The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-10-21
New York lierald.I

sungsters OF the lyric stage scatter away 10
tia remote corners Of the world after their
t'umphs in London, Paris. New York, or
r srlinl Patti, when she leaves Coyent
Garden. retires to her big castle in
v ales. and Eteiks Uerster, after an ar
aaous season iu New York and Lon
don. seeks repose I'm the Italian Cam
magma. II Is only a short distance from Bo-
icgua TO the country palazzo OF DIR. Gardini,
her husband. who, though he accompanies
tie Diva all over Europe aud the United
S,ates. still continues 10 make this ancient
aud quaint University town his home. IL Is
al this secluded spot, near a htt'e village
csiIed Borghetti, on the road from Bologna
% Florence, that Nine. Gersier has oten
~ sting ever since an event OF ioyfui sisoi'
fcance to the pateTnal instincts OF her nus
b,nd caused her temporary retirement from
tie operate world. | have thought that the
readers Of the Herald will be interested by
n glimpse Of the prima donna's rural nome,
sud will therefore give an account OF WISH
made 10 II during the past summer.
IN TIE APrESiyEs.
some fifteen kilometres from Bologna BY
tl,e railroad 10 Florence Is q little station on
tbe river Reno. named $3.50. and from here
n 6 dfty short drive OF about three kilo-
nssres 10 Borghetti. The country all about
t,.fe is very pretty. though rugged and
mountainous. IL lies on the spurs OF the
eat Appeuine range, and the air Is cool
AVID bracing even IN the dOg-days as you
ascend the mountain road TO DR.. Gardiups
siate. A handsome lodge first greets the
eve Of the visitor, and then long and
foe aiite OF superb old chestnut and
cypress trees, hanked occasionally by
sBme marble faun or god, winds
gag to the palazzo. which stands
tn plateau perhaps Of the size OF Madison
SQUARE. The grounds are beautifully laid
out and enclosed by hedge worthy almost
q an English country piace. In the centre,
rid occupying on this emineuce a position
o. lofty that on very clear days the Adrlatic
sea may he seen from the windows, stands
tie house, which, with the charming orange
trees and flowers that surround it, has a
INST pleasing effect and reminds you OF
sume of the fine villas Oh Lake Como, both
By lts sly lc Of architecture and it, general ar
IGngement. The fac ide, TO the south, Is three
SORES high, while the other three sides are
one story lower. On entering you ind
Yourself IN wide, spacious, splendid hatl,
from which grand staircase leads to tue
Tuner floors. | was much interested by the
/ sement, where the snow, which on the
tppenine range falls quite heavily in the
vinier, is dumped and frozen into excel
lent, hard ice for the summers liberal con-
sumption. 1t would exceed tue limits Of
Nour space to GO into a detailed description
Il the house. Only a few of the more sa-
hent features NAV here be mentioned.
AMERICAN ORNAMENTS.
was quite struck by the cosmopolitan
character OF It's ornaments. Here there was
gigantic American silver ice-pitcher, the
att of some New York friend; there were
artistic souvenirs from Berlin and st. Pc
iorsburg, "reminiscences Of imperial favor,
pnd presents from Queen Victoria; and
from ancient Italian frescOes by Mariinelli
q Veccho, the great Bolognese artist, the
confused eye wandered TO an American
grand piano-the very grandest OF the
crand-made specially for Nine. Gers.
ter in New York. The drawing
room on the second floor. where this
piano is placed, Is crammed with objects
OF art and bric-a-brac referring more or
less directly to the divine art OF which the
b stess is so distinguished an exponent, and
tie walls are adorned by handsome por-
traits OF all the great masters OF the Italian
school. The third story of the facade is one
grand saloon specially constructed for its
beautiful view with twelve great windows.
J here are large and convenient stables near
the house, and an Gti<e nearly mile long
81 ffuit-trees and grape-yines leads TO
pleasant and picturesque paviIion-belye-
deere, as it is called-where magnificent
view OF the valley OF the Reno aud Setta IS
enjoyed.
A RURAL PARADISE.
Indeed nothing seems to. be wanting TO
make this a most delightful place OF resi-
dcnce even for such a spoiled child OF good
fortune as a prima donna. The valley with
It's waving fields Of grain, hemp, and its
cleaning vineyards and olive groves must
prove a pleasing change after the view OF
black chimney tops, which Nine. Gerster
probably enjoys from her hotel in New
York or London. There are extensive hot
bouses containing some OF the rarest plants
not only OF Europe but OF America, which
tie prima donna has brought with her,
and after passing through garden filled
with the brightest flowers The vlsl-
TOR is astonished TO find himself IN
an immense grove OF several thousand
chestnut trees, some OF which arc said TO be
hundreds OF years old. and in the midst OF
tins park stands an imposing statue OF
Apollo, while numerous ornamental arborS
aud benches are scatterd about. DR.. Gar
dini has dozen farm-houses, occupied by
some one hundred and City men who work
upon the farms proper belonging TO this
large estate. IL is curious to observe, by
tie way. that in Central Italy the palri-
al chal system still prevails, and that the
agricultural laborer, instead OF being paid
in money only, receives one-half OF the pro-
ducts OF the soil he cultiyates.
NODES OF LIFE.
To any one who has known Nine. GersteI
personally it will probably appear super.
fluous piece OF information that dogs holu
nigh and important place In the economy
OF the household. AT the head OF the ca
nine array, which numbers four, stands. IN
point OF importance, Fido, whom his mis-
tress has takeu with her TO America. Fido
IL a POmeranian Spiiz, who enjoys such
high favor that | would recommend any
ore in New York who would like to insinu-
ate himself into the good graces OF the diva
10 make violent love TO him and bring him
plenty OF sugar plums, of which he is very
fond. The manner Of living at the VIA
q rdiBi- Gerster, as il is called, is very SIM
plc. Mime. Gerster still adheres to the mode
OF life OF the primitive Hungarian country
town In which she passed her glrlhood'
She rises at 7 O'Clock. AT breakfast Is
served and the forenoon is spent win the
exercise and study OF her art, pleasant
wax, or q few blissfuI hours with The DaDy.
Twelve Is the dinner hour. which is never
va led from, aud which must certainly be
very trying to English visitors who are ac'