Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1885-12-16

stltutionS for America. Keep them as
a precious gift from heaven. Settle
your internal connections; follow the
example of the United States and Seea
! among your fellow citizens a man more
capable than 1 am of acting the great
part of Washington"
This is day of all the days in tbs
year to visit this Park strewn with
acorns and opened chestnut burrs.
Amid the woodland the falling leaves
! threaten TO smother us as was Camby-
/ ses by the sands of Africa. Long rows
I of stately sentry pines keep melancholy
guard along the southern side Of the
broad lawn. In this grass plot are fully
| twenty acres, and on the northwestern
side mot in the center) stands the mod
ern manor house, built by Henry Beck
EFT, son Of Sir John Beckett, of Somers-
by park, Lincolnshire England. 1t is a
| fine italian villa Of three stories and
contains twenty-five spacious apart
ments, besides many corridors and pas
sageways. 1t has been untenanted for
many years. Its massive door frames
and really imposing stairway and rOtun-
da stamp it as an architectural effort of
considerable taste and skill.
The main drawing room consisting of
two large parlors, contains the famous
alabaster mantel presented to Joseph
BOnaparte by Cardinal Feseh, his uncle.
1t is one of the most exquisite bits OF
sculpture in this country, and the two
figures that gracefully support the mar
bic ledge recall the two statues that
-. L. .f
the Alhambra, at Granada, pointing
toward concealed gold that nobody has
yet been able to find. That mantel
should adOrn some pnblic gallery. In
the dining room is another mantel, also
sent by his eminence the cardinal. Two
dragons glare at each other across the
tablet that crosses the front of the fire.
place. The lacewOrk on the pillars is
as delicate as the fabric of Valenci-
ennes. 1t is a dainty example of the
best italian stone cutters, but it does
not rise to the level of work of real
ant as does the mantel piece first men,
toned. \ fine glass chandelier hangs
in one of the largest rooms that was
gift TO Bonaparte from his sister Hor-
tense.
The climb to the cupola is made by a
neat stairway, and the view from the
top is quite extensive. The broad Della
ware IS seen beyond the narrow strip of
lowland that separates CrosSwick's s
creek from the larger stream, and at
the base of the bluff, which ends The
plateau SO abruptly, is the ste.
landing whence the small vessel
r1la 1v.H.s A 1a-yuar Of
extent of the park is gained from ,hi5
lookout. In the days OF its grandeur
Bonaparte park contained twelve miles
of graded gravel drives. Scope for
cross country riding was vast. up
hill and down dalen was an experience
that any rider who had the sweet priv
lege of hunting there might enjoy. As
one walked along the wide avenue that
swings gracefully round the rear of the
house, constantly pelted with hickory
nuts and acorns, it was easy to imagine
the presence of the tall, fine figure of
Joseph Bonaparte striding through
these gladeS, with his trusty pruning
hatehet IN his hand-an advance upon
Charles Martei and iis;s kka.namer-see.-
ing for small boys, who, despite his ut
most vigilance, persisted IN setting his
traps for his hares.
Prince BOnaparte had only one cross
besides the downfall of his family TO
bear. That was the persistency of tue
American small boy. The two individ-
uals did not, never could, understand |
each other. The small boy of Borden
town was the Blucher of Joseph Bona |
parte. He would invade his domain, |
between two days and set traps that |
nobody but the prince could find. Many |
a cold, raw morning, in the fall or win
ter, would the prince rise early, swal-
low a cup of coffee so hot that it made
his valet tremble to see him bolt i,
seize his hat and sally out into the damp
in search of the small boys |
traps. 1t is not recorded that he ever
i'll to the small boy himself,
but he could demOlish rabbit trap at
sixty yards by a well directed cast Of
his weapon. He loved the rabbits bet
.er than he did the boys. The urchins
we're industrious, and during his long
seeking he found many one. Though
he spectacle of an eX-king OF Spain
,eeking pOachers is not splendid, no
lOubt it would have gratitled Mr.. Hen
y Bergh to have seen him break a rab.
Dit trap and release its prey. Over
hese wild lands Prince Murat hunted
Turing his visit to his uncle. This son
# a waiter in Paris cafe, who rose to
Ne a marshal of France, was a tough
ad, and spent his time and money with
quail prodigality.