Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1870-10-01
Ex-Bmperor and Empress.
TnE SEw 'nosEs oy Ex.RoYALrr.


The town of Hastings, which has been
selected by the Empress Eugenie as her
place Of refuge, is situated on the south
coast Of England at distance Of seven
ty-six and half miles from London,
with which city it communicates, both
by the London, brighton, and South
Coast, aud by the Southeastern railways.
1t is much resOrted to by invalids in the
colder months of the year, because of
the comparative mildHess of the teinpera-
ture. The older part of the town is OR
the beach, and sheltered by the cliffs
from the north winds. There are pleas
ant Summer residences under the cliff,
on which are the ruins of castle, proba-
bly, belonging to Count d'Eu, to whom
the town aud manor were granted IN
lief at the conquest Uasting, the
famous Viking, perhaps, gave Hame to
the town, or 1t may be from the Saxon
heste, cheat" in illusion to its genial
situation. The curious who inspect the
ruins OF chapel there are told that
Thomas a'Beckett saint and Archbishop,
was once dean of the church, and VIII
liam, Of Wykcham, famous patron Of
learning, was canon. The town is hot a
place of great business activity, but it is
lively, aud since the railroad communica.
tion with London and along the coast it
has increased rapidly in importance and
possesses many handsome streets and
good stores. Hastings, though has long
ceased To be of any commercial import
ance, as its harbor has been chUked by
the drift from the strong set OF the
channel current. The adjacent town
ship OF St. Leonard's, once little vii
lage. but now place of resort more
fashionable than Hastings itself, is
joined to Hastings by All esplanade and
! fine row of mansions. st. Leonrad's
has a fine terrace facing the sea. The
bathing is better than at Hastings proper.
Some commanding cliffs overhang the
town, which, from the sea, presents a
very pleasing appearance. Not far from
Hastings are the ruins OF the Battle
Abbey, the church built and endowed by
William the Conquerer 10 keep up MASSES
for the resDose OF those souls who fell
in the battle of Hastings, when Harold
and the Saxon infantry, with his bill and
bOwmen, were vauquIshed by the mailed
chIvalry of the Norman invader
Wilhemshoe, designated by King
William, as the residence of Napoleon,
is one of the most delightful resorts Of
royalty i'll Germany, more SO on account
of Its fine location and beautiful park
than its palace. But the most remarka-
ble feature of the place is the fine cas-
cade, fountains, and other water works,
deservedly ranked among the finest OF
Europe, aud i'll some respects surprising
those OF Versailles, near Paris. The
mountain side upon %liich they are loca-
ted, situated about three miles from the
City of Cassel, is about twelve hundred
feet in heigth, and crowned with huge
structure called the Giants Castle, from
the centre of which rises a pyramid nine
ty-six feet high, supporting 4 statue OF
Hercules. This bronze figure, fully thir-
ty feet high, represents Hercules, leaning
OH a huge club, having standing room
inside for six or eight persons. The cas-
tie covers the reservoir containing the
waters, which on Sundays and fete days
are tumbled down an inclined plane OF
three hundred yards, with width of
forty feet, broken at distances of fifty
yards with small basins, the whole con
structed of solid masonry, bearing re-
markable grotto-like and antique appear
ance. At the foot the water Is gathered
again to pass through an a4ueduct that
looks like relic from ancient Rome,
and finally shoots up in stream OF
twelve inches thickness to the height OF
one hundred and ninety feet.
In the park which has some of tho
finest walks and cultivated woods to be
seen anywhere, are number of other
trities for the pastime OF royalty, such as
ruin built il exact imitation OF a dlap-
idated castle of the middle ages, also an
extensive greenhouse with floral attrac-
tons from al! clmcs, and statues and
fountains innumerablc.
All this was built by order of Duke
Carl of H,sse Cassel, at the beginning
of the last century, to construct some
thing which had not its equal i'll the
world. Up to 1866 it was used by his
descendants as Il summer residence, but
the German war of that year lett it in
the hands of the Prussians, who now
find it OF me use for in this retired
yet charmingly beautiful spot his recent
imperial majcsty will have fit place tc
mediate over past grandure and humal
tollies