and aisle, having a retro-choir, and deep bays, resembling chapels. It was built in 1220, and has been in constant use for 670 years. While the elements of time are crumbling its outside surface, leaving an abundance of disintegrated matter at the base of its walls, its interior is adorned with fine paintings and kept in apparently good order.

Fig. 41

THE FORBIDDEN BOOK (By Ooms), Academy of Fine Arts, Brussels, Belgium—This striking painting by that celebrated artist, is a pleasing commingling of many colors, which, of course, are lost in the photograph. The picture represents a private library, the father and daughter eagerly devouring the contents of the Bible. Unexpected foot-steps are heard; hence the frightened look of both, for, in those days, reading the Bible was punished by death. The painting is a subject study for the earnest Bible-reader.

Fig. 42

SCHEVENINGEN, Holland.—This famous and popular summer resort is annually visited by thousands of people. The sand is firm and smooth, and the place possesses a great advantage over other watering-places on the North Sea, having The Hague and woods in close proximity, the latter affording pleasant and shady walks. What appear like wooden posts driven in the sand in the above picture, are wicker-basket chairs, with roofs to keep off the sun. Scores of canvas tents line the shore, and thousands of people lie on the beach from early morning until late at night.

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Fig. 43

AMSTERDAM, Holland.—This is the largest and most important city in Holland, and constitutionally its capital. It stands on a soft, wet ground, under which, at a depth of fifty feet, is a bed of sand. Into this sand piles are driven, on which buildings are reared, a fact which gave rise to the jest of Erasmus of Rotterdam, that he knew a city whose inhabitants dwelt on tops of trees like rooks. The city is surrounded by grassy meadows. Amsterdam ranks much higher as a trading than as a manufacturing town. The photograph represents St. Antoine Street.

Fig. 44

WIND-MILL, Holland.—Millions wonder that a country so situated as Holland can exist; and the stranger is almost unable to decide whether land or water predominates. Those broken and compressed coasts, those deep bays and great rivers, the lakes and canals crossing each other, all combine to give the idea of a country that may at any time disintegrate and disappear. In the thirteenth century the sea broke the dykes in northern Holland and formed the Zuyder Zee, destroying many villages and causing the death of eighty thousand people. To drain the lakes, and save the country from destructive inundations, the Hollanders press the air into their service, which is represented by the above wind-mill.

Fig. 45

CHRISTIANSAND, Norway.—Christiansand is the largest town on the south coast of the Scandinavian peninsula, and the residence of one of the five Norwegian Bishops. It is beautifully situated at the mouth of the Otteraa, on the Christiansand Fjord. The town is named after Christian IV., by whom it was founded in 1641, and is regularly laid out with streets intersecting at right angles. It possesses an excellent harbor, at which all the coasting steamers of that country, and those from England, Germany and Denmark, arrive regularly.

Fig. 46

BERGEN, Norway.—Bergen is one of the oldest and most picturesque cities in Norway. The general aspect of the town is modern, though traces of its antiquity are not wanting. The older part adjoins the spacious harbor called Vaagen, and spreads over the rocky heights at the base of the Florfjeld and over the peninsula of Mordanes. Fish has always been the staple commodity of the city, and it is still the greatest fish market in Norway. The above picture represents the harbor, with vegetable-peddlers and their portable stalls in the foreground.

Fig. 47

NIERDFJORD, GUDVNAGEN, Norway.—One of the grandest and most picturesque of the many Fjords on the broken coast of Norway, is represented here. Enormous waterfalls, formed by the melting snows and ice, are seen along the steep precipices of the high mountains on every side. The mountains on both sides of this inland sea, rise to the height of several thousand feet. The steamer in the foreground is one of the many that make weekly trips between Christiansand and Hammerfest, the latter being the most northern town in the world. During the summer season, these steamers are crowded with tourists to their utmost capacity. This fact evinces the grandeur of the place, and the interest it must afford to travellers.

Fig. 48

NORTH CAPE, Norway.—This cape (71° 10' N. Lat.), consisting of a dark gray slate-rock, furrowed with deep clefts, rising abruptly from the sea, is usually considered the most northern point of Europe; its height is about nine hundred and seventy feet. The northern sun, creeping at midnight (the time this photograph was taken) along the horizon, and the immeasurable ocean in apparent contact with the skies, form the grandest outlines and the most sublime pictures to the astonished beholder. Here, as in a dream, the many cares and anxieties of restless mortals seem to culminate.

Fig. 49

MOSCOW, Russia.—Moscow, which was at one time the capital of all Russia and home of the Czar, was founded nearly seven hundred and fifty years ago. The principal event in its history is the burning of it in 1812, for the purpose of dislodging the French from their winter quarters during the French and Russian war. The city is built with strange irregularities, having streets and numerous paltry lanes opening all at once into magnificent squares. It has a great number of churches and monasteries, and a university with 1000 students. This photograph represents the principal portion of the city and the river Moskva, on whose bank it is situated, with the Kremlin in the distance, piercing the air with its lofty spires.

Fig. 50

WINTER PALACE, St. Petersburg, Russia.—This magnificent palace is fronted with a large number of Corinthian columns, which give it a formidable yet beautiful appearance. On the top, along the front and sides, it is adorned by a number of statues representing various emblems and figures in Russian history. The most beautiful apartment of the edifice is the Salle Blanche, or white saloon, where the court fÊtes are held. The room contains the crown jewels of Russia, and is decorated in pure white and gold. The effect is most dazzling.

Fig. 51

THE CATHEDRAL, Cologne, Germany.—This building justly excites the admiration of every beholder, and is probably the most magnificent Gothic edifice in the world. It stands on a slight eminence, sixty feet above the Rhine. As early as the ninth century, an Episcopal church occupied the site, but the inhabitants regarded it to be unworthy, as compared with the prosperity of the city, and consequently started a new one. The foundation-stone of the present structure was laid on August 14, 1248. On the 15th of October, 1880, the completion of the Cathedral was celebrated in the presence of William I.

Fig. 52

BINGEN, Germany.—Bingen, a Hessian town of Prussia, with a population of 7100, is situated at the confluence of the Nahe and Rhine rivers. The Romans erected a castle here in 70, when a battle was fought between them and the Gauls. Bingen carries on a large trade in wine, starch and leather. The town is in a beautiful and highly picturesque country, and is visited by thousands of tourists during the summer season. On an island in the Rhine is the Mansethum, or "Rat Tower," a structure erected in the thirteenth century. Bingen is celebrated in song, poetry, story and history.

on. It was in this same room where the Emperor declared his divorce from Josephine.

Fig. 100

APARTMENT OF TAPESTRIES, Fontainebleau Palace, France.—This room is embellished with tapestry from Flanders, woven into the myth of Psyche. The ceiling is in relief, the old-fashioned mantel-piece dating back to the sixteenth century, while the vases and clock are the finest Sevres ware. The table in the centre is the same one on which Napoleon signed his abdication before taking his parting leave from his old Guard on the 20th of April, 1814, to go into exile at Elba. The floor of inlaid polished wood has been much worn by the feet of travelers passing through the palace daily.

Fig. 101

APARTMENT OF MME. DE MAINTENON, Fontainebleau Palace, France.—Madame de Maintenon was the second wife of Louis XIV., although no written proof of such a marriage is extant; but, that it took place, is nevertheless certain. As a wife, she was wholly admirable; she had to entertain a man that would not be amused, and was obliged to submit to a terribly strict court etiquette of absolute obedience to the King's inclinations. This she always did cheerfully, and never complained of weariness or illness. Her apartments still appear as they did when occupied by her.

Fig. 102

NICE, France.—Superbly situated on the shores of the Mediterranean is the City of Nice. In winter it is the rendezvous of invalids and others from all parts of Europe, who seek refuge here from the bleak and vigorous atmosphere of the North. The season begins with the races early in January, and closes with a great regatta at the beginning of April; but visitors abound from October until May. In summer the place is deserted.

Fig. 103

MONACO.—This principality of Europe, French in language, but Italian in tradition, is located in the southern part of France, on the Mediterranean Sea. Its area is six square miles, and consists principally of the town of Monaco and its suburbs, which stand on a high promontory. Monaco has a fine palace, a new cathedral, a college, a noted casino, where gambling is licensed to pay with its profits the state expenses; it has also manufactories of spirits, fine pottery, bricks, perfumery, and objects of myth. The principality is now virtually under French control.

Fig. 104

MONTE CARLO, France.—This place is a health-resort in winter and a sea-bathing place in summer; but the chief attraction to many is the "tapis vert" at the Casino. Monte Carlo belongs politically to the diminutive principality of Monaco; the former, as seen in the picture, is picturesquely situated on a small level at the foot of a high range of mountains, skirting the Mediterranean. The building to the left with turrets is the Casino. The population of the place is almost entirely transient.

Fig. 105

GAMING HALL, Monte Carlo, France.—Every portion of the interior of the Casino, of which the gaming-rooms are a part, is luxuriously fitted up. The ceilings are elaborately frescoed, while the walls and niches are adorned with works of art. Admission to the above room is obtained free upon presentation of a visiting card at the office. The games in progress from 11 A. M. until 11 P. M., are generally roulette, and patronized by men and women of all ages and from all countries. For the student of human nature, the gambling halls present an excellent opportunity to study mankind.

Fig. 106

MADRID, Spain.-General view. This city is finely situated on a wide plain of the Guadalquivir. It contains an abundance of wealth and power, and is famous for its oranges and women. The city is very old, its history dating back as far as 600. It is noted for being the birthplace of many distinguished Spaniards. Magellan, the famous navigator, sailed from here in 1519, to discover Magellan Strait. The winter season is very mild and pleasant, and there is not a day in the whole year in which the sun does not shine.

Fig. 107

SEVILLE, Spain.—On the left bank of the Guadalquiver, in a level country as productive as a garden, stands the city of Seville. It is highly picturesque in its combination of buildings and with a river navigable to its very limits; it is astir with life and commerce. From the earliest time, this city has been the chief outlet for the wealth of Spain. In the poorer portions of the town, the open places are converted into market-stands, as seen above. Across the river, spanned by a bridge, is a Gypsy quarter of Triana.

Fig. 108

BULL FIGHT, Seville, Spain.—This photograph represents the great bull-ring of the city, with a capacity for eighteen thousand people and crowded with spectators to witness the great national amusement. A general holiday prevails on such occasions. Every one, rich and poor, possessing a grain of taste for bloody scenes and striking spectacles, can be found in the Amphitheatre on such occasions. The show generally lasts for several hours, during which several bulls, more horses, and not unfrequently, men are killed in the combat.

Fig. 109

TOLEDO, Spain.—This city is situated on a rocky height, forty-one miles south-west of Madrid; its climate is very cold in winter and hot in summer. The Cathedral of Toledo, the metropolitan church of Spain, founded in 587, is four hundred feet in length, and two hundred and four feet in width, with a lofty tower and spire. Toledo has long been famous for its manufactories of sword-blades, and great skill is still shown in tempering the m. It was taken by the Goths in 467, and by the Moors in 714; it was retained by the latter until 1085, when it was permanently annexed to the crown of Castile.

Fig. 110

GIBRALTAR, Spain.—This remarkable fortress, which is a strongly fortified rock at the southern extremity of Spain, and forms the key to the Mediterranean, is connected with the continent by a low sandy isthmus, one and one-half miles long, and three-fourths of a mile wide. The highest point of the rock is about one thousand four hundred feet above the sea level. Vast sums of money and immense labor have been spent in fortifying this stronghold. The water for the supply of the town and garrison is collected during the rainy season, the roofs of the houses gathering all the falling rain.

Fig. 111

LISBON, Portugal.—This interesting city is situated on the Tagus, near the Atlantic Ocean. The length of the city is four miles, and its breadth about two miles. Lisbon is nobly situated for commerce, and has the finest harbor in the world. The earthquake of 1755, traces of which are still visible, destroyed a considerable portion of it, and killed about sixty thousand of its inhabitants. This photograph is a correct representation of the better portion of the city and harbor.

Fig. 112

KIRCHENFELD BRIDGE, Berne, Switzerland.—The above structure is a huge iron bridge, seven hundred and fifty-one feet long, built in 1882-1883, across the river Aare, from the town proper to Helvetia Platz, where a new quarter of the town is being built by an English company. In the foreground are the terrace-like hot-houses and gardens he piazza Solferino stands the equestrian statue of Duke Ferdinand of Genoa, commanding-general at the battle of Novara. The statue was executed by Balzico, and is remarkable for the life-like expression of the wounded horse, with extended nostrils and gasping breath, sinking under the burden of his gallant rider. This piazza is one of the prettiest spots of Turin. Private residences face it on every side, with sloping lawns relieved by beds of flowers.

Fig. 148

GENOA, Italy.—Genoa, with a population of about 200,000, is located in the northern portion of the Peninsula, and is the principal seaport of Italy. The city is in the form of a crescent, and its gradual ascent from the shore, renders its appearance beautiful and attractive. It is enclosed by a double line of fortifications, which places it among the leading fortified cities in Europe. A beautiful light-house on the west side, 300 feet in height, stands like a sentinel on the edge of the bay. In the older portions of the city, the streets are only ten feet wide and are lined with high buildings on both sides.

Fig. 149

STATUE OF COLUMBUS, Genoa, Italy.—In the front of the principal railway station, rises the statue of Columbus, who was born at Genoa in 1435. The statue is in the centre of the spacious Piazza Acquaverde, embosomed in palm-trees. The pedestal is adorned with ships' prows. At the feet of the statue, which leans on an anchor, kneels the figure of America. The surrounding allegorical figures represent Religion, Science, Geography, Strength and Wisdom. Between these, are reliefs from the history of Columbus, with the inscription, "A Christoforo Colombo la Patria."

Fig. 150

LEANING TOWER, Pisa, Italy.—Pisa is principally noted for its famous "Leaning Tower," begun in 1174, and built of white marble; it is 178 feet high, and fronted with 207 columns. It is 50 feet in diameter, and leans 13 feet from the perpendicular. The foundation being made insufficiently solid, it began to incline before it was one-third completed. The Cathedral on the right was begun in 1604, and consecrated in 1618 by Pope Gelasius; it contains the famous chandelier which Galileo saw swinging, and which led to his invention of the pendulum of the clock. The Baptistry, close by, is noted for its marvelous echo.

Fig. 151

PALACE OF THE DOGES, Venice, Italy.—This magnificent edifice, founded in 800, and destroyed five times, has as often been re-erected in grander style. The palace is flanked with colonnades, forming two pointed arcades on the south and west. The upper portion of the building is constructed of red and white marble. The interior presents a noble specimen of Venetian art. Many famous masters are here represented, the subjects either portraying the glory of Venice, or being of a religious order. The Bridge of Sighs connects the palace with the prison adjoining, which contains a series of gloomy dungeons, a torture chamber and a place of execution for political criminals.

Fig. 152

GRAND CANAL, Venice, Italy.—This canal, the main artery of the traffic of Venice, nearly two miles in length, and thirty-three to sixty-six yards in width, intersects the city from north-west to south-east, dividing it into two unequal parts. Steam-launches, hundreds of gondolas and other vessels are seen gliding in every direction. Handsome houses and magnificent palaces rise on the banks, for this is the street of the Nobili, the ancient aristocracy of Venice. A barge, with a military band, navigates the canal every Sunday evening. A trip on the canal is extremely interesting; the posts are painted with the heraldic colors of their proprietors.

Fig. 153

CATHEDRAL OF ST. MARK, Venice, Italy.—Facing the piazza of St. Mark, which is in the heart of Venice and the grand focus of attraction, rises the magnificent Cathedral of St. Mark, decorated with almost oriental splendor. The building dates back to the tenth and eleventh centuries, and portions of the materials used in its construction have been brought from almost every country in Europe. The ceiling of the interior is richly adorned with mosaics in the form of various noted paintings. Behind the High Altar repose the remains of St. Mark, while further back stand four spiral columns said to have belonged to the Temple of Solomon. The building to the right is the Ducal Palace.

Fig. 154

VENICE, Italy.—The capital of the Province of Venice, is situated on the lagoons, a long breast of lowlands in the Adriatic. For a time it was the first maritime and commercial power of the world, and one of the finest cities in Europe, but now it is nothing but a vast museum. The eighty islands on which Venice is built, are divided by wide and narrow canals, while small foot-paths wind throughout the city, occasionally crossing a canal, as is seen by the bridge in the above picture. Venice is popularly known as the "Queen of the Adriatic."

Fig. 155

THE RIALTO, Venice, Italy.—This famous bridge, one hundred and fifty-eight feet long and forty-six feet wide, rests on twelve hundred posts. It was erected from 1588 to 1591. Its sides are lined with little shops, extending from a fish-market at one end, past jewelry-shops in the centre of the structure, down to a fruit-market at the other side. It always presents a busy appearance, and is considered a marvel of engineering skill, and one of the finest bridges in the world. The picture represents the annual parade on the Grand Canal, with the Rialto in the background, which is always the rallying centre on such occasions.

Fig. 156

THE CATHEDRAL, Florence, Italy.—This stately edifice, erected from 1294 to 1462, on the site of the earlier church of St. Reparata, is a striking example of Italian architecture. The church was finally consecrated in 1436, but the lantern on the top of the dome was not completed until 1462. The building is one hundred and eighty-five and one-half yards long, and one hundred and fourteen yards wide; the dome is three hundred feet high. The bell-tower, a square structure adjoining the cathedral, two hundred and ninety-two feet in height, is regarded as one of the finest existing works of its kind. It consists of four stories of richly decorated and colored marbles.

Fig. 157

VECCHIO BRIDGE, Florence, Italy.—Florence is situated on both banks of the Arno, but by far the greatest part of the city lies on the right bank. The bridge in the picture dates back to the fourteenth century, and is flanked on both sides with shops which have belonged to gold-smiths ever since their erection. It forms one of the principal bridgeways between the city proper and that portion of Florence which stands on the south bank of the Arno, and has always been considered one of the greatest sights of the town.

Fig. 158

MONK, Italy.—Monasticism primarily meant the state of dwelling alone; and then, by an easy and natural transition, it came to denote a life of poverty, celibacy and divine obedience under fixed rules of discipline. The radical idea of the term, in all its varieties of age, creed and country, is the same, namely, retirement from society in search of some ideal life, which society cannot supply, but which is thought attainable by self-denial and withdrawal from the world. The picture represents an Italian monk in funeral attire.

Fig. 235

GRAND CANYON Of THE ARKANSAS RIVER, Colorado.—There are no words which can properly describe this great and magnificent canyon, the crowning attraction, the wonder of wonders, the marvel of marvels, in Colorado's scenery. This canyon is seven miles in length, and presents the grandest scenery in the world. This photograph represents the Royal Gorge, where the canyon is three hundred feet deep. As it is not sufficiently wide for railroad and river to pass through, the road is carried above the river, on a hanging bridge, which is shown in the picture.

Fig. 236

MOUNTAIN OF THE HOLY CROSS, Colorado.—This mountain is without doubt the most remarkable and the most noted of the Rockies, on account of the cross from which it received its name. Near the top is seen the cross, formed by deep crevices in its side, which are filled with perpetual snow and ice. The sight of wildwood, of tree-crowned slope, of rocky heights, of silvery cascades whose white threads of water are occasionally seen wearing away rifts in the rocks, renders the mountain one of the most enchanting of the many mountains in Colorado.

Fig. 237

MANITOU AND PIKE'S PEAK, Colorado.—Manitou was known to white men long before Major Pike discovered the peak, and is noted for its famous soda springs, whose health-giving properties were familiar to the Indians from time immemorial. To this favored spot they made their pilgrimages, and in grateful recognition of the beneficent characteristics of the waters, they named the place in honor of the Great Spirit, and bestowed upon it the musical and significant title, Manitou. It is visited by thousands of tourists every season, and many make the ascent from here to the top of Pike's Peak, which is seen in the background.

Fig. 238

SUMMIT OF PIKE'S PEAK, Colorado.—In 1806 Major Zebulon Pike first described this wonderful snow-capped peak, which now bears his name, and which he called the "Great Snow Mountain." When the mountain first dawned on his view, he was one hundred miles east on the plains. This noted peak towers to the height of 14,147 feet, and its top is covered with perpetual snow. This photograph represents the U. S. Signal Station on its summit. The top is now reached by an incline railway from Manitou, and from it the traveler may behold one of the grandest sights in Colorado.

Fig. 239

GATEWAY TO THE GARDEN OF THE GODS, Colorado.—Why this wonderful valley, which has not the appearance of a garden, was named the Garden of the Gods, no one knows; but, no doubt, by reason of its apt alliterations, the name has become so popular that it would be foolish to change it. There are many remains which show that Titanic forces have been at work here. It does not require a lively imagination to discover in the garden an endless variety of beings, such as the lion, the seal, the elephant, birds and reptiles of imitative forms. The most noted object is the Great Gateway.

Fig. 240

CATHEDRAL SPIRES, Colorado.—The stranger passing through Manitou should not fail to visit the Garden of the Gods, in which are located the Cathedral Spires, wonderful rock formations, standing upright, with pinnacles several hundred feet high. The wonderful region in which these spires are, in point of attraction, ranks with the sunny slopes of Italy, and the rugged grandeur of the Bernese Oberland. The scenery in this locality is so varied, so grand, and so impressive, that contemplative pauses must be made in order that the eye may grasp all the charming details of the view.

Fig. 241

LIFE IN OKLAHOMA, Oklahoma Territory.—Oklahoma Territory is a beautiful stretch of country, abounding in vast and fertile plains. In the eastern part, the soil is particularly rich and well irrigated, making it almost as productive as a garden. The territory was formerly the special domain for all the Indian tribes, but this original race seems to be gradually becoming extinct. The above photograph represents a scene in Oklahoma County. This county is nearly in the centre of the territory, on the line of it railroad which has recently been opened. Owing to its admirable adaptability for agriculture, it is fast becoming populated. The picture suggests the most primitive rural simplicity.

Fig. 242

INDIAN WIGWAM, Indian Territory.—The red man, the original inhabitant of American soil, is represented here at his hut, with his gun and the reins of his horse in his hands. He has a universal belief in a Supreme Being, though his religious attributes are associated with various manifestations of natural phenomena. He believes in the immortality of the soul, but his conceptions of the future system of reward and punishment are confused. The American Indians are slowly diminishing in number on account of the progress of the white man. Their present population is about 255,000, and the greatest number are gathered upon their reservations in Indian Territory.

Fig. 243

CHICAGO, Illinois.—This city, which is now the most important centre of commerce in the Northwestern States, is situated at the mouth of the Chicago River, on Lake Michigan. The first inhabitants known to have been in the locality were the Pollawatomie Indians, and the earliest Europeans were French fur traders, who visited the site in 1654. Fort Dearborn was built in 1804, when the first attempt was made to settle here; but the Indians destroyed and massacred most of the garrison in 1812. In 1816 the place was rebuilt and to-day stands as one of the leading cities of America. The above represents State Street, one of the principal thoroughfares, and the Palmer House, one of its leading hotels.

Fig. 244

NIAGARA FALLS, New York.—The above falls constitute perhaps the most striking natural wonder in the world. Above the falls, the river is divided by Goat Island, forming the Horseshoe Falls, with a perpendicular descent of one hundred and fifty-eight feet. The height of the American Falls is one hundred and sixty-seven feet. Below the cataract, the river is very deep and narrow, varying from one hundred to three hundred yards, and flows between perpendicular rocks, two hundred and fifty feet high, into a gorge, which is crossed by several suspension bridges. These falls are world-famed, and are visited by thousands of tourists from different parts of the world.

Fig. 245

BUNKER HILL MONUMENT, Boston, Massachusetts.—On an elevation of one hundred and ten feet, in the town of Charlestown, one mile from Boston, towers the above-named monument to commemorate one of the most celebrated battles of the American Revolution, fought here on the 17th of June, 1775. The British remained master of the field after a long and bloody contest, but their victory was dearly bought. The monument, two hundred and twenty-one feet in height, stands in the centre of the ground, included within the redoubts on Breed's Hill.

Fig. 246

NEW YORK, N. Y.—The metropolis of the United States, is considered the headquarters of the stock and money market. It is here where the greater number of foreign vessels land and depart, and where the majority of immigrants first step upon our shores. The city is buil

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