Southern Christian Advocate

ROYAL MUSEUM IN BERLIN.

Last week I paid a second visit to the royal "Kunst Kammer." This is a collection of curiosities such as could not well find a place in any of the other cabinets. It is contained in a suite of rooms on the fourth story of the royal Palace.

The first room we entered contains the works of art in ivory, amber, glass, wood, clay, metal, precious stones, &c. The figures in ivory are beautiful, and some of them might be more decent, but in matters of "art" decency is not always taken into consideration. One of the most remarkable ivory pieces is a representation of the judgment day cut out of a section of an elephant's tusk, and the whole is still but one piece, though one can count more than fifty distinct figures, with clouds, rocks, caverns, angels with harps and devils with pitchforks.

Another interesting object was a baptismal font of brass inlaid with plates of ivory that contains a series of scenes from the life of Moses, very finely carved. By the side of this is a cross, carved by Albert Durer. This is of wood not more than six inches high. The numerous figures, within and without, are admirably executed and though so very minute, are true to the life.

The works in amber are numerous and beautiful. Houses, churches, monuments, parlor furniture, human figures and all sorts of fancy articles of this material are here displayed.

As we made our way through a narrow passage in going from one room to another, we were startled by the sentinel at the door, who on our approach presented arms. On examining him, we found that he had grown grey in the service, having stood there since the time of Frederick the Great. It was amusing to compare his ludicrous uniform with the plain dress of the sentries we had passed on the different floors of the palace.

We were led on to the farthest hall, where we found a great number of Chinese, Australian, Indian, and South-American curiosities. In another room, stands the turning lathe of Peter the Great. By its side stands a windmill six feet high, made by him whilst learning the carpenter's trade in Holland.

Among the innumerable other articles here exhibited, I will only specify a few more. A wax mould of the face of Frederick the Great, taken a few hours after his death. Along with this are carefully preserved the handkerchief he used to the last, and the linen he wore. They are much worn and patched. A parcel of clumsy and broken pipes used by the father of Frederick the Great, and his collection of walking canes, mostly unpainted sticks.

Under a canopy of coarse white linen, sits Frederick the Great, clothed in the rusty regimentals he wore on the day of his death. The shabbiness of his dress surprised me. He is looking across the room at Napoleon's hat, the redoubtable beaver, that he was in too great a hurry to carry with him from the field of Waterloo. Under this is the "Pomeranian chest" that contains a splendid dinner and tea service of silver, with silver playing cards, chess men, &c. &c. This Napoleon took with him to Paris, but Blucher brought it back again.

Baron Trenck's drinking cup of pewter, covered with verses carved upon it with a nail whilst he was in prison.

But why proceed? You see every thing curious in the arts in creation--and many things besides.