The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-03-17

Tor breath m the very straits OF the dark
valley while his dearest kinsfolk were
gathered around for the sad, solemn duty
Of bidding him final farewell, while in
the corridor hushed retainers wept sore
for the iminent uhtimely fate of one not
less loved than honored, and while outside
in the snow-slush grief.smitten laboring
folk lOnged, yet feared, for tidings of their
master" Yet there in the ceiling above
the bed is the mark of the orifcc whence
projected the hook supporting the trapeze
cunningly devised by Bentley, by the aid
Of which the Prince, when on the slow
and weary road towards convalesceuce,
was wont to chang his recumbent position
or pull himself up into a sitting posture.
Listen to the ripples of child-laughter
aud the swift patter Of child-feet along the
corridor There is fash of rosy cheeks
aud dancing curls as three little maids in
ing-habits trip daintily down the sta ir-
case on their way to an afternoon ride in
the park, in the course of which "Slow-
coach win have Weakening up doubtless,
and the piebald "Euston' get his head
quite to his own liking-three young
ladies, the two eldest of whom are "outn
after fashion, so far as the Sandringham
JedH-mOade is concerned; for ut the ten
ants ball in December last was there not
radiant vision Of pair Of pretty fairies
in scarlet sashes, with head-ribbons and
dainty bottines to match? Later, as the
shadows are falling, there come across the
sward from an outlying copse of the park
a couple Of bright-faced, frank-eyed, lis
som-framed lads in kits and hosen of
holden gray on whose bare knees is here
and there a scratch. The younger will
tell you in ringing English voice that
his elder brother has just shot rabbit; nor
is the senior-the boy who in heavens
good time and pleasure will be King Of
England-backward in acknowledging to
this achievement of prowess.
During the shooting season the routine
of Sandringham life has for variety little
other than the change of the scene Of the
sport. One day the venue may be
Flitcham for partridge-driving; the next
may be dedicated to the pheasants of the
Commodore and Dersingham woods or
the shot corner" may be at the angle of
WoOdcock wood, with the "Folly" as the
luncheon rendezvous, The start is at
1890 and if there is any distance to be
traverSed, the gunners travel TO the scene
of their sport in the char-a-banc and
wagonette. The Sandringham corps of
beaters is forty strong, each member wear
ing a Norfolk smock-frock of brown
fustian, with number on red badge
Luncheon is at 2, served in a marquee
in some convenient spot; and at this meal
the Princess, who drives to the trysting-
place her own four-in hand team of pretty
ponies, joins the gentlemen with the ladies
who are her guests During the afternoon
shooting, which takes the homeward direc-
ton, the ladies walk, or ride on pony-back,
with the guns. Afternoon tea, to which
all the guests gather in the saloon, is one
of the great institutions Of Sandringham
home life 1t is the children's hour par
erceiience. NJ. Zichy has sketched the
scene of charming informal domesticity
with appreciative felicity. The Prince,
teacup 10 hand, stands with his back to
the vestibule fire. one of his boys and a
group of his male friends standing about
him. The Princess is at the tea table,
with one of her girls by her side and a
number of guests of both sexes, around
the board. An adult gentleman with a
mustache is obviously flirting with young
lady, over whose Aaxen curls quite seven
summers must have passed. 1t is a sketch
that one may well hope will be elaborated
into picture and exhibited, for it would
speak straight to the heart of people ever
keen to thrill to the emotion and senti-
ment of home.life. From 6 to 7.30 the
Prince addresses himself to correspondence
and business in General Knollys' room 4;
but indeed the is hardly an hour of the
day which His Royal Highuess devotes
wholly to pleasure, for his land steward
generally accompanies him in shooting ex-
cursions, at hand to note suggestions as to
improvements which may occur to the
Prince as he tramps over the estate. 1t
is reputed of the Prince in Norfolk that
no landlord in the county is better ac-
quainted with the details Of his property
aud with a greater zeal for its improve.
mcnt. The dinner hour is s, London
time, $50, Sandringham time, for the
Prince will have Sandringham time half
an hour fast, the better to insure "taking
time by the forelock," OF the dinner
table the chiefest decorations ever are flow
ers, brought fresh every night from the
region of glass and heated air where Mr..
Penny rules supreme. On the birthday
Of His Royal Highness, afternoon tea
gives place to visit to the stableyard, in
one Of the coach-houses of which all the
laborers on the estate, some two hundred
in number, are entertained 10 Square
meal Of the most substantial character.
On the night of the same day occurs the
annual county ball while on the night of
the Princess's birthday is given the annual
tenants ball, to which are bidden not alone
the tenantry Of the Sandringham estate but
representative tenants from the various
properties which the Prince has visited in
his shooting expeditions.
, The Sunday is the most characteristic
day Of the week at Sandringham. The
Princess drives to Mr.. 0nslow's little
church across the park the Prince with
his male guests walks, aud after service
walks back through the grounds, intent on
pointing out his improvements. After
luncheon the whole house. party walk out
past the bachelors cottage to the ken
nels where jackson is in waiting to receive
the visitors to his domain. A flock of
foreign goats Immediately beset the Prin-
cess, wise in, their generation aud in the
full expectancy Of tid-bits, There is q
leisurely stroll through the pleasantly and
along the gly,sheltered cages in which
are housed the Nepaulese birds which were
one of Sir Jung Bahadoor's gifts. The
bear-pit looked down into, and the bears
coaxed to climb the pole, the dogs claim
attention. "Jung" and Ramsay" the
noble Himalayan deerhohuds, are clamor.
GUS for liberation, and effusively grateful
when that has been accorded boon
which Her Royal Highness NAV extend to