The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1882-01-27
AN ECCENTRIC ENGLISH NOBLEMAN.

AN ECCENTRIC ENGLISH NoBLEMAN.
The Prince of Wales recently made
visit to the Duke of Portland at Wei
beck Abbey. To an American such n
visit would be of no particular inter
est, but to English people it was so.
The Duke of Portland. the imme-
diate predecessor of the present Duke,
! was most interesting and singular
character. For twenty-siX years he
lived, so far as association With the no.
bility was concerned, the life of re-
cluSe. He seemed to entertain for those
Of his own station an intense hatred,
and would never grant them entrance
to his parks for any other reason than
business. Even the Prince Consort,
husband of Queen Victoria, and father
of the present Prince Of Wales, when,
wishing to see the wonders of We'll
beck, sent his card to the Duke, was
informed that the Duke was not at
home to him, The Dukes compan-
ions We're his workmen, of whom he
employed constantly 1000. He dined
alone, the only person allowed TO ap.
proach him being his valet. To his
employees he was always kind Though
it SO displeased him for one to touch
his hat to him that he would discharge
the offender); and often deserving ones
when i'll were sent to popular health
resorts, and kept there at his expense.
He was a mau of great mechanical
skill and of culture, and tho carrying
out of his ideas was the source of bless
ings for miles around his home, and
has made Welbeck famous.
The principal wonders of Welbeck
are its underground passages, which
extend for miles, and its subterranean
apartments. Extending in all direc-
tions from the abbey are lofty and spa
cious passages. These are brilliantly
lighted by means of costly apparatus
tor attracting sunlight, and that too
when sunlight cannot be admitted by
sunlight. The "riding school," the
like of which is not to be found in the
! world, is reached through underground
passages, and entrance is gained by n
! trap door, which is opened by a curl
ously designed crank in the passage.
| The museum of art is $50 feet long.
The picture gallery is lighted by means
of four chandeliers having 1000 gas jets,
each one of which weighs ton, sus.
pended from the roof. Mirrors adorn
the walls, and the ceiling is beautifully
decorated with Il design representing
a midsummer sky. The library is 23t
feet long, and is divided into five cham
bers so constructed that when desired
they form one large hall.
One of the most wonderful Of tn
subterranean apartments was begun b.
the Duke about seven years ago bu
not finished before his death. 1t is nc
known for what purpose he intende
it. 1t looks like u ballroom. Its oal
en- floor is Il wonderful piece Of worl
H. x>f I,n 1,nS ~,
been obtained by regular washing
with rare old Welbccl1 ale. The roc
is supported by eight iron girdcrs, eac
of which weighs twenty-four tons. l
Elimination is obtained by day by twer
! ty-seven octngonal lights and at nigh
from magnificent crystal chandeliers
each of which weighs Il ton. The room
} covers a rood of ground, and was du!
} out of the solid clay.
Another interesting piece of worl
} the Duke also left unfinished, and o,
which he had spent about $25O,OOO
! He called it "thc bachelors hall" ]
= occupies an acre of ground, and il
, reached by a stone staircase. The in
closure is all walled in with Roma'
: cement mixed with sand.
There are numerous other subtcr
ranean chambers, all of which ha,
: been excavated at great cost. They ar
magnificently decorated, adnirabI.
lighted, and free from draughtS. On
passage was used exclusively by til
Duke himself, and Il stranger found II
it was deemed guilty of agravc otlcnst
5 The Dukes annual income from rent
= was about Il million of dollars Il year
. and he spent the larger part of il upo
i WclbecS, in improving which lie tool
great pride.
r Tho present Duke, a distant rclativ
8 of the late Duke, has adopted differ
f ent policy from that of his predcccs
s sor, and will cultivate an intimat
friendship with his nobility.
FROM NEW ORLEANS TO SAN FRAN
3 CISCO.