Daily Yellowstone journal., 1888-06-23
THE DIDllNGToN ESTATE.
An English Land Owner and His People.
A Lively Scene.

ductive northern suburb Of Hackney,
which he owns almost in its entirety, an
income sufficient to enable him TO bear
the expenses Of keeping hp the nine
square miles Of his Didlington estate, was,
so To speak, Obliged to give his people a
Jubilee fete, and TO do 50 on n large scale.
Nine parishes sent their c~ontingents in
200 vehicles of every description, which
from the early forenoon discharged their
freight Of men, women and children
within the gates of his park: his flag
bearing his coat of arms tluttered from
the top of the hall tower. Free access
was given to the grounds, the gardens,
the heronry, the deer inclosure, the CON
servatories, the plantations, and the lake
with its bridges, summer and boat houses
and many islands. On a meadow be-
tween the house and church eleven or
twelve large marques were erected; one
devoted 10 a horticultural exhibition Of
fruit, vegetables and flowers where the
cottagers won prizes: three TO refresh
ments, and the rest 10 substantial spreads
of dinners and teas served at different
times 10 men. women and children.
Nearly 5000 people were Mr.. Amherst's
special guests, amused and fed during
twelve hours at his expense; 1000 more
had been admitted to his park, and were
free to enjoy the various phases Of the
fete. the merry-go-rounds and swings, the
ventriloqui.ts, jugglers, and excellent
military hands, as well as the elaborate
Examinations and fireworks which at dusk
converted MANY acres Of lake and grounds
into a fairy scene. Looking into the
tents set apart for the tenants. YOU saw
almost interminable tables laden with
such rounds and sirloins Of beef as seem
TO appertain essentially to England, with
rows of beer tankardS, and other edibles
and drinkables. RailifTs and land agents
who have been for fifty years on the
estate presided over tho tables and carved
the mighty joints; the giver of the feast
made an appropriate slccch in each tent,
and was never more lr,tily cheercd in the
house Of commons han by the school
children who'had pa taken Of the tea and
cake in quantities v hiCh would have as
tonished \ rogimen. Of hungry soldiers.
The ladies of the f,mily waited on them,
as also on the women, and saw that none
rose till they vtre fully satiatcd. A
cricket match between two parishes was
a great feature of the entertainment. the
captain of one eleven lring Lord William
Cecil. son Of The Marquis of Exeter. play
ing with gardeners. keepers and laborcrs
against q team in (which social ranks were
equally COMPOUNDED.
HOgsheads of beer. tons Of beef, gallons
of tea were consumed at what must have
been an mormous expense; and if the
host allowed. in some tents set apart for
that purpose. refreshments Ia he sold at a
merely nominal price 10y previous arrange
ments made with the caterers. it was for
a reason which probably would never
have occurred to a stranger. BY all
established canons he was. rs lord If the
manor. perfectly justified in inviting and
treating all his tenants and people living
on his land: as a member Of parliament
had lac treated and fed the outlying in
habitants lac would have laid himself open
to the imputation Of bribery and corrup-
ton. and IF attempting to tampcr with
and win over the votes If the free born
electors.
On the day Of the fete. for many miles
around the country side presented q sing
ular aspect. II seemed ~ il a deep 81
lence and lifuloSSuc-- lad suddenly fallen
over the laul. HORSES and cattle were
no longer visible ia the fields. all labor
was suspended. the Villages, farms and
cottages were deserted alikrh young and
old. the doors were holtpel, the windows
shut down, and the wuyiurcr would
knock in vain if he wanted la ask what
road 20 take: there was mt "a living Crrl-
ture anywhere to give him th" desired
answer. Every human soul WAS at Did
lington. and many came from such n dis
tancr thai il was late into the following
night when they regaInrd their homes,
carrying with them the jubilee cup and
saucer. which was one of the most cher
ishel souvenirs Of the celebration.
To the credit Of the much abused Brit
ish agricultural population be- il said that
there wis no evidence If the ruuglmcss,
rudenp-s and iurhricty which are sup
posed 10 h. their characteristics; there
was not "a single instance Of drunkenness,
no NOSE. IL" hur~n play. \ more respect.
able. orderly. well to do crowd could not
easily be- matched anywhere; on pleasure
bent, they took their pleasure neither
sadly nor riutuu-ly. and strange t. say
there was more genuine gratitude and
satisfaction in their hearty and unaui.
nous farewell cheers to lhvir husis than
the lower cLls,cs Of England are popu-
larly supposed 10 feel for iavors conferred.
On tn morrow il was found that not a
flower had bccu taken or flower bel
trampiri, not a fruit picked; the herous,
fancy fowls, fallow deer and Gagged eagle
had not tppn mulrstcd; no vrstige Of the
passage and s%ojourn Of nearly 1000 peo-
pie remained save the marques in pro-
cess of removal. and dotted on the roads
countless baby socks and shoes dropped
like the white pebbles Of Hop o. My
Thumb, and telling Of mothers trudging
patiently home with their little burdens.
M. DE s. in New York sun.
Havana ss "A Health Rssort.