Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-10-10
Il NEW ST. HELENA.
A Place where IN Ex-sionareh May Enjoy
Life I'm Solitude.

while in bis patriotic soul wages
constant conflict between his blind
fidelity to the established institutions OF
bis native land and bis constitutional en-
miy against tay.gatherers and other prylng
officials who periodically invade his priya-
cy. 1t seemed. hen, as il n unique oppor-
iunity was offered to him for the full oXer-
else o; his feudaI instincts, his love OF an
neXation. his bent for seli-goyernmenr,
when an entire island was put uD for sale
the other day, like n secondhand piece of
furniture. by well-knOwn auctOneers In
the city. But not even purse-prOud par
renu, city magnate, or an ambitious spec
ulator was found TO bid on the island OF
llerm. in spite Of the glowing description
held ont as a tempting bait.
Less known than any Of the group Of the
Channel Islands. Herm is not a mean bit OF
property. II is in the shadow, as It were,
of the green bowerlaned jersey, where
Marshal MacMahon is now forgetting the
pomp OF the Elysee: close to rugged
Guernsey, still glowing with the living
memories Of the great poet exile, and the
familiar. II imaginary. names oi Dlru.
cbeite and Gilliah; near also TO wild
SaTk. with the sea-!owl and curlews enclr-
cling round its inaccessible rocks; and It's.
moreover, separated from the influence OF
effete civilization by the most vilainous
bit Of sea eterulliy dlshing round the base
OF the Caskets. II enjoys the special prlvi-
leges OF che larger islands, and the immuni-
ties hi,h, like the old Aragonese fuerOS,
make them independent OF the two neigh
bors to which geographically they equally
belOng-Fran2e and England.
Herm Is n mile and half in length by
one in breadth, and covers about 400 acres.
On it are several houses. a hotel, a port,
and granite quarries. II has been from
time immemorial let 10 the Crown on 4
lease of twenty-One years, constantly re-
newed for the sum OF Ga year and a pre-
MUM OF G42. The income derived there
from in vegetables, rabbits. fish, and gran
lie IL estimated at GG00. but could. it il
said, be raised TO n Gl,000. These do not
end the advantages which would have
accrued TO n purchaser. lie would
become de .fdctO king Of the island.
on which no stranger could land
without his permission; neither the
| rOstman nor the ratc-cOlleetOr would knock
| at his gates and disturb the tenor OF his
| days. Taxes Of any kind are unknown.
! A portion Of the blessing OF 81. Patrick has
been waited to lIerm. for there, as IN Ire
land, no vermin dwcllS. No auctiOneers,
| lawyers, elergymen. or doctors are to be
found: their services are not required.
| The school board has no authority; yaccI-
nation is not compulsory. and the sea being
deep and the cliffs PERCEPTIONS. il is easy 10
dispose Of nuisanccs. All this could be
had. but no one being willing to pay more
than 10000 for II, the property was with
drawn. TO be disposed Of by private con-
tract.
Uerm NAV thus he destined to become
the seli.chosen st. Helena OF some abdica-
, ting monarch. Of some dethroned sovereign
or misanthropic prince. who, while retain
ing the shadowy scmblance OF absolute
power in a pocket edition, may close his
eyes TO the ingratitudc and tickleness OF
nations. II might be the temporary resort
Of some woman, like the Princes. Imperial
oi Germany. who might come occasionally
10 Law down in it, solitude the mask OF SELF
restraint she wears in public, and indulg,
still in the minutie which she loves.
The Princess Victoria is unmistakabl,
the child Of her royal mother; she has hel
obstinacy, her perseverance. her supreme
indifference 10 opinion, her impenelrabllity
10 advice or percussion; she has more than
the Queen tfse and enlightened love o
literature. science. and art. Her views arr
positive, her judgment prompt and unal
tcrabe: she is wel-nigh a fre1-thnker
but rarely expresses an opinion, and
never rescinds il; she visits every
studio. assists At all lectures and con
ferences, models and paints herself, ant
by singular contradiction = as competen
a housewife rs il she was not cleye
woman. She sees 10 every detail OF he
palace--I was nearly saying her house-en
pages aeT servants and gOyernesses, rou'
them up at 6 in the morning. Ia. the light
put out at 10 throughout the establishment,
and sends her youngest daughter, nos
twelve years old, TO bed at s. Throug
her agency in all the public squares an
open places OF Berlin large heaps G
fine white sand are raised. so tha
children kept in the city may indllg
in healthy play with pals and sho'
els, like their more fortunate brethren
the seashore. She iancics that the air {
her future capital gives her headaches, an'
she lOathes the warmth OF the st0ye-helte
rooms: before accepting an invitation irol
n foreign ambassador or Prussian noble sll
. sends a command that all the windo"
shall be thrown open. Would not such
woman reycl for few brief days ever
year in the wind-beatcn solitude CT the liti
rocky island, so easy OF access. 60 near an
vet so FAR. 80 unlike her great empire, IN
vet more fully her own than Prussi1. VII
= all its extension OF territory, ever will be
Strange and sometimes pathetic are IN
WAYS Of those rOyal households OF whic
only the cold, stately splcndor meets II
: eve. How fcw. seeing the Empress Of Gel
many fulfilling all the GuiicS OF her >iatioI
every Irch quren. would guess that Il
! l. q, bar III
, has been racked with almost lnt0'crab
G rain. Unable to walk or leave her chai
, She has herself carried once week to Il
. Augusta Hospital and 10 The Augusta tou
dation for the daughters OF poor officers an
, those Killed in baltle-both these lnstitl
uops are her own work, aud she dl
. pen.e- in person consolation, advice. m
: commands. Every sunday. well or ai'ln
, .hc attends divine service. not in her ow
b nriyatc chapel or oratory. but in ono
@ the prblic churches. Empress in nam
i. ,l.,. i'm fact. she ,hirks none Of the obiig
: tionS. even the most trying ones. OF IL
station: gives audiences, receives deput
G lions. present at al gala ceremonies A.
: dinners. sees her numerous family. and q
= toni,hcs the most experienced diploma
: and abest State ministers by the read
= ucs, of her wit, her uniailing tact, and pr
iound crudtiop. Those who see her und
i the h1Hf UdS. covered with priceless iewe
@ robed in her purple mantle fringed WI
: heavy sahles. do not realize that the rec
4 train intentionally thrown over her fc
o hides the manned. tortured limb a elect
r ally - her sufleringS are concealed una
't the smile which she turns on the Emper
], at her right. on tie mistress OF The rob
l. standing little back on the left. or on u
Il ladies lending low before her in triI
e courtesy - they pass.
She who best could reveal the truth al
tell Of noble endurance and brave pItlcn
Z. lstbe old Silesian woman who was broug
from her peasant home in the provinces
r. give the sovereign relict hy her deli man
= ulatiCns. She has done nothing else sin
r. her childhood, and the professional gift
ir healing irictions is hereditary in her Ia
>. iIv, asit with many Of the Sllesian she
T.. herds. This aged woman rubs the Empr'
,e twice. sometimes three times, a d.
,r according TO the intensity OF
-. pain. and il rarely away from j
n now. She follows her in her dry
!. 10 church, in her travels; she sit, in
.. aute-rOom during the Thursday recepto
/. in a tribune during the rsYal balls aud &c
n cents. quaint, homely. and picture'q
II ngurc. Unwilling TO part from her ~
ID for short visit 10 her native village
"A Empress sent for her daughter. alrrad
2. mature woman, TO come 10 Berlin. ana II
20 her court carriage 10 visit all tbe u,
M and places OF interest. The old Silesl
!, peasant is loud in praise OF her royal