Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-10-18
A DAY At WINDSOR.
A srAuNToN1AN AT THE QUEENS CASTLE
INTERESTING DEsCRIPT1ON-AME
CAN ANXIETY TO SEE ROYALTY.

$500 49,
&C., &C., W.
Correspondence of the Staunton VIND1cAToR)
At Kings Cross. London. we descend
the steps to subterranean regions ana Sc
cure seats in first class compartment OF
the Metropolitan railway. Although we
lose sight of moving millions on the sur
face, the crowd below seems as numerous.
The train rushes through series OF tun-
nels, with occasional flashes OF light from
the upp' world Until it connects With the
Great Western line, and this one Jauht Oh
tie underground railroad is declared quite
sutficienl to satisfy the curiosity OF all
American tourist.
Passing through exquisite Engllsh land
scapes. for twenty-five miles, we speedily
arrive at Windsor, anclently called win
dlesora,'' from the extraordinary mean
behring's Of the Thames at tins point. Of
course tile first object which attracts thr
visitors eye is the Estate Residence OF the
Sovereigns of England the noble castle
with it's grey walls, its pinnacles, battle
ments ami towers, as beautiful asa poets
dream, splendid history Wrought into
stone.
The little town numbering some t'lrtee
Thousand inhabitants, clusters pictures
quely about the castle aud appears as I'VE
ly as when Sir John Fs.lstaff figured there.
By the way, there is story that Shaks-
peare wrote "The Merry Wives of Wind
sor" at the command of Queen Elizabeth
for the amusement OF herself and court.
We enter the castle by ''Henry Wits
Gateway" which is guarded like every
other entrance and sally-port, by the
Queens relocated soldiers wearing mutfs
on their heads, and looking Us motionless
as statues This arch was built by Henry
during the first year Of his reign, and bears
upon its facade the Tudor emblems, rose
IA fieur-de- lis, and a port-cullis. Tradition
has it that here the royal Bluebeard re-
ceived Anne Boleyn when she came to
Windsor, first to be crowned with the cor
onet of Marchioness, and secOnd, to Wear
the fatal diadem of Queen consort. The
The old tyrant was inferred in the royal
vault beneath the choir of st. Georges
Chapel by the side ofsCharles IL.
s'Famed for contemptuous breach Of sacred ties,
By headless Charles see heartless Henry lies"
The most renowned order of chivalry,
that of the Garter, originated here. and
was established by Edward LII on st.
Georges day, A. D. 1349. Then the
knights must have sacred place in which
to worship God, and hold their high fes-
rivals on anniversary occasions, so Edward
founded st. Georges chapel.
The present magnificent structure, how
ever. was built by Edward w, who histo-
ny Ills 50 the greatest of all the Plantaga
nets'' The beautifully carved high stalls
in the chYir, are for the knights of The
Garter, and over each stall hangs the sword
and banner, the helmet, crest and lambre-
quin of the owner. Under the massive
organ are the stalls of the sovereigns and
Princes Of the blood. The glorious stained
windows, the royal portraits, the grand
old paintings and tapestries, the statues
monuments and cenotaphs, the fine screen
work in front of the different chapels, the
stone roof of the choir with its exquisite
tracery. which was added by Henry VII
all combine to form Il spectacle peculiarly
impressive, and which cannot be adequate
ly described. Morning and evening, daily
the white surpiced chorister boys stand
ana chant the Psalms to sublime music of
Handel and Mozart, while their faces and
10 nf f1hornhipo nd
.Seraphim. Probably when not thus en-
gagged, they are just like other boys. The
officiating clergyman, as his predecessors
have done for the past five hundred years,
closes each service with this prayer: God
bless our most gracious sovereign, and all
the Companions of the noble order of the
Garter"
We next visit the Albert Memorial
Chapel, This was originally partly built
by Henry VII, and finished by Cardinal
Wolsey, who designed it for his own mag
..iGcent tomb; but after his downfall and
death at Leicester he only got from the
monks "a little earth for charity" This
historic chamber has been most won
derfully decorated by Queen Victoria,
and made into beautiful and costly shrine
to the memory of the Prince consort. The
only information volunteered by the at
ending official as our party entered, was
to the effect that the gentlemen could wear
tn ir hats if they desired, the chapel never
having been consecrated. But time for
bids us to llnger, however brill ant and
fascinating our surroundings, and soon
we are standing On the famous North Ter
race, built by Queen Bess, which affords
a prospect unrivaled. The walk extends
for half d mile, and we pass from scene to
scene of enchanting beauty, haunted by
associations that impress both mind and
heart as we
'sFrom the stately brow
or WindSOriS heights the eXpanSe below
OF grove. of lawn. Ut mead survey,
Whose turf, whose shade, whose fl wers among,
WanderS the h0ary Thames along,
His silver winding way"
with the whole panorama perfected by
the ''distant spires and ''antique towers
of Elton.
We can mention. particularly, but two
OF three of the thirty towers OF the castle.
The Round Tower, which is the dungeon
Or keep, was erected by William the Con-
lueror, rebuilt by Henry 1, and no one can
tell how many old Kings planned, or an
Gent workmen labored at it's massive walls.
at present it is superbly fitted up as the
occasional residence of the Prince of
Wales, and when occupied by him the
union jack waves from its summit, but
when Her Majesty enters the palace the
royal standard, or British flag is unfurled:
,he prison home OF James I, of Scotland
who beguiled his captivity by falling in
owe, with Lady Jane Beaufort. They |
designate the very window from which |