Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-04-08
THE VILLA OF PALMS.
Interesting "Reminiscences of q
Ftorentine Palace.
Translation Of an article in Le Progres. I

| Translation of an article in lie Progress.
Queen Victoria will occupy the Vii
la Palmieri (Villa OF Palms) during
her present sojourn in Florence.
The Villa Palm!eri is palace bull
twenty years ago by Lord Crawford
an Englishman, upon one OF The
heights which slope to the right bank
of the Arno, a short distance from the
| Cacctne, the favorite promenade Of tht
Florentins. THERE'S nothing remark
able in its construction it is very
spacious, very comfortable; but It's
owner had the taste and the good
sense not to copy any of the numer-
ous models which make Florence 8
very Jewel ofshowy architecture. He
was satisfied to embellish his residence
with magnificent gardens and ter.
races, which enabled him to enjoy
from all sides wonderful panorama
delightfully."- accented by the beautiful
skies of Italy, which give SO soft and
poetic tint to everything they touch
How the time flies 1t is now fifteen
years agone that 1 had the honor OF
being the guest at Florenc of Lord
and Lady Crawford. He, long since,
died in that same palace ,and his body,
taken back to England, was stolen
from it's tomb. Vainly were the most
sagacious detectives sent ou, to recover
it vainly did Lord Lindsay, the son
of the deceased. offer reward Of 5000
francs to trace the robbers. The search
and the reward were without result,
and the tomb will remain forever
empty-a sad memorial of most in
comprehensive sacrilege.
The honors of the Villa are
now extended to the English
Queen by Lord and Lady Lind
say and by the latter's sister, the
Princesse de Theano. the most
charming patricienne of the City OF
Rome. The Queen, surrounded by
the daughters Of Lady Crawford. eel.
ebrated for their grace and beauty, will
pass, in this residence, truly regal,
days Of delight, the Remembrance
OF which will not even be effaced by
the splendors of Windsor, or the at
fractions of Osborne. 1t was at the
suggestion of the opulent Baroness
Coutts, friend OF the queen and the
aunt of Lord Lindsay, that the Villa
Palmieri has the signal honor to be-
come the temporary place of retreat
OF Victoria, Queen of England and En-
c.ess Of India. She may we'll exclaim
with Racins's "Clytemnestra :"
"Bans quel palais snperbs ct plein dc me
Puts j, iamais .paraitre avec plus dc
| splendeurrF
Fifteen years And yet it seems bu
yesterday, so much have lived there
in memory, happy in that family Life
of which one may dream in othel
countries, but which is only realized
in England. Florence was not, al
that period, the capital Of Italy, bu
in fact it's substance was there, fo
| although the court was at Rome, will
the Chambers and the Ministry
Florence still conserved, within tina
border which encloses historica
monuments nowhere else to be found
the aristocracy of Italy as well as tn
cream OF the select of other countries
King Victor Emmanuel was oftel
there; the Countess of Miraiore, NOR
ganatic queen, there had her palace
Grand Duchess Marie, sister Of tn
Emperor Nicholas, there held he
state. Paul Demidoff, Prince OF Sal
Donate, gave marvellous fetes at hi
palace there-fetes at which one coul'
J number as many quarterings OF tn
noblesse as at the ancient court Q
France. Alas! fifteen years hav
hardly elapsed, and yet all whom
have cited have long since passe'
down the dark river. These are tn
bitter sweets of all our lives, and
may say, with Moliere, of the pleas
ures of those days and of the cloud
which followed, that
"9s ss,sIessst.4 @'sst .4uelane plaislr parmi tans
Queen Victoria, however, will nt
revive the stir and elegancies of tb
past. She is there to find quiet an
retirement. The Coli and the Caccir
!, will be her favorite promenades.
is hoped that this repose will re-eI
tablish her health, greatly sha
tered-so much so, indeed, that
is q serious question in Englis
Z court circles OF calling the Princ
, of Wales to the Regency
May it be that she viii there rt
cover her health! May she ais
take with her from the Villa Palmiel
, such memories as have kept
memories too dear and too indelibl
to be ever effaced. bella.
Los Angeles, March 20, 1888.
+Iknow no palace where the glories Of n
IL reign