Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-11-26
The Home of a Princess.

The Home of a Princess.
The correspondent of the Tribune. in letter
from ottawa dated the 18th inst, describes as fol-
lows the place which is to be the home of the Msr-
chiones of Lorne at the capital of the Dominion
This afternoon paid visit to Rideau Hall
the Government House of Cansda-and as
walked along the resounding plank walk, which
tries to wind in graceful serpentne, from the
gateway to the house. | endeavored to picture TO
myself the IMPRESSION it would make upon the
daughter Of Queen Victoria when, two weeks
hence, she will 60 over the same ground. In
November nature is not kind to landscape. The
cold wind varegates the drives with patches Of
frozen dust and solid ice twists the gray dust
about, giving it an unkempt Appearance, and hur-
ries the few remanng leaves from the over-hang-
ing branches in . most ungracous fashion.
could imagine what . shocking contrast the me adj
w-lke grass would be with the vevety turf of
the English lawns and parks. And the hall itself.
hardly know whether its ugliness is pardonabe
because Of its consequence, or objectionable he
cause one expects so much more from a vice reg al
residence. 1t was built many years ago by the
Hon. Thomas Mckay. wealthy lumbermen, of
Ottawa, for his residence and of him the Govern
ment bought II some ten or twelve years since.
What it might have been In its pslmy DAYS simply
| as private residence cannot say, bat at present
it is about as bad as possible. The Plimpses you
get Of As yon approach are suggestive of a rath
ct CueSfIul ptIsou Uut 50 mhuy PHEASANT hSsOc1a-
tons have gathered about 1t that n the case of
an ugly friend, you forget that its outlines are not
all they should be- Ii is of stone and brick (the
best part being of stone, for the brick additions
are washed over IN an attempt, not a very sue
cessfu one, to initiate stone, \ and is two stories
and q half high. Much of the original house has
been pulled down, and there now remains only an
oblong stone tower and the spacious entrance halls
and vestibule.
On the left is a long wing, used for ballroom,
II.
On ting right is still larger wing, used as ten
mis- court, and also . refreshment room. for balls
etc. being capable Of seating 400 or 500 Both
of these have been added during Lord Duferin's
stay. The entrance IL under q square porte coch-
ere, into lofty and handsome hall, carpeted in
crimson and furnished in oak. From this extends
wide hall, leading TO the reception rooms,
the billiard rooms, the dining rooms. family par
Tors. library and conservatory. They are all in
wing. seventy-fve feet in length, added by Lord
Monck. Throughout the prevailing color is Grim
son. To-day it is a banquet hall deserted" and
l could examine and criticise ut my leisure. As
entered the reception-room, which bad been so
full Of gaily-dressed, vivacous people, clustering
around Lady DufferiD, the last time had seen it,
felt through its silence "the old giving place to
the new" Society will flow back in few weeks,
and the new life will begin.
A house sbsorbs so much from its inmates that
when they are suddenly withdrawn YOU feel that
it has somehow been great deal of q humbug.
The elegancies which you ascribed to it you ind
il has no right to. Thus Rideau Hall, which in
its live days. used to think an elegant place.
to day found to be extremely plain and modest in
its finish and furniture. The library is pretty,
home-lik and tasteful, wood work and book cases
alike being painted pure white, and the curtains
and carpets and upholstery oil pale green. From
tho library opens . cosy bondoir, crimson again,
and from 1t glass door lie ads into conservatory.
Opposite these are the dining rooms, in black wal
nut and crimson, the studio, private Offices and
different staircases by which the upper floor is
reached. On this floor was shown the various
sleeping apartments. On the door of each room
is marked the name of province or island be.
longing to Canada, and by this name it is known.
They had an expectant air. fires were ready to
light in the CRATES eesy chairs stood about and
beds were being prepared for the travellers. The
furniture In most OF the bedrooms is old-fash-
toned and far palmer than you would see in the
homes Of moderately wealthy Americans. 1t is
generally Of oak and walnut, with little cherry
aud mahogany. and the draperies through the
whole house, with the exception of one or two
rooms. are of cretonne, none Of silk or lace. The
room which the Princess Louise will occupy is by
far the hsndsomest. The bed is one Of those
enormous English structures, and was brought
over BY Lord Monck; it is canopied and the hang
ings OF the room are In the inevitable crimson.
On this floor the room liked best Is the old lash
Toned oblong one in the tower. Its paper is of
pattern popular some forty years ago. This, dur
ing Duferin's residence, was used as a school
ROOM out AZ there are no childen In the present
household, it is to be modernized and used as
breskfsst-room.
What interested me, perh sps, most in nv visit
10 hideau Hall was the service Of the house as il
was quite 10 accordance with my idea Of an exten
sive English home. And the guide who kindly
showed me about. being English, explained every
thing with the "home" terms. Here were the
kitchen, the "scullery." the Servants, hail.. the
"upper Servants hail." the "buter's pantry" etc,
etc. The servants-and there will be about forty
ARE divided according to their grade Of service
They all breakfast together, but dine separately.
This fact as related by the guide the occasion
| of some very democratic remarks on his part He
frankly volunteered that from his point of view he
couldn't see" why the upper servants should dine
by themselves; have their fine desserts; their
glass Of wine or ale Is they preferred and, in
word, be exalted over their fellows. He admitted
that such things might do in England, "but," he
said, "Pve been twenty years in Canada, and in
that time . man gets mighty democratic" 1t
took me some tine to realize that be was no, jok-
ing, FOR Canada, seen through American eyes, isn't
just the climax Of democratic principles.
The wine-cesr 10 being filed; within few
days zoo cases of champagnes and brandies, be-
SIDES numerous barrels of liquors. have been
slowed into place, and that is only q beginning
What would the White House say to that In
connection with the Hall are large grapery and
| several green houses. Surrounding Il are about
| seventy hve acres. much Of which is still wooded
there having been little attempt at landscape gar
dening. In front Of the wing added by Lord
Monck are pretty terrace and lawn, and from
this the view over the City Of Ottawa and the riv.
en-Ottaws and Rideau-is very beautiful, while
III