ry
in marble on the floor, and in niches stood several figures in antique
armor, of various dates; some with lances, and others with battle-axes and
swords. There was a two-handed sword, as much as six feet long; but not
nearly so ponderous as I have supposed this kind of weapon to be, from
reading of it. I could easily have brandished it.

The plainly drest old man now led us into a long corridor, which goes, I
think, the whole length of the house, about five hundred feet, arched all
the way, and lengthened interminably by a looking-glass at the end, in
which I saw our own party approaching like a party of strangers. But I
have so often seen this effect produced in dry-goods stores and elsewhere,
that I was not much imprest. There were family portraits and other
pictures, and likewise pieces of statuary, along this arched corridor; and
it communicated with a chapel with a scriptural altar-piece, copied from
Rubens, and a picture of St. Michael and the Dragon, and two, or perhaps
three, richly painted windows. Everything here is entirely new and fresh,
this part having been repaired, and never yet inhabited by the family.
This brand-newness makes it much less effective than if it had been lived
in; and I felt pretty much as if I were strolling through any other
renewed house. After all, the utmost force of man can do positively very
little toward making grand things or beautiful things. The imagination can
do so much more, merely on shutting one's eyes, that the actual effect
seems meager; so that a new house, unassociated with the past, is
exceedingly unsatisfactory, especially when you have heard that the wealth
and skill of man has here done its best. Besides, the rooms, as we saw
them, did not look by any means their best, the carpets not being down,
and the furniture being covered with protective envelops. However, rooms
can not be seen to advantage by daylight; it being altogether essential to
the effect, that they should be illuminated by artificial light, which
takes them somewhat out of the region of bare reality. Nevertheless, there
was undoubtedly great splendor--for the details of which I refer to the
guide-book. Among the family portraits, there was one of a lady famous for
her beautiful hand; and she was holding it up to notice in the funniest
way--and very beautiful it certainly was. The private apartments of the
family were not shown us. I should think it impossible for the owner of
this house to imbue it