The Portland daily press., 1880-04-12
A Vice-Regal Home.
An Interior View of the Ottawa Residence
of Lord Lorne and the Princess Louise.
Whitehall Review. March 27.l

The Governor-General's sdnctuna is a CHEEKY
apartment lighted by two windows. A narrow
door close to the desk gives access to the pri-
vate working-room and atelier of the Princess
Louise. Portraits of the late Duchess of Ar
gyll and the splendid Duchess of Sutherland
adorn either side of the mirror. On the man
telpiece were two photographs of the Princess
Louise, one representing Her Royal Highness
in her wedding dress. A wondrous piece Of
Gobelins tapestry hangs on the southern wall.
His Excellency's inkbottle is constructed from
the hoof of the charger that carried Lord Clyde
through the Crimean war. The portraits of
his Princess-wife confront the Laird of Lorne
as he writes, and between them stands min
iature of our Queen on ivory in ruby velve
open case. Inverary Castle holds its own ON
the western wall, and the India-ink draw
ing of the "Home Coming" done by her Royal
Highness, is admirable in its every detail.
There are also paintings in oil from the brush
of the royal lady, displaying mastery execu-
tion, Bonnie Scotland being especially favored
by the gifted artist. A table in the centre Of
the room is dedicated to an immense morocco
bound volume, containing the various ad-
dresses presented to His Excellency upon as
suming the reins of office, while case of
salmon-hies flanked by boxes of cartridges,
tell their own tale of flood and field.
The drawing-room is a charmingly propor-
toned apartment, all dead blues and dead
grays. Here is wealth of costly knick-knaeks,
an Ell Dorado of bric-a-brac. The walls glow
with oil-paintings and water-colors, the most
noticeable life-size portrait of the Princess
Louise in her bridal robes; "a Passage from
Elaine," by Dore, Tennyson's words, in Dore's
writing, underneath; half-length Of Prince
Albert, 'Inverary Castle" "Glen Shivra,"
sfWindsor CASTLE" Como and "Venice"
On entering Her Royal Highness's boudoir the
first object that strikes the eye is the branch of
an apple tree in leaf and fruit, trailed against
the panels of a white door. A closer inspection
reveals the counterfeit presentment," for, in
order to kill the dead glaring white, the Prin-
cess conceived the happy and aesthetic idea of
thus decorating the obnoxious portal. This
she has done with her own hane, and the ap-
pies are ripe and rosy enough to cause a second
fall. A large photograph of Her Majesty holds
the place of honor, the background being a su-
perb specimen of Gobelins. The escritoire of
the Princess, with its gorgeous blotter Of red
and the royal arms in gold, is prominent OBJ
ject, as is also a painting of brick wall
covered with peaches, finished by the Prin-
cess two days before the fire at Inverary
Castle Only think of it, not single plaque,
but conservatory, one green tuft of ferns of
the most vivid green, standing on the right
hand side of the fireplace and opposite the
blazing fire-place-it was twenty degrees below
zero outside. Within hand reach of caressing
fauteuii, in dainty little frames especially con-
otIuCtCut 10y eLO iCduluS TouCu anu
German newspapers of the latest date, while
the newest French novel and the last quarter
ly occupied gypsy table all to themselves. A
portrait of the late Duchess of Kent is con-
spicuous; together with photographs
with autographs appended) of the heir
to the throne and his beautiful and in
teresting wife. Lord Lorne sets great store
by three engravings representing Quebec prior
to its storming by Wolfe, picked up by him in
st. James street. The frames, too, are re-
markable from the fact that they are con-
structed from the timbers OF i vessel sunk DUR
ing the assault, and only recovered within the
last few months. There is an atmosphere of
supreme luxurious ease in this boudoir-every-
thing is in complete harmony and wears the
appearance of being occupied. Evidences of
the aesthetic tastes of its royal mistress are
everywhere visible, from the dead gold panels
and their blood-red flowers to the linnets and
canaries warbling in quaint and picturesque
cages, from choice and elegant literature in
many languages to the quantity of woman's
work lying on ottomans and lounges and chairs
that seem to invite one to press them.
That's the luncheon gong" merrily ex-
claimed the Governor-General, adding, as we
proceeded to the dining-room, "this is a hum
cry climate -
Portraits, after Winterhalter, of the Queen
and Prince Albert adorn the walls of the din
ing room at either end. The buffets are Of
black walnut with game subjects in relief;
two specimens of Won Goyen overhang side
boards standing in receses. Stuffed wild duck
shot by the Marquis hang on the centre panels
of the sideboards-very fine birds, too.