The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1855-02-14

ways think of them with kindly interest
because | shared with them SO great a
pleasure. | wonder if they remember j.
rs we'll as do
Twas on bright, but not unpleasant
~ warm day in midsummer when the
parks and gardens were in all the glory
Of their greenness and bloom-when toun.
tains sparkled in the sun and birds war.
BILE in the shade, and the SKY above was
clear and blue enough to make up for all
the clounds and fogs | had seen since |
came to England
We went directly from the station to
the Castle; a grand mass of ancient and
modern buildings, towers, and turrets, and
Parapets-all solidIy but elegantly built,
Of dark gray stone.
We entered through lofty gateway,
into the cou t-yard-trom thence into a
sort Of guardroom, where we recorded our
names in n book and then were conduc-
ted up great marble staircase, to the
state apartments. These are somewhat
Jumbled up i'll my mind with the hosts of
magnificent rooms which have since seen
IN many other royal palaces; but re
member that they were all very hand
some, richly furnished, and hung with
fine pictures and gorgeous tapestry.
recollect most distinctly The Vandyke
Room" called SO because of its containing
several great pictures by that famous pain
ter-principaIly portraits of Charles the
First and his family. Then there is .'The
Waterloo Chamber" hung round with
portraits of heroes and great men-aud
st. Georges Hail." grand banqueting
room, two hundred feet in length-and
the beautiful ball-roomc' as brilliant as rich
carving and gliding and delicate painting
can make it. .
Our party had permission to see not on.
'y the state but the private apartments
of the palace. These are less splendid
than those great show rooms, but more
ttasicful, beaatiful, and comfortable. Yes,
comfortable-for the Euglish, even in
their grandeSt palaces, manage to have
the dear, cosy home look and feeling a.
bout them. The Queens breakfast par
lor, looking out on a pleasant torrance -
simply though richly furnished, and hung
with portraits Of herself, Prince Albert,
and the royal children, is very charm.
ing apartment indeed. We came to this
through long, bright corridor, lined with
beautiful pcthrcs, bronzes, graceful stat
uetes, and elegant little curiosities-so
that one could bat he charmed TO linger
by the way. Several of the pictures re-
presented scenes in her Maiesty's life
her first councl-her coronation-her
marriage-tne christening Of the princess
royal, etc.
|. Many palaces have such n vast, cold
awfully grand look that one fancies kings
and queens must have very dull, stiff
dreary times, living in them, aud mus t
often long for simple, snug little cottage
home, somewhere, away from all their
pomp and splendor. But it is not so at
Windsor; did not pity the Queen at ali
i even fancied that | could be very
comfortable myself, living at the palace,
after getting a little used to it, Her Ma.
Jesiy never gave me an opportunity to
test this. however.
Attached to the Castle is the beautiful
chapel of st. George, in which the court,
when at Windsor, attend service. Here,
place is partitioned off for the Royal
famiIy Iy-something like box at tie ope-
ra-on'y enclosed by a fine lattice work
screen-to prevent the people, | suppose
from gazing at the Queen and Prince Al
bert, when they should be minding their
devotons.
From the chapel we went to the roval
stables, where we were shown some very
line horses and elegant equipages. There
were the Queens carriages of all varieties,
and little pony phaetonS, and Canadian
sleighs and Russian sledges; and there
were her carriage and riding horses, and
Prince Albcrts hunters, and the children's
ponies. The stables are handsome and
comfortable buildings, md are kept with
the utmost care, order and neatness.-
Thousands Of poor people might envy the
high-blooded brules such home as this.
Some Of the horses were very beautiful
and graceful animals, aud ali we're groom
ed so carefully it seemed no one hair was
longer than the Others. In almost every
stall was sleek, lazy, high-bred looking
cat, either percheA upon the back of the
horse, dozing and blinking, or curIed up
in the straw at his feet, fast asleep. The
| RTOOIDS lDl'l us lHAJ lDe nOTScS were real
Iy very fond Of their feline companions,
and treated them tenderIy and protect.
ingly.
From the Castle we drove TO the de.
lightful pleasure grounds of Virginia
Water. Passing up magnificent ave.
nue., more than three miles long, we came
to height, on which stands large
equestrian statue Of George the Third, in
the dress Of an ancient Roman. This i
the king we rebelled against, you know
lie was domineering, stubborn, crack.
Drained old gentleman /; but Tor all that
honest and good-humored. should mol
think him particularly like an ancien,
Roman, except in his obstinacy.
Next we came TO Virginia Water
which is just the loveiiest place eve
saw. Here are luxatiant plantations anc
! gardens, summer houses, temples, foun
tains. cascades, woods, walks and drives
Here ia shiniug, winding littis lake