Roumania Past and Present eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 387 pages of information about Roumania Past and Present.

Roumania Past and Present eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 387 pages of information about Roumania Past and Present.
nations, his own historical and ethnological attainments, and his readiness to put these as well as the treasures of the library at the disposal of strangers, this gentleman cannot fail to raise his country in the estimation of those who pay it a visit.  He is also the curator of the fine Archaeological Museum in the same building, which is very valuable to historians.  It contains a complete series of Roumanian coins presented to the Academy by M. Stourdza; many Dacian, Roman, Greek, Egyptian, and Syrian relics; along with a smaller collection from the bronze, stone, and iron ages.  Some of the Daco-Roman monuments and sarcophagi, found near the Oltu, have a special historical interest, and many of the more valuable objects, such as arms and ornaments of gold, bear runic inscriptions.  Coming down to a later period, there are Albanian arms and costumes, mediaeval vestments and ornaments of the clergy, a magnificent carved oak screen of the seventeenth century, probably one of the finest in existence, and numerous other objects of interest to the antiquary.[31]

The natural history collection is poor, although local types are well represented; the gallery of paintings is small and good, the subjects being chiefly historical, with the addition of portraits of Heliade and other national heroes.  The classes of the University meet here, but, with one exception, the appliances for higher scientific education are very inferior.  That exception is the physical laboratory, which would reflect credit upon any public institution.  It is contained in three or four large rooms, and comprises every modern physical appliance carefully protected from injury.  Most of the instruments, which are of the first order, are made by Secretau of Paris, and a small engine and a Siemens-Halske magneto-electric machine were in course of erection during our visit.  The selection of instruments and the order which pervades the whole bear practical testimony to the accomplishments of Professor M. Emanuel Bacologlu, of whose teaching power and wide-spread knowledge we heard nothing but praise on every side.  The chemical laboratory is nothing more than a popular lecture hall, poor and disorderly in its arrangements, and quite unworthy of a national institution.  On the other hand there is a small but perfect chemical laboratory in the Coltza Hospital close by, where the lecturers, Dr. Davila and his able assistant Dr. Bernath, give excellent instruction to the young medical students of the city.  This is, however, far too small for its object, and we hope that the ‘era of peace,’ referred to in the speech from the throne last year, will enable the State to give greater efficiency to the instruction and appliances of the city.  In any case, there is one practicable means of attaining this end which wilt be pointed out when we come to speak of the general education of the people.

[Footnote 31:  Engravings of most of the objects here referred to will be found in M. Tocilesco’s book, which, through his kindness, the writer has been enabled to deposit in the British Museum Library.]

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Roumania Past and Present from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.