The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1868-02-14
The Castles OF Engl0nd,

A letter from Stratford.on Avon to the
Philadelphia Press, describes the home
and grave of Shakespeare. From thence
the visitor bowled along the level and
hedge.lined road, the air redolent with
the breath of the hawthorn, the sweet
briar, and the laburnum, and the arching
trees of England. The surrounding
country is literally filled with the stately
castles of ancient families.
What an unwritten yet forgotten Do
EN- it is, the humble grave of Shakespeare,
in the centre of these ostentatious palaces!
The unpretending poet, safe Of his ever.
lasting fame, and the living peer, spend
ing his millions to keep bis dead ancestors
from oblivion. Within short ride by
rail is "Blenheim," the gorgeous estate Of
the Duke of Marlborough, we'll described
as an "earthly paradise" 1t was pre-
sented by Queen Anne to the great duke
after his glorious victory at Blenheim,
and Parliament voted two millions five
hundred thousand dollars for its adoru-
ment The opulence that marked the
original gift has been initiated by the
profusion of the succeeding outlays to
maintain its grandeur A park of 27OO
acres filed with Aocks of sheep and herds
of deer-an artificial lake covering over
two hundred acres-plants and flowers
from every quarter of the known world
walks, waterfalls, and fountains-endIess
statuary-tapestries and paintings nearly
two hundred y ars old, including ancient
masterpieces Of Rubeps and Titian-a Ii
brary two hundred feet long, containing
nearly $4,000 volumes, the whole of these
Injuries included iu a building, the front
of which is $50 feet in length-all to do
honor to successful general and bis
naughty duchess, who, Notwithstanding
his victories, is denounced by Macaulay as
a corrupt, faithless and dangerous courticr.
Aud all this vast expanse of soil and
these priceless Injuries are left for nine
months of the year to the care Of q few
servants. because the present owner can
not bear the cost of living here, while
hundreds and thousands of Gods crea
lures are living and almost starving at his
very gates ! You thus can have an idea
of what is called the territorial aristocra-
cy of England. Eight miles from Shak-
speare's grave is the stately castle of the
Earl of Warwick, where, though the
grounds are not SO extensive as those of
'Blenheim," the minor objects are scarce
ly less costly.
Here, indeed, the Muse of History can
recall the past and forecast the future
but the contrast between the enduring re.
nown of great genius like Shakespeare
and the fleeing fame of those who live
only on their princes favors remains the
same. "Kenilworth'' is in the same To-
cality. 1 wandered among its MOSCOW
cred ruins--all unroofed and deserted as
they are-and traced the lines of the huge
structure which three hundred years ago
re echoed to the revelry Of the royal cour-
tiers and their retaiuers, and re-read in
the fascinating pages of Sir Walter Scott,
the bitter rivalries of Essex and Leicester,
the sad fate of Amy Robsart, the splendid
progress of Queen Elizabeth from Lon
don, as described by the Wizard of the
North ; and | fancied the crowds that
thronged the roads and filed the broad
demesne around the residence of the hand
some favorite. Not far off is "Chats-
WORTH the estate of the Duke Of Devon
shire, far more expensive, though more
modern than "Blenheim."
Here l found park of two thousand
acres, and over six thousand deer a pal.
ace of quadrangular form, with an open
court in the middle, in the centre of which
is splendid fountain. 1t is impossible
to describe the works of art and the money
spent to adorn an establishment occupied
only exceptionally by its titled owner
The gardens and conservatory are the
gems. They were planned and laid out
by Sir Joseph Paxton, who was formerly
common gardener Of the Dukes, and
whose salary was larger than that of the
President of the United States. Close at
hand is Haddon Hall, another old castle,
with large grounds, and in the same circle
is Newstead Abbey, the abode of Lord
Byron, now owned and occupied by Col
Wildman, a gentleman of cultivation and
taste. But among all the splendors of
these gorgeous habitations and almost
imperial estates, I could not forget much
was wasted and lost that ought to be dis
tributed among the people, and how Sc
curely and easily the fame of Shakespeare
was preserved amid the expensive contri-
vances Of the aristocracy to keep its empty
names alive.