The daily gazette., 1875-12-02
AN ENGLISH FARM.
HOW A MoNEYED MAN MAKES HIM
SELF COMFORTABLE

One of tho most enjoyable days l
have spen. in England was a visit
to Mcntmore, Buckinghamshire,t the
seat of the late Baron Roth child,
and still the home of his widow. !
had known all my life ofthc almost
fabulous wealth of the Rothschhds;
but had no such vivid conception
of the reality as | brought away
with me.
I he estate comprises $4,000 or
20,000 acres of the finest land of
this famous shire. The approach
from Cheddington station, from
which it is distant about two miles,
lies through Il magnificent lawn
leading to a wooded acclivity,upon
the summit of which the mansion
stands. From the tower the view
is one of the finest in the Midland
counties, embracing on one sid
tie ancient manor and village of
Wing, on anot1,r, the manor of
Tring, and on a third tie historic
site f lvanhoe. How the course
of tie worlds history has been
changed by the blow which an an
cestor of John Hampton struck the
Black Prince, the victor of Crecy
and Poi tiers, for which "Iring,
Wig and Ivanhoe' were forfeited
In the dis anee is the vale of Ayles-
bury, and far away on the ridge of
the Chiltern Hills the monument
of the Duke of Bridgewater bounds
the rage of vision.
Tring Park, owned by another
of the kothschild family, is said TO
be second in the beauty of its gar
den only to Mentmore but this |
had no time to see. 1 he subtropi-
cal gardens, vegetable gardens, the
Fountain garden and the Italian
garden occupied US for hours. The
first is second, suppose, only the
Royal botanic gardens in Kew
the second embraces, with the fruit
gardens, about twenty acres /; the
whole proceeds of which are con-
sumed in the mansion,
In one of the numerous grape
ries,so arranged aS to furnish fruit
every month in the year, | saw a
single cluster Of grapes which
would weigh six pounds, the ber-
ries on which were about the size
of good, large plums, md the most
luscious | ever tasted. Oranges,
figs, pineapples, bananas and other
tropical fruits consumed in the
mansion are all grown in the con-
servatories of Mentmore When
the baroness is absent yachting in
the channel OF at her London house,
orde by telegram are sent to Ment'
more daily for the supplies re-
quired.
The vases in the Fountain and
Italian Gardens each cost Gl'000.
The s'atuary is all of the most cost
" kind, executed by the first mast
ers, many of them copies of origi-
nails which saw in the Louvre or
in the British Museum. The great
hall, which from the entrance SEEM
ed to me about 20 by so feet, is
filled with vases and statuarv. Its
contents must represent value of
not less than 9S00,O00. We were
not less toan three hours passing
through the rooms. The finish is
exquisite, and the furnishing OF
each sumptuous. Some idea may
be formed of the whole from the
furniture OF a single bedroom, one
Of the many great chambers, cost
ing eos, 600 or 100000.
In the dining room and baronial
hall are furniture exceeding $780,
600 each. Costly cabinets of the
time Of Louis XIV. of ebony in
laid with ivory or gold diamonds,
rubies and all sorts of precious
stones walls hung with the cost
liest tapestry of the time of Louis
XIV, or covered with the richest
needle-embroide-ed satin, may give
some idea of the wealth lavished
on this more than princely man
sion. The costliest paintings adorn
the walls, and the mos. skillful and
expensive workmanship is display
cd upon the ceilings. The idea of
the Baron seems 10 have been to
build and furnish a mansion such
as no other person in England, ex-
cept perhaps the Duke of west
minister, could hope to rival.
The stud is said to contain
more high bred horses tnan any in
the world. IL embraces thirtv-fiye
hunters and as many racers. None
of which | neard were less in value
than G600, while many of them