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232
COPENHAGEN.
Chap. XVI.
Conservator of the Museum of Northern Antiquities
daily arrive. This very week a trouvaille of great
magnitude has been made in the neighbourhood of
Flensborg—the relics of a battle-field—part of which
will be placed in the almost infant collection of that
city, the remainder sent to Copenhagen.
The excellence of this collection, unrivalled in Europe,
is owing to the indefatigable exertions of
Conferenz-raad Thomsen, who for thirty or forty years has held
the direction of the Museum. He occupies a suite of
rooms in the Prindsens Palais, which, uninhabited by
royalty for the last half-century, is applied by the
Government to this national purpose. This aged
professor, a “ beau vieillard ” with silvered locks, is
devoted heart and soul to his duties: his knowledge
on all subjects connected with Denmark and its
possessions is astounding. He speaks English admirably, and
is always at his post, ready and anxious to explain and
display the precious treasures committed to his charge.
I was one day gossiping with him in the Ethnographic
Museum, when suddenly he touched me on the arm:
“ See,” he said, pointing to three blue soldiers, who,
catalogue in hand, were examining the collection, “ this is
a triumph to me. Twenty years ago no soldier would
have quitted his beer-shop to visit a collection of art.
I met those three men as I entered, and saw them club
their skillings together to purchase a catalogue, and
now see how attentively they examine everything. I
am more proud of acting cicerone to men such as these
than to a Grand Duke of Russiaand off he went and
addressed them, explaining the contents of the cabinets,
until they passed on to another room.
“ Whatever people may bring me, be it of value or
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