Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-11-11

Palace OF the Late baron R0tnScnlIos
A London correspondent writes: Zone
of the most enjoyable days have spent
in England was a visit to Mentmore, Buck
inghamshire, the seat of the late Baron
Rothschild and still the home of his
widow. l had known all my life Of the
almost fabulous wealth of the Rothschilds,
but had no such vivid conception of the
reality as brought away with me- The
estate comprises $4,000 or 20, 900 acres of
the finest land of this famous shire. The
approach from Cheddington station, from
which it Is distant about two miles, lies
through magnificent lawn leading to a
wooded activity, upon the summit OF
which the mansion stands. From the
towers the view is one of the finest in the
Midland counties, embracing on one side
the ancient manor and village of Wing,
on another the manor of Tgng, and on q
third the historic site of Ivanhoe How
the course of the worlds history has been
changed by the blow which an ancestor of
John Hampden ssruck the Black Prince,
the victor of Crecy and Poicters, for which
firing, Wing and Ivanhoe' were forfeit
ed In the distance is the Vale of Ayles-
bury and far away, on the ridge of the
Chilthem hills, the monument of the
Duke of Bridgewater bounds the range of
vision. Tring Park owned by another of
the Rothschild family, is said to be second
in the beauty of its gardens only 10 Mcnt-
more, but this had no time to see, The
sub tropical gardens, vegetable gardens,
the fountain garden and the Italian garden
occupied us for hours. The first is sec
ond, l suppose, only to the Royal Botanic
Gardens, in Kew; the second embraces,
with the fruit gardens, about twenty acres,
the whole proceeds of which are consumed
in the mansion. In one of the numerous
graperies, so arranged as to furnish fruit
every month in the year, saw . single
cluster of grapes which would weigh six
pounds, the berries on which were about
the size of good, large plums and the
most luscious ever tasted. Oranges, figs,
pine apples, bananas and other tropical
fruitss consumed in the mansion are all
grown In the conservatories of Ment.
more. When the Baroness is alb
sent, catching in the channel or
at her London house, orders by
telegram are sent TO Mentmore daily for
the supplies REQUIRED. The vases in the
fountain and Italian gardens cost each
81 600, The statuary is all of the most
costly kind, executed by the first masters,
L
saw in the Louvre or in the British Mu-
scum, The great hall, which from the
entrance seemed TO me about twenty by
thirty feet, is filed with vases and statu-
airy It's contents must represent IA value
of not less than GS00,00 We were not
less than 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 single bedroom, one Of the
many guest chambers, costing t25, 600 or
E3O, 900. In the dininE-room and baronial
half are furnishings exceeding 900 900
each. Costly cabinets of the time of
Louis XIV, OF ebony inlnd with ivory
or gold; jewelcd clocks made of solid
gold diamonds, rubies and all other sorts
of precious stones; walls hung with the
costiest tapestry OF the time Of Louis
XIV, or covered with the richest needle
embroidered satin, may give some idea of
the wealth lavished ON this more than
princely mansion. The costlicst paint
ings adorn the walls, and the most skillful
and expensive workmanship Is displayed
upon the ceilings. The idea of the Baron
seems 10 have been to build and furnish
mansion such a. no other person In En-
gland, except perhaps the Duke of West.
minister, could hope u rival. The stud Is
said to contain more high bred horses
than any in the world. II embraces thir.
ty.hye hunters and as many racers, none
OF which | heard we're less in value than
5000, while many Of them run up into the
thousands. Favonius, Maccaroni aud
Old Tom, the last a patriarch Of high
bred racers We saw, all winners OF famous
ruces. For Favonius Gl2,000 were re-
fused, and for Maccaroni Il, 100 were but
recently paid. was fortunate In getting
an introduction TO Mentmore through an
acquaintance | made In England. The
grounds are on rare occasions open to Wis
TORS, but ordinarily there 10 no access TO
the mansion. ] saw, believe, every room
In The house except the strong-room,
where the treasures are kept during the
absence Of the family"