Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1846-11-25
|, NO II 3 NJ B ER 2 5, 1916,

= n q s = = :
] sSDAY Y, NOV EN- N gER 2 5, 1896
H An old English Castle.
sitau BuRRirp III III ofiesof his latest let
|Itefsfrom Epgland, dated at Chepstow on 4
E(thehanks of the river sWye August 81,
A giyg slss falawing sefesting description'ofI
es '''sS stERRs E||1|Is lIzA easi
sThe mouth Of the wye, like that Of the
Avon, is not distinguished BY any command
ing characteristics. 1t is not until thetray-
elier hrs threaded itup among its majestic
highlands, that he finds himself surrounded
with scenery which, alternating between
picturesque beauty and wild grandeur, |
think can hardly be surpassed, if ever e.
qualled, by anything Of Natures handiwork
in England. Chepstow, at the head Of
steam navigation on the river, is the scene
of the first monument of antiquity which
introduces the tourist TO the lions Of the
VALLEY. You ascend to it from the channel
Of the river, out Of deep ehasm between a
perpendicular wall of rock on one side and
an acclivitous one on the other: ON the edge
of which the town commences, extending
back nearly to the summit ofa fertile hill.
The first sight Of Chepstow Castle moro
thanrealized all my conceptions Of these
ancient structures. 1t was the first one |
had seen since my arrival in England, and
| walked around it and counted its towers,
bastions and bulwarks, with the best relish
Of admiration. The eastern end fronting
the iiver presents the most imposing aspect.
AS you approach on the side, up "a gentle
acclivty carpeted with the greenest grass,
the massive towers Of impregnable strength,
which defend the portal, stand frowning up
on you like knighted rocks with their vizors
, up, keeping armed vigils over the disman-
tied fortress Of ancient time. The everlas'
ting ivy had hung its thick green curtain
h over the old rough walls, climbing the tall
est tower and fastening its network Of foil
,. age around the cankered top-stones. Ant
yews nearly as old as the castle braided
q Their wthey sinews around the towers, ant
! climbed up to,look in at the port holes. OIL
,Ssd Enc Ks Walputs and. othsr ancient
d OF the wood, stood around like pail bearers
v Of antiquity, full of mute and mournfu
I gloom. ass4 'sssth
;. II could hardly clear my mind of Giant
n Despair's Doubling Castle, as applied al
: iron knocker to the head OF bolt in lat
ticed gate. 1t was soon opened by a brigh
il intelligent lad, who conducted me all ove
7 the ruins. The first scene that met my eye
a was a large square or court, well shaded
20 and carpeted with fine lawny grass, where
If once perhaps knights of the Crusades ho'
: marched and harangued their armed ser(s
n for bloody pilgrimage to the Holy Land
h. A silent sabbath of ages had rested upon it
There it was, gloomy, musicless island o
% green, walled in from the light Of busy life
%. The very sunbeams that came through tn
ivy tapestry looked sad and pensive. upo
no the ground, covering it with q kind Of tomt
20 light. The lad took mo first into the kitcf
20 en- of the castle,in the northern wall, whose
in chimneys and freplaces contormed in siz
70 to the magnitude of their service, and sue
he gested the size of the pots and kettles ths
n were employed for the host that fed daily ,
= the baronal table. Adjoining this apar
,,d ,ad ment was the cellar with its heavy arcl
I 'ed way opening over the precipice upon tn
ed Wye, from which provisions were draw
~ up from vessels moored beneath, and who's
-, or masts probably did not reach the top Of tn
- rock upon which the castle wall upon tn
.n1a side was built. Here doubtless was tt
o. depository of all the good cheer which maj
Is the castle halls resound with mirth. He
10, probably the spoils Of castles on the con
M nent were treasured up for bacchanalia
banquets, at which mailed knights got mo
@ delectably mellow, and the barons vol
-. grew thick with the dawning morning.
no no Passing beneath the old archway we ente
"a ~ ed another court, now domesticated into
:, garden by the family residing in q part
ma the castle. From this we proceeded in
;. y the third court, in which stood the baroni
" .ho hall, the scene Of the festivities, pomp q
Int t splendor of the days of chivalry. VIII
,rs uss looking around the walls of this apartmer
still retaining some specimens of archite
ure. indicating its ancient magnifcence,
car would be difficult to restrain the imagir
nlv ton from indulging in reveries relative
ici. the past. w hat manner of scenes
transpired in that hall; what manner
men had met around that baronial tab
the what music and dancing, what glitter of
ing NOR, and tread Of armed men, had be
seen and heard there; what beauty /
ave shownupo them; what light of damon
ut | and o.. eyes outshining the diamonds she
ter. had glanced across the festive board; WI
songs had been sung, and deeds rehears
fess and hearts we'd, and hands pledged, in Il
ary or revenge, inquisItive thoughts VIII
came ip theitrain Of reflections suggested
the time and place. m.seft..
ma From the Hall we proceeded to the w
ooor ern gate. Ascending the. tower VIII
tits guarded it by a circular stairway, fot
N.Y. ,'Imyself in the warder's lookout wh
he received summons to open the gate