, 1872-01-08
Warwick Castle.

The dispa tch from London announc-
ing the partial destruction of Warwick
Castle fills many American hearts with
sadness. The castle is situated on a
branch of the River Avon, the Lean,
within mile of the beautiful town of
Leamingtt n, and almost within sight of
Stratford. The smooth lanes and roads
of England, walled by blooming hedge
rows, are found here in their perfection.
The castle rises out of heavy wood,
the noble trees of which cluster about
its battlements like close dbbdttis.
One cid tower, called "Casar's is an
cient and crumbling, the stones fairly
honeycombed by time. Guys Tower
and the adjoining battlements are un-
touched by decay. Irregular gray walls
seperate the courtyards from the streets
of the village on one side, the Lean be-
ing on the other side, with vast plains
of rolling verdure beyond.
When visitors presented themselves
at the embattIed doorway of the porter's
lodge, giving few vigorous raps, an
old portiere in black serge would appear,
and cheerfully invite them into her
lodge, a square room under the massive
gateway, where Guys armor was kept.
This former Earl of Warwick must have
been a giant, to judge by the size and
weight of horse and body armor, shields,
breast pilates, walking staffs, spears and
fitting poles. There were also rib OF
the dun COW killed by the giant, the tusk
and shoulder-blade of wild boar, and
an immense double-edged sword, weigh
ing twenty pounds, which the great
Earl welded; then there we're Spanish
halberts, English maces, italian daggers,
generals truncheon, and battie-axes
enough to stock an armorer's establish
ments. But the great curiosity shown
to all visitors 6as Guy S punch-bowl.
This vessel was made of the finest bell
metal. and was without crack or flaw.
The old lady assured her visitors that
she saw this bowl filled and emptied
eight times in one night, when the
present Earl attained his majority. As
it holds one hundred and two gallons,
there must have been drunk on that oc-
casion over eight hundred gallons, or
more than three thousand two hundred
quarts of punch. Tie number of guests
can be imagined.
Walking from the lodge toward the
castle, surprises of beauty met the
traveller at every step. The path was
cut through the solid rock. which was
almost covered with trailing vines and
bright soft MOSES. There were mounds
of flowers and orchids everywhere, and
the earth was an elastic tapestry of YER
dure. Tall trees interlaced their
branches above, and formed leaty
arcade extending to the castle hall. As
cending a flight of stone steps under
maiesti, porch, visitors entered the
Gothic Hall, which, the telegram says,
was completely burned out. This
hall was wainscotted with oak darkened
by age; on each panel was carved the
emblem of the house, '' the bear and
RAGGED staff The floors were laid with
red and white slabs of Venetian marble.
On the sidewalks ancient armor was
hung, with many trophies Of the chase.
A copy of Ruben's great work, "The
Battle of the Amazons," exquisitely
carved in wood, was also in this great
hall; besides many lesser works of art.
The Red Drawing-room was full ot
interest, containing treasures from Van
dyke, Rubens, Paul Veronese, and
other masters. The "Cedar Drawing
room ;, contained some of the most val
liable marbles, vases, buhls, and paint
ings in England, among them a very
beautiful "Circe," by Guido Reni;
The Gilt Drawing-room," so called,
from the panels, ceiling and decorations
being all of gold, contained rare pict-
ure by Ignatius Loyola, the founder of
the Order of Jesuits; also a portrait of
that Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester,
whose romantic history is SO closely
connected with that of Queen Elizabeth |
and Kenilworth. Among other valua-
BILE relics in the old castle were the fa-
nous Kenilworth buffet on the oak
panneis of which was carved the " Re- |
ception of Elizabeth by Dudley" the |
beautiful Warwick vase" discovered