The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1883-10-12
FROM OVER THE SEA.
sandringham Hall, the Country Home Of .
Future Kizg.
Correspondence Ncsc North Vest.

LONDON, September 20.-Sandringham,
the chosen rural home Of the Prince and
Princess Of Wales, 10 one Of those places Of
nstional interest which every dutiful citizen
ID supposed to visit It least once in . life
time, and an eager crowd Of visitors Is con-
veyed thitherward twics week, when the
family Il absent, to view the sumptuous
apartments and admire the various art treas.
ures which all the spacious halls and vesti-
bules Of this stately mansion. Your CORES.
pondent having made his little pilgrimage
some three weeks ago, Is now able to fatter
himself a. being equal in loyalty to any other
resident In the British Empire.
Sandrlngham Hall lies in . warm, shell
tered hollow behind the range of low wooded
hills which line the northwest corner Of
Norfolk, and Is reached by Great Eastern
Rail, from the low-lying station Of Wolfer.
ton, about three hours ride from London.
Visitors will be disappointed II they expect
to find one of those old-tlme ancestral castles
which are supposed to find favor with the
owners of the ''stately homes of England"
The royal mansion is Of much more modern
design, built Of warm red brick, which Is
hidden here and there by the spreading
branches Of dark green ivy, and in front Of
the Hall Is . beautiful, wide, level stretch Of
green sward, with ornamental designs In
flower gardens, fountains, and rock work.
On entering the park through the celebra-
ted "Norwich gates" with their elaborate
designs In ironwork, the visitor passes along
q broad, straight avenue lined on both sides
by massive old trees, and soon finds himself
before the principal entrance to the Hall.
Crossing the threshold one cannot help being
struck with the homely character Of the
scenes around him, for there Is no formal
entrance hall as in most mansions; the door
opens into o vestibule which forms part of
the spacious family parlor Of the house, with
lofty roof Of open oakwork, and Its walls
covered with pictures. Imme diately on en-
tering our attention was directed to q tablet
over the doorway, bearing an Inscription In
ancient looking letters: This house was
built by Albert Edward, Prince of Wales,
and Alexandra, his wife, in the year Of our
Lord, 1870"
The room is almost crammed full with
easy chairs, occasional tables, musical instru-
ments, flowers In vases, and hundreds of
other trifles which have struck the fancy Of
the Prince and Princess during their visits to
the metropolitan bazaars. Adjoining this
apartment Is the plainly furnished business
room, devoted almost entirely to the use of
private secretary and steward of the house,
hold; this, too, Is the room in which tbs
Prince gives interviews to other than social
visitors, and sees his tenants on questions
relating to their farms, the vast estate being
sub-lst to several small agriculturists, who
are ever ready TO inform strangers that they
find the Prince to be very easy. going land
lord, affable and openhanded in every way.
In this respect he is q pleasing contrast to his
father, the late Prince Consort, who never
seemed to realize that the poorer people
around him were made of the same clay As
himself. .. 't.,
Close TO this apartment Is q newly added
ball room, to which some skilled workmen
we're putting the finishing touches. It Is 90
feet long by 80 feet wide, and forms one Of
the most sumptuously decorated apartments
in the building. The upper part Is orna-
mented with arms and trophies which were
brought home from India by the Prince,
whilst the recesses are set off with massive
marble pillars. A telegraph room has also
been added, so - to make the place ss COM
plete as possible.
Continuing our inspection, we passed
through the library, pleasant room in blue
and light oak, with shelves we'll filled with
books in costly bindings; then the equerry's
room, and the second library; this latter pre-
sented the appearance Of an old curiosity
shop, containing the aggregation of odds and
ends picked up during years of travel in oil
parts Of the earth. Next came the Princes
private room, with walls partly decorated
with rare old china and pottery, and partly
panneled with pictures of deer stalking cpl
sodes In the Highlands, by the most celsbrst-
ed English painters of the day, while the
spreading skin Of huge tiger, shot by the
Prince when in India, occupies prominent
position in the apartment. After this came
long series of anterooms, Conservatives,
drawing and dining rooms, all suggestive of
wealth and comfort In every item, and con-
tanning rare collection of art, furniture,
statusry, and costly oil paintings.
Passing through "corridor Of weapons
arranged In glass-fronted cabinets on the
walls, We next came to the billiard room,
the walls Of which we're adorned with Leech's
celebrated hunting pictures, whilst from the
windows could be seen small herd Of tame
red deer, browsing beneath the beech trees.
Next was the smoking room, which forms .
sort Of ante-chamber to the bowling alley, q
relic Of healthy old-time amusement. The
alley is lighted both from sides and roof, and
has raised seats at the end, from which the
ladies may look down and admire the skill
of their respective squires. - i
Then came little room over which keeper
Macdonald reigns supreme-the gun room
In whose glass-faced cupbosrds was arranged |
bewildering assortment Of shoot Ing irons
Of various nationalities. The Prince Is an |
ardent sportsman, and has plenty of shooting
ut Sandringham. Partridges and pheasants |
are very abundant, and there Is . remarks
bly, large stock Of hares. An attempt Il also |
being made TO rear few Scotch grouse on |
the moors outside the park, but they have
not succeeded very we'll 90 far. There Is |
also very fair show of wild fowl on the |
large ornamental lake, but these are never
disturbed.
As sporting man aud an ardent supporter
OF the jockey club, the Prince takes great |
interest in all that pertains to horsefesh.
and has built stables st Sandringhsm which |
are the pride Of his heart and the envy OF hi. |
fellowmen. They are celebrated throughout
the land for their elaborate fittings and com.
pleteness Of detail. Here are ensmelled |
feeding troughs. miniature grain shoots, var
nished woodwork, highly polished fittings.
and walls lined with glazed earthenwar are |
tiles, whilst frame ct the head of each st.l,
contains metal strip bearing the name az
Ito lawful occupier. The harness room !.
with skeleton frame work 70 a.
each article, arranged In glass-ftontsd cases
around the walls. The Princss mouoeram
and Dfuma NJ throa knssI,~.. l. - L