Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-01-10
nAMrrON CouRr.


Hampton Court Palace, which r.
Vals the Tower OF London and Wind
sor Castle In historic ronowu, has had
) narrow escape Of being burned to the
ALTHOUGH one lie was ua-
fortunately sacrificed, the atAal dams
age 20 the magaifoent structure ap-
comparatively u1importsht.
Happily, the means ia readiness on
the spot to deal with such q contin-
gency as that which arose at daybreak
yesterday morning, in one OF the suites
Of apartments overlooking the public
garden and tho ancient Fountain
worked to a nicely. Engines
and fremen from all the country
hurried to the scene, and,
assisted by a body Of the Fourth
Hussars, soon got the flames under
aud rescued from destruction a royal
palace. which served as abode OF En-.
glish Kings aud Queens, beginning
with the eighth Henry and ending
with the second George. Some furni-
ture, paintings and pieces Of tapestry
have been destroyed, and the i'll, fatOd
old domestic, whose accidental over
turning Of a lamp might have entsiled
an irreme1isble national calamity
has been su~ffocated, Apart, however,
from these causes for regret and sym
patty, we may sell he ~tervently CRATE
iul that Wolsey's noble gift,
aud the subsequent additions O.
Wren, together with the treasures
Of immense archaeological interest
and artistic value stored within
the building, are not at this moment
a charred and shapeless mass OF rub
bish. Fire has been dreadiully busy
Of late at home and abroad, merciless-
ly taking toll OF lite and property.
Yet none OF its ravsges among old
family mansions. wal hoUse5, wharves
and theaters could compare with
Hampton Court in ruins. With SO
uang appalling conf igrations ragi0g
from day to day, people are natural,
anxious for the safety Of the city itsali
and, at yesterdays meeting Of the
Common Council. the question was
asked whether any arrangements had
been made to provide the police witt
keys OF the hydrants. 1t was stated.
ia reply, that Colonel Frayser Oh
iecied 70 the police undertaking suct
duties. as, in the event OF fire. they
would be otherwise occupied" When
4 house is discovered to be 10 fame:
md the engines have arrived, often
without a moments delay. it general,
happens that more or less valuabl,
ime is wasted in finding the loca.
turncock before the supply Of watel
,lOse az hand can be utilized. Veal
know that the duty OF the city ant
metropolitan police at such times is t.
keep off the crowd, which assemble
with astonishing rspidity, and t
take care that order is pre-
served. They might continue Il
perform those emineutly necessar,
luties and at the same time carr
about, as part OF their equipment
keys Of the hydrauts. Possibly Col
Fraser may be able to give a satisfac
tory explanation Of his objection
Certain it is. he should be called o
to explain. For our municipal al
tnOritIes must not, at their peri
neglect any preeaution which Nigh
even remotely lessen the awful DANCE
dSays at the threshold OF this pre-
vince OF houses.
A nation like ours, rich in ancieI
monuments, is apt to take that kin
Of national treasure Tor granted, an
It Is only on some such occasion as til
present that We realize the inestimr
5ie ssiue Of the possession which h,
20 narrowly escaped slipping into Il
catalogue of things dead and RoT
from the wo. ID, never to returI
Almost every stone and brick an
beam Of Hampton Court Palace
alive With memories that We "woul
nOt willingly let die" Every squal
yard OF tapestry, every panel and pl
ture, has, at soma time or othe
formed the Yeritable background
scenes long since made part al
parcel OF the nations lii
Had they been burned maj
and many a great eve
would at a bound have sprung bae.
ward into the dim shadow OF tue pal
The loss to our general suE
knowledge must have been IRENE
dous. Fire and time united did the
Eorss ages ago 10 blot out a great Dc
Of Wolseys handiwork. Much, no
ever, remains TO this day to show
the actual surroundings Of the pro
Cardinal. IL was at Hampton Cou
f, that the butchers son was wont
= entertaia his royal master with
kinds Of sport and irolic, With mur
|. ming. singing and testing, and all b
o endless feasts. Moreover, after {
: founder Of the place had present
q his work and wealth q free gift
the King, and when the news Of
a death 10 disgrace and ia exile frt
the Court reached what had been
more than princely home, gree,
selfish bluff King Hal would I
stop his sport Of shooting at
i rounds in the park" Henry, I
satisfied with the extent Of the ri
kept on adding to the buildings, a
4 laying out the gardens. which did
! fail to excite the admiration
n John Evelyn. the gentleman autl
\ Of "Sylve, a Treatise on For
q Trees Written Que hundred a
! thirty seven years after Wolsey /
given up possession Of the phi
: 10 the King, Evelyn says: "Hampt
Court is as noble and uniform a I
aud as capaci0us as any Gothic arc
lecture can have made it. There
incompatible furniture in il, espeeis
hangings designed by Raphael, v
e rich in gold OF the tapestries
says. II believe the world can sh
Ie nothing nobler Of the kind than
stories Of Abraham and Tobit 4
Queens bed. given to Charles ii.
d the States Of Holland-it had forme
belonged to Charles sister. the Pri
ess Of 0tange-was valued at f8(
about $4,000 Of our money. 7
wonderful bed was embroidered
a silver on crimson velvet. There
also a create looking glasse and to
d Of beaten and massive gold" w
has become Of these treasures2
d catalogues speak Of beds OF Mi
oonsort Of William III. Dutch v
Ie liam, who rebuilt the greater port
u Of the palace as il now stands), anC
a Oueen Anne. But the eiPht-thouga