The Cecil Whig., 1885-05-30
NINE. PATTI AT HOME.
The Queen of Song as the Hostess of
Craig-y-SOS Castle,

The diva who recently set Philadelphia
in furore is now the charming hostess
of the Castle of Craig y Nos. On her ar
rival at Liverpool Nine. Patti takes four
wheelers to a special train, which, head
ing Southwest, is soon whirling through
the loveiest possible country. After
quick transatlantic passage the prima
donna cannot put up with the regular
Welsh train, the pace of that conveyance
being, it seems. sol5 of market gong |
Jog. with halts made whenever the ergi- !
naer or gnt,ld wants To chat with some
of his numerous relatives along the road. |
About four o clock in the afternoon,
Cray Station being near, where We were
to leave the train, a roar and crash were |
heard away to our wight. That s the
Krupp,' explained Madame Patti. and
she went on to tell Us that the head
keeper always fired ii in salute whenever
she returned home. At Cray, which is
but mile or SO from. lie castle, we found
a dozen or so carriages Of cvcl descrip
tion, from Il dog cart to a landau, in
waiting, aud IL crow.; of people. who
cheerCd like Il Republican rally. have
not had much experience III regal recep-
tons, but am sure IL queen could not
have been more heartily welcomed than
Patti was by those whom she affection
atcly calls cher people There were
oI,o,, hn
arches at the castle gates, flags flying,
flowers filling the air, gums booming and
people shouting, until we began to ap-
preciate the fact that Patti was Ia dira
soon as PATHS carriage turned into the
driveway the band struck up Home,
| Sweet Home" The tears came into Pat
| it's eyes then, and | remembered her
| farewell singing Of that song in America.
DINNER AT The CASTLE.
Footmen in livery were stationed on
the porch and assisted Madame-as find
she is always called nere--and her five
guests to alight. There was marked
absence of ceremony, and everyone was
made to feel at home at once. Wood fires
burned in the great open tire-places, and
there were maids and men servants in
every room while the unpacking was go
| ing on. At dinner, over which Patti
presided with wonderful grace and tact,
there We're fireworks and music by a band
from Swansea, the festivities continuing
until midnight. At 8 o'clock the next
morning breakfast was served in the con-
servatory. Madame looked as fresh and
happy as child No sooner was break
fast begun than the footman brought in
the letter, bag, and gave it to Madame,
who unlocked it and distributed the mail.
No excuse is needed for reading letters
here-sensible fashion and SO for a
while everyone was busy. Everyone, TOO,
would read out whatever he or she
thought would be interesting to the 9TH
ers, SO that it was more like a family
party than anything else. The morning
was chiefly devoted to correspondence
and lounging around. After lunch the
I
dresses, aud the gentlemen donned coats,
hats and gloves, while the horses were
being brought around for all to take a
drive. Patti started off in her high T-cart,
driving and handling the lines like a
coachman. Wherever we made our az
pearance, no matter what they were do
ing, the people would stop their work
and ''drop courtesy" AS we drove
along the old people would flock to the
doors and dip and drop, while even the
babies playing i'll the road would scurry
away, and then bob up and down with
the solemnity of marionettes. The lands
Of Craig-y- Nos must be almost a domain,
for in all our drive that day we did not
90 outside of the courtesying of the Patti
teuantry.
NINE. PATHS CASTLE.
The Castle of Craig-y-Nos is perchcd
high up on the cleft of beautiful wood
ed mountain, and limpid lakes lie in the
valley below. The castle is built after
the common fashion of all Welsh castles,
with low bastions, and what is called a
curtain hetween-that is, a straight line
of wall joining two semi circular towers.
The walls, which are of the grayish- green
slate SO plentiful here. are tohbed with
battements aud covered here and there
with ivy, while the windows are either
arched or gabled. Spreading away in
front are the gardens and laws, all 'er-
raced because of the precipitious charac-
ter of the ground. and so coming gradu
ally down to the little valley aloGg which
we had Just driven. Through this valley
runs I. tumblin@ river, with an unpro-
nounceable name, sranned with pretty
bridge aud well stocked with fish. The
VALLEY opens into the great Swansea Val
ley. while the whole country around is
extremely mountainous and abounding
| in game.
The castle contains twenty-five rooms,
uone of them very large, but all warm
aud cosy, as they should be in this eli
mate. PATHS own is hung with blue
silk, all the upholstery being to match,
while attached t. it is little dressing
room that IS complete elongh in it's ap
pointments for Il princess. The drawing
room is charming, and he must be dull
person who could not linl something to
interest him there. II contains two grand
pianos, albums. statucttes, pictures and
offerings from admirers, chief among the
latter being an exquisite lniald cauiDet
containing gold and silver COZ onets, with
which almost every nation in the world
has crowned the diva "Queen of Song
The morning room contains IA picture of
the late Duke Of Albany, with his auto
rraph across the top and manly, mod
st letter begging Patti to accept his pie
lure in return for one she had sent him.
IL the billiard room is an immense Or
chestron, which is set playing every
night after dinner.
TIE CONSERVATORY AND SERVANTS.
The conservatory leads ont from the
diair@-room proper and this in turn leads
to the Winter garden, which consider
the great beauty of the estate. This is
IL garden OF great size, entirely covered
il with glass and containing running
fountains, gravelcd walks and rustic