The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-12-22
The Palace OF Aladdin.

WV Vi NA0 v
have spent in England a a visit to
Mentmcre, Buckinghamshire, the
scat Of the late Baron Rothsehild,
and still the home of his widow. /
had known all nv life Of the almost
fabulous wealth of the R~othschllds,
but had no such vivid conception of
the reality as | brought away With
me
The estate comprises $4,000 or 20,-
GEO acres of the finest land of this
famous shire. The approach froL
Cheddington station, from which 1t Is
distant about two miles, lies through
a magnificent lawn leading to a wood
en- activity, upon the summit Of
which the mansion stands. From
the tower the view is one Of the fin
est in the midland counties, embrac-
ing Oh one side the aneientmsnor and
village Of Wing, on another the maG-
or of TriDg, and on a third the his
toric site of Ivanhoe. How the
course of the worlds history has
been changed by the blow which an
ancestor of John Hampden struck
the Black Prince, the victor Of Crecy
and Poictiers, for which Tring
Wing, and Iysnhoe" were forfeited.
In the distance 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
range Of vision
Tring Park, owned by another OF
the Rotbschild family, is said to be
second in the beauty of its garden
only to Mentmore; but this | had no
time 10 see. The subtrohical gar
dens, vegetable gardens, the Foun-
tain garden, and the Italian garden
occupied US for hours. The first is
second, / suppose, only to the Royal
Botanic Gardens in Kew; the second
embraces. with the fruit gardens
about twenty acres, the whele pro.
ceeds Of which are consumed in the
mansion.
In one of the numerous graperles
so arranged as 10 furnish fruit every
month in the wear, | saw a single
cluster of grapes which would weigi
, six pounds. the berries on which
r were about the size Of good, large
e plums, and the most delicious | ever
+ tasted. Oranges, figs, %pineaPple'
. bananas, and other tropical fruits
: consumed in the mansion, are al
J. grown 10 the Conservatives of Ment
e more. When the Baroness is absent
5 Watching in the Channel or at bel
: London House, orders by telegram
! are sent to Mcntmo-e daily for the
D supplies required.
The vases in the Fountain and ltal
Y ian Gardens cost each Fl, 600. The
; statuarv is all Of the most costly
kind. executed by the first masters
many of them copies of originals
r which | saw in the Louvre or in the
e British Museum. The great bali
e which from the entrance seemed &c
me about 30 by so feet, is filed witt
vases and statuary. Its content;
2 must represent a yalue of not les:
5 than $500. 900. We were not les:
than three hours passing through the
! rooms. The finish is exquisite, aaC
the furnishing of each sumptuous.-
Some idea NAV be formed of thI
whole from the furniture of a single
bed room, one of the many grea'
chambers, costing E25, 600 or $50,
! 600.
In the dining room and baronica
hall are furnishing exceeding goo,
900 each Costly cabinets of the
time of Louis XIV Of ebony inlaid
with ivory or gold; jeweled blocks
made of solid gold; diamonds, ru.
bies, and all sorts Of precious stones:
walls hung with the costliest tapes.
try of the time of Louis XIV, or GOV.
cred with the richest needle embroid
cred satin, may give some idea OF th'
wealth lavished on this more thar
princely mansion. The costlies'
|, paintings adorn the walls, and t0'
most skilful and expensive workman
} ship is displayed upon the ceilings
The idea # the Baron seems to have
been to build and furnish a mansion
T such as no other person in England
e except perhaps the Duke of West
minister, could hope to rival.
The stud is said to contain NOR
high bred horses than any IN th
world. 1t embraces thirty-fve hun
tiers and as many racers None c
which | heard were less in yalu
; than $500, while May Of them ru
.. up into the thousands. Favoniui
t Maccaroni and old Tom, the last pa
e t%riareh of high bred racers we saw
k all winners of famous races Fo
d Favonius $4,000 were refused, an
r for Maccaroni eI7,I00 were but r,
Gently paid.
a | was fortunate in getting an il
g PRODUCTION to Mentmore through a
o acquaintance | made in Englanc
The grounds are on rare occasion
P open TO visitors, but ordinarily tber
d is no access to the mansion. | saw
s | believe, every room in the hous
q except the strong room, where tt
5 treasures are kept during the absenC
lie Of the family {. Louis Times.