Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-07-04
..rnE I.Apy Oh GEE cAsrLE..
me Gorgeous Luxury and Regal
sPIendOr EnjOyed BY Adelina Patti
I'm Her welsh Home.

7
About 100 miles from London, in Wales,
in a picturesque chain of mountains, is sit
uated the majestic and beautiful castle OF
Crag-y-Nos, in tho style OF tho fifteenth
century.
In this Eden are often met men and
women of high birth and profound learn
ing. for hospitality which can be extended
to fifteen persons at the same time Il eSer-
cised toward all with iberality and
supreme delicacy. Numerous hot houses
offer fruits and flowers of every kind, while
the stables are provided withsuperb horses,
which the diva handles with the skill OF
an Amazon. Nor are carriages of every
description wanted, one of which always
stands waiting the guest at the station oil
Crag-y-Nos. The kennels contain twenty
packs of hounds, and in the poultry yard
are pheaSants and every kind of fowl. In
the kitchens, kept with extreme neatness
and order, the most appetizing yiands are
prepared by skillful cooks, and the cellars
furnish the most exquisite wines and
liquors in the world. The castle Is butt
entirely of stone.
But who can give an adequate idea Of
the grandeur and beauty To bc found with
in these walls? There are two dining halls,
one for winter, the other for summer. Near
these two rooms is q magnificent eonSerVa-
tory. while IN the centre of the castle Is u
spacious reception room, with furniture OF
exquisite taste, upholstered with deep blue
brocade, embroidered in gold. THIS room
is adorned with pictures, Oriental draper
les aud rugs of great value, rs well rs many
Jewels of price-all being presents which
the diva has received. The beautiful
tankard of gold set with brilliantS, and the
massive golden laurel crown ornamented
with diamond stars, both Of which superb
gifts were given her by her enthusiastic adj
mirers in San Francisco, are there, teSti-
monies of their affection and good will.
Among the Jewels is a c;lsket OF silver Of
artistic workmanship, gift from her iel-
low students of the Vienna Opera Troupe,
while birds of pure gold with eyes OF ru-
bies, a small piano inlaid with precious
stones. and the choicest fans, albums, pie
lures. and artistic works of every sort and
of great value, form part OF the collection
of the lady OF the castle.
The boudoir of the diva looks like a
dainty little box, with its rOSo-colored and
blue furnishings. Here stands an upright
piano of satin wood, while on the walls
hang photographs and pictures, all
Gifts from friends. Nor are
there wanting portraits of all the
crowned heads of Europe, rs we'll ;S OF the
most renowned artists aud musicians. Au-
tographs and subscriptions under these
show the high consideration in which
Patti il held. There is also water cO!orS
painted by the diva herself, which testify
that were Shc not tho queen Of song she
might have distinguished herself in the
realm OF painting.
There ara also two large rooms contain
in. billiard tables aud it ia here that
Nicoliui spends his evenings. While the
ladies and gentlemen amuse themselves
with the game, the listen to Us harmoni-
Gus music ~ one could desire, for an Or
chcstra of "a hundred musicians could not
render more exactly every sort of music
than does the grand Orehestrion
made in Geneva at the express order ot the
diva, mt tho cost of loo Italian lire, to
say nothing OF 100 cylinders, each costing
500 lire.
Slightly elevated, but vet making n part
of the billiard room, is the card room, con-
tanning another grand piano. Here play
ing for money is forbidden, according To
the cxpreSs desire of Nine. Patti, who,
however, prefers billiards to any other
game. and in SignOr Nicolini has a skllliul
and excellent master.
The bedroom of Patti is tapestried in
blueish gray embelliShed with gold, and
The furniture Of mlaid rosewood is, IN COM
mon with nearly all the furniture OF the
castle. surmounted by her monogram and
the coronct of a marquis, while her dress
iug room Is 4 perfect bijOu.
Sionor NicOlini'S apartment IL well FUR
nishrd. and the walls are hung with PIC
lures OF game and fish. The great ward
robes are full OF every possible gear IN
vented for hunting and fishing, for these
two pursuits with billiards arc Signor
Nicoliui'S pastimc. The grounds and lakes
belonging to the estate not sullicmg nun,
no has leased seven square miles oil lahd
and five miles uf the river, in order to have
alone the right to hunt and fish there.
Tho very day of my departure, SlguoI
Nicolini caught before my eyes a salmon
weighing twenty-nine pounds.
The morning hours ara generally spent
by Nine. Patti in answering letters, read
ing. embroidcring, painting, and music,
hut of this last We will say nothing. Inc
,rlcstS all unite 1T the noon repaSt, and one
can say that the day has now began, since
tho great star (the Patti illuminatcS II
/ with her presence. This is also the time
when the mail arrives, and there Is always
some news To talk over from that world on
. 4. 3 h.. I'M MDTIt
( which seems no longer to have any connec'
ton with the guests Of Crg-y-NoS.
/ Aftcrward some 90 for drive, others Il
fish. or to tho little neighboring village
, returning Mt G:2p, in time to prepare tol
the : O'Clock dinner, full dress being the
rule. and now the guests descend TO Tho
boudoir. where Patti punctually arrives,
elegantly dressed and adorned with costly
jewels.
( After dinner the guests 90 to the recep,
i ton room, and aitcrward To the billiard
spSoul, where they ere entertained VIII
nnsic. canveRatisn, billiards, and, moro
! than an. by the grace and inteillsenee o
the diva. Midnight is Che hour for retir
Inc IN be followed with another day, al
mos identical with the preceding. Their
aboat farty dosnesties employed constantly
! m the castle, add the service IS ekiiirel,
English in its rigor and scspeetfal ateen
. ton.
The few and scattered villages IN the
neighborhOOd are poor and the villager'
very ignorant. Patti Is known to then
by no other title than the Lady OF tn
/ ClstIe." She has bestowed her charitle
20 often on the people for miles aroun'
that they have special veneration Tor her
/ Although very few among them nav
/ heard what n fortune she has gained by he
gitt of song, they nevertheless give M
credeneo to it.
Rough ON the babies
pylt,'s N;pt-jst.