Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1879-04-02
The Prince of Wales at Home.

VI w dttS Iburt 10 a
pretty two-mile drive from Wolverton, in
Norfolk, through a quantity of young plan
tations, in which the Prince takes much in
terest On the left you pass a picturesque
building called ''The Folly" furnished
with great taste and where shooting parties
lunch once or twice during the season.
The entrance to Sandringham is through
the famous Norwich Gates, and so through
fine avenue of lines. The house is a mo-
del of comfort The large hall which you
enter on arriving is fitted up as a dining
room, with pianoforte, easy chairs, and
two large writing tables, at one of which
the Prince usually writes his letters on his
return from shooting. Behind the piano are
a quantity of toys for the children to amuse
themselves with at the ''children's hour
after tea. Here at five O'Clock the tea-table
is placed in the centre of the hall, and is pre-
sided over by the princes in the loveliest OF
tea-gowns Ii is a pretty sight to see her sur
rounded by her three little girls, who look
like tiny fairies, and who run about To put
.papa's" letters in the large pillar-post box
at one end of the hall. There are generally
four or five large dogs to add to the circle.
In this same hall the balls take place. The
floor is excellent, and the music is upstairs
in a gallery. At the balls the supper is
served AT number of round tables, with
one long one down the side of the room. At
Christmas the Nall looks like large bazaar,
being then filled with the most costly and
beautiful tables, with large Christmas tree
in the centre, and objects all around the
sides of the hall full Of presents for the
household and visitors. Their Royal High
nesses arrange these presents themselves,
and no one is permitted to enter till the
evening. Some few years back the gentle
men of the household gave the Prince, on
his birth day. a handsome weighing ma
chine, which has ever since been honored
with conspicuous place in the corridor
passing alongside the hall; and regularly
during each party, generally after tea, the
guests are requested to come and be
weighed, a proceeding to which some seri-
ously object. They then, in their own
handwriting. have to record the full details
in book kept specially for the purpose.
They write their names, date, weight and
costume worn at the time. Thus you read: A.:
Heavy walking dress, tea-gown, velvet
dress-fhe heavy ones generally attribute
some of the fault 10 the garments. Ii Is an
interesting book. containing, as it does, auto
graphs of many long since passed away.
The drawing-room is particularly pretty
room. full of furniture, and every available
corner is filled with gigantic flower glasses
full of Pampas grass and evergreens. Here
the guests assemble before dinner. The
dining-room opens out of this room. The
dinner-table decorations are noted, and are
all arranged by the gardener, whose taste is
very good. The bowling alley, in close
proximity To the hilliard-roOm, is most pop
ular. The Princess plays very well, while
those who have no taste this way SIT in a
little ante-roOm. comfortably furnished
with two long low setteeS and rocking
chairs. and from which YOU command i
good view of the game Out of the draw
ing-room. on the opposite side TO the di-
ming rpom, is small sitting room fitted
with bookcases. Beyond this is the
Princes own room. quite full of beautiful
things. Here he and the Princess always
breakfast and mere. on the 9Th OF November
and the Isl of December, are laid out all
the numerous birthday presents. OF tine
Princess private apartment upstairs il will
sllilCt 10 sly tlidt hp iitltiti iVpih iihi IL
II. ii. S own boudoir or sittins-room was
ever seen. All the visitors rooms are per
feet, nor are the servants comforts neglect
ed Immediately after tea and coffee (when
there is party staying in the house, the
Prince sits down to his whist in the small
room leading out of the drawing-room, and
the Princess adiOurns to the bowling alley,
where two little boys attired in appropriate
costume, are in attendance to send back the
heavy balls and set up the bowls. The gar
dens are of considerable extent, and the
Princess dairy is thing of beauty, with L
lovely room luxuriously furnished for tea
parties The usual Sunday afternoon walk.
with all the guests, household and children,
comprises visits to the gardens, the dairy.
the farm and the kennels, and always fin
ishes up with the stables. The company
consists of very much the same set each
year. with occasional additions of foreign
ers. There are also one or two very good
whist players.