New-York tribune., 1879-12-07
TIE DUKE or EDINBTRGH Nv HIS
COUNTRY HOME.
PLEASANT DOMESTIC PICTURE.

From The London World.
The scene IL purely sylvan and English. and IN
the Autumn season especially Is deliciously peace
fu. While the sunlight brings a hundred hues ont
of the planes and bceches, there comes merry pro-
ccssion from the labyrinth of closely cropped ever
greens. In advance runs q great, plump. handsome
ive-year-od 0oy. ughiug merrIly. AMI caring not
an atom Tor the cold which has brought the color
INTO his cheeks as he rms by the side Of his pet
dog fine black retriever, the gilt Of a faith
ful retainer, whose loyalty Is only exceeded
by his want of imagination IN naming the
animal Prince Lutte Prince Alfred IL greatly in
love with his curly pet and the dog canters along
with bounding STEP and head turned in invitation
70 n game of romps. Next comes a blne-velvet
peranbuatOr IN which reclines the baby Princess,
at whose side toddles elder sister highly amused
as baby crows to n white Maltese. who rolls along
like the SNOWFALL he II named after. Little Princess
Marie is shak KING her sunny curls at her fair young
mother, the Duchess Of Edinburgh. who. dressed IN
suit of blue serge of the same hue rs that worn by
her children, Is walking Ivy the side of babys per-
ambulator. In another moment the watchfni eyeof
the head nurse has detected Prince Alfred in a Wild
attempt 10 climb plane tree. and recalls the high
spirited boy with single word. All the Duchesss
children have bright blue eyes, and free from
shyness any symptom Of coddlngr as the stern
est OF Infantiie dlscpinarans could desire. They
turn their beautiful eyes with frank fearless
hook upon their new acquaintance, and are cor
dial terms at once. The morning promenade with
their mother Is a happy time for the children, who
are accustomed to 90 with her to Russia- To Ger
many 10 Cannes. wherever her temporary place
of sOjOurn may be.
At tins early hour the Duke Of Edinburgh is
mostly TO be found reading or writing IN bis own
mOrnlng g-rOOm-a snug apartment, which Ike all
the others in the house IL comfortably. not lUxur
Ously, furnished. Deformed 1t Is by exterior
hIdeousness, Eastwell supplies excellent instance
in favor of those practical people VINO insist that
houses were made not 10 he looked at, but 70 be
lived in. The rooms we'll disposed for the pur-
pose OF circulation, and those in NJ use every
dav are on the ground nOor DinIng-rOOm,
music-room, drawing rooms, morning rooms.
and bOudoir are all on level. and are
therefore deliciOusly convenient and comfortable.
q
the first floor of especial interest the select
circle visiting at Eastwell. These are the day and
night nurseries, absolute models OF what such aDart
ments should be. To begin with. they are of i'm
mense size. perfectly lighted and ventilated, furn-
ished with light maple and cane furniture and
completely free from the stlinness OF deep carpets
and rugs. In a corner of the day nursery - a mll
taTy tent birthday present from bis father to
Prince Alfred. and treasured accordingly. 1t
Is a Spartan kind of edltice of gray
striped material. with plain deal table
and a stOol-the kind of tent that der ate
trtz. who did not like dandy officers, loved to
his own enscOnced in. Before a bnghtlv-burnlng
fire one OF those good od-fashioned brass fire
guards several feet high, and to the left of this the
cots of the four little children arranged. The
two youngest tired with he morning promenade are
fast asleep: but the little Prince obviously already
OutgrON ing The idea of gong to bed at midday for
he Is laughing merrly at the joke of being tucked
np again after his glorious run with black Prince.
Little Princess Marie, with her shower OF far halr
spread over the pillows and her great blue eyes
only half open, "A delightful subject Tor painter
tiny sleeping beauty IN he pretlirst of woodlands.
This midday rest Is part OF the regular programme
at Eastweil. ana appears to be successful, II one
may Judge by present results for finer and heavier
children OF their than little Prince Alfred and
his sisters could hardly be found.
At midday the DukeO Edinburgh has got through
HE serious reading, and perhaps SOME practising
for the family musical party OF the evening. and ~
ready for "A drive round The park. which L. beautiful
aud spacious enough to afford ample scope Tor any
species of outdoor entertainment. In the alter
noon friends arrive from the country side, from
London. from Paris, from ST. Petersburg. Like the
majority OF those VINO prefer small circle of friends
10 tue crowd and noise OF large assemblies, Eng
lands Sailor Prince Is thoroughly apple-
ciated 10y all who know him. lie II em-
pharcaly what is called quiet man-cheerfuI
rather tnan jOyous, pleasant rather than spark
ling Thoroughly German IN his taste for music
and serious studies. he IL completely English In his
domestic life. No man Is more pleased with the
perfect working of his establshment-from tue
metropolitan Inspector who, with "A brace of con-
stables keeps watch aud ward at Eastwell, To the
clerk who attends his private telegraph Office Old
habits of discipline picked up on the GaIatea, and
confirmed 10y recent experience aiiOat cannot DE
lightly shaken of. although the sportive hunor OF
early days may have died out Like his brother the
Prince OF W ales, the Duke OF Edinburgh likes
good things IN reasonable quantity, aud
Is a steady opponent of the German Gus
tom of turning dinner into wearisome
ceremony. protracted beyond all reasonable
limit by cumbrous menu AT the little dinners at
Eastweii there is no bewilderlng number of Dishes
but good straightforward bill OF fare, which may
De eaten through with perfect enjoyment Rare
things, however appear AT these modest Ddnquets-
dishes the mere mention OF which sets the gOurinand
agOg-wild boar from the forests in which ArmlnIus
brought the Roman legions 10 naught. aud steret
from the more distant VOlga. The sterlet,
which is 10 the sturgeon snelt is to a whiting,
arrives some lucky days at Eastwell packed IN
ice The eating of HIM is a species of celebration,
and very good indeed he Is when accom-
modated after the genuine Russian fashion.
As a rule, music follows dinner at Eastwell bur at
times-On The days, Tor instance, when the Rdae
des Denr M0ndes arIlves-tne Duchess OF Edinburgh,
who reads great deal in several languages, Will re-
tire to her boudOr learn the Last word OF the French
authors whom she knows as thoroughly as the
Russian poets and nOyelists whose worAs are TO be
found wherever she is. There no late hours at
Eastwe the lite In which is simply that of the
Young parents of an interesting family, who find
far quiet aud sweet rest among the kentisn wood