Daniel B. Shepp

“ It is to a great extent hewn out of solid rock, cut like a shelf into the side of the mountain, with occasional pillars to hold the thousands of tons of rock above, and a strong balustrade to guard travelers from tumbling over the abrupt precipice into the lake many feet below. It is the great highway leading from Switzerland to Italy, and is regarded as one of the most picturesque roads in the world. ”

“ 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." ”

“ 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. ”

“ To the right is the silvery Animas River, which frets in its narrowing bed, and breaks into foam against the opposing boulders, beyond which rise the hills; to the left are mountains, increasing in rugged contour as the advance is made, and in the shadow of the rocks all is solitary, weird and awful; the startled traveler loses all apprehension in the wondrous beauty and grandeur of the scene. ”

“ PAYING THE REAPERS (by Lhermitte) , Luxembourg Gallery, Paris, France.—This famous painting, from which the photograph is a direct copy, represents a farm scene. The laborers have just finished their day's work. The man with the scythe, rolled-up sleeves and open shirt, is a genuine representation of an honest and industrious laborer. The expression on his face shows a tired look, but a spirit of contentment gently steals over his face, which nearly all true and honest country people possess after a day's hard labor. ”

“ PANORAMA OF VIENNA, Austria—The capital of the Empire of Austria and residence of the Emperor, is situated in a plain surrounded by distant mountains, the Danube Canal flowing through a portion of the city. It was originally a Celtic settlement, dating back to 14 A. D. The streets of the present city are narrow, generally well-paved and enclosed by very lofty houses. A great number of old passages through the courts of houses, by means of which pedestrians may often make a short cut, are still seen. In the last quarter of a century, Vienna has acquired an importance as a seat of art. ”

“ Through every country and every clime, north, south, east and west, wherever was located a point of interest, an historic castle, a famous monument, a grand cathedral, a world's wonder, a great city, a crowded avenue, an imperial building, a pretty picture, an exquisite statue, a picturesque river, an inspiring grandeur of nature, a curious cavern, a lofty peak, a deep valley, a strange people, the same was reflected through the camera and added to this book. ”

“ The combination of wild superstitions, with the merest formalism which is everywhere observed, and the fanaticism and jealous exclusiveness of the numerous religious communities of Jerusalem, form the chief modern characteristics of that memorable city which was once the fountain-head from which the knowledge of the true God was wont to be vouchsafed to mankind, and which has exercised the greatest influence on religious thought throughout the world. ”

“ 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. ”

“ Nothing strikes him more forcibly than the awful silence that pervades so large a place. The only sound heard is an occasional cry of some vender, with a large wooden tray on his head, selling sweetmeats, sherbet, fruit or bread. ”

“ The city proper is an irregular square, open towards the sea, and surrounded on the land side by a substantial tower-flanked wall. The streets are wider than is usual in Syrian towns, and are paved with large stones. The houses, for the most part, are lofty and spacious. During the hot season the wealthier inhabitants move inland. The surrounding hills consist of reddish sand, interspersed with rock, and are covered with a light soil. GREAT MOSQUE, Damascus, Syria.—It is possible that during the first century of the Christian era, a heathen temple stood on the site of the present mosque. ”

“ ELEVATED RAILROAD, New York, N. Y.—The steam cars, the street railway and the electric road are the three modern modes of transportation. The motive power of the elevated railroads of New York City is steam, and the quick facilities afforded exceed that of any other country. ”

“ The various rooms that were formerly occupied by the royalty, are now devoted to the use of an extensive picture-gallery. 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. ”

“ 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. AMSTERDAM, Holland.—This is the largest and most important city in Holland, and constitutionally its capital. ”

“ The style of architecture shows a falling off from the Gothic, while the works of sculpture, representing Faith, Hope and Charity, Temperance and Fortitude, exhibit an incipient leaning toward Renaissance forms. Every afternoon the Loggia is crowded with the poorer people of Florence, who seek a cool spot in the open air. UFFIZI BUILDINGS, Florence, Italy.—This gallery originated with the Medici collections and was afterwards so improved with the numerous additions by the Lorraine Family, that it is now one of the best in the world, both for value and extent. ”

“ SAN FRANCISCO, California.—The city is the commercial metropolis of California, and is situated nearly six miles from the ocean on the west side of the magnificent bay from which it derives its name. It stands on a plain which inclines towards the bay, and has numerous hills behind it. The city is regularly laid out, the streets crossing each other at right angles. Market Street, which has four street-car tracks, two of which are cable lines, is the principal business street ”

“ 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. 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. ”

“ Amsterdam ranks much higher as a trading than as a manufacturing town. The photograph represents St. Antoine Street. 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. ”

“ We forget knowledge acquired by common conversation, and descriptions of places and things; but when we observe them, and their forms are conveyed to our minds through the medium of our eyes, they are indelibly impressed upon the memory. ”

“ 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. 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. ”

“ His hand was felt throughout all Europe; it seemed as if England alone were beyond his power. ROYAL PALACE, Fontainebleau, France.—This palace, situated on the south-west side of the town, is said to occupy the site of a former fortified chateau, founded in 1162. It was Francis I., however, who converted the mediæval fortress into a palace of almost unparalleled extent and magnificence. The exterior is less imposing than that of some other contemporaneous edifices, as the building, with the exception of several pavilions, is only two stories in height. It was a favorite residence of Napoleon. ”

“ They present an inexhaustible field of amusement and delight, admirably illustrating the whole world of oriental fiction. The lanes separating the rows of houses in the Arabian quarter are so narrow that the projecting balconies of harems, with their gratings, often nearly meet. ”

“ Dogs at intervals disturb the pedestrian. Hundreds of them lie in the middle of the street, and only move when aroused by blows. At ten o'clock at night, the city is as silent as death. MOSQUE OF SULTAN AHMED, Constantinople, Turkey.—Of all the mosques in the Ottoman Empire, this is the principal one. ”

“ To make this collection, every country was carefully ransacked, starting in Ireland, with the famous Blarney Castle and Lakes of Killarney in the south, and extending to the Giant's Causeway in the north, said by an old legend to have been built by giants to form a road across the channel to Scotland.
Passing through Scotland, we photographed its hills, castles, lochs, bridges and cities. Throughout Wales and England, we represent their busy seaport and manufacturing towns; the home of Shakespeare, the Bard of Avon; Windsor Castle, far-famed for its beauty and battlements ”