Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-08-15
A BIC RTnING SCHOOL.
The Largest Academy in tho World for
Teaching Equestrianism.

from ne Neao York Telegram.
Eccentrlcity personified may be said 10
accurately describe the character of the
late Duke Of Portland. nobleman who,
despite a romantic and exceptional de-
meanor, was not without some CLAIM to
public esteem aud respect. Seldom, in
deed, has there been an estate in the keep
ing Of a man who had more genuine re-
gard for the troop Of dependents that lived
in and around the old famous mOnas-
tery-Welbeck Abbey-and his example
might with great profit be followed by
others who move in a similarly high
social sphere. OF his eccentricities,
however, there was no doubt. There
are few people indeed who have not heard
OF the gigantic underground tunnel which
pierces Welbeck PARK, of the magnificent
subterranean drawing rooms, the PALACES
OF delight fifty feet beneath the sod. the
costly appliances for minimizing labor,
and the unique collection Of paintings
which the inartlstic owner left to mildew
in undignifed oblivion. But of the nu-
morous eccentric enterprises of the late
Duke of Portland, little notice has hith-
ertO been bestowed on the immense struc-
ture which stands in the midst of a huge
collection of stables and the lilac adorned
cottages Of the chief wOrkmen on the
estate, forming the largest and best APP
pointed riding school in the world. The
genus loci of Welbeck has from
remote times been the noble ami
NAL which causes so much specula-
ton on the turf, and portraits of
favorite fencers are to be seen all over
the Abbey. Few turtiites have ever COM
pared with the late Lord George Bentinck
we'll described as the Napoleon Of the
turf"-whOse death was mysterious and
unexpected, and the present Duke of
Portland in his love Of the chase and the
turf is only following the traditions of his
noble house. The late Duke of Portland
was notable exception, as ne did not bet
farthiRg, and 1t is said that he once
tried TO reclaim" an ardent turtle by re-
storing to him an |. .. u. given to his
"plungng brother for $50 900 on promis-
ing that he would not bet again. But the
same old love of the horse still prevailed,
and nothing proves il so cOnclusively as
the erection Just mentioned. Standing in
the midst of a beautiful park, the visitor
is startled at seeing a building large
enough for metropolitan railway sta
ton, and upon entering some sixty horses
may be seen cantering round an
enormous oval. There is a regular
forest OF iron columns supporting the glass
roof, Ornamented with devices of gro
tesque and unique character. The school
is nearly 400 feet long and about 40 feet
in width, illuminated by some 10000 gas
lets, the effect OF which on winter
morning is unlike anything that the Wis
itor has previously experienced. The iron
columns divide the interior into three
compartments, and from them springs a
highly ornamental iron and glass roof.
while the aIsles on each sideOf the central
compartment are rooted with the most
elaborate. Y carved timber work. A little
further on ia the covered gallop, over LOCO
feet long, while occupying a vast quad
rangle are the stables, the boxes OF which
are filled with the most valuable "fesh"
that can be procured. Perfect ingenuity
has here been exercised, and the whole
pile of buildings for man and horse form,
without doubt, the finest collection in the
world.