Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1889-07-30
ROYALTY IN JERSEY.
SpeculatiOns Concerning the Bon
aparte Estate at Point Breeze.
PRINCE. MURATs AMERICAE BRIDE

The Villagers at Bordentown Believe
Miss Caldwell May Purchase the Ola
Manor House and That It's FORMER
GrorIes May Ne Rehewed-The His
toric Home u Princess zennIde.
BoRDRErowN, n. g., July 80.-There is
q ripple today in the quiet Of this his
aoric old town-the home of the Bona
parties. It is associated with the report
Of the approaching marriage Of Prince
Joachim Napoleon Murat, grandson Of
King Murat and granddaughter of Napo-
leon |. with Miss Gwendoline Caldwell,
who, with her sister, IL well known as
She founder OF Catholic university at
Washington The rumor afloat is that
Miss Caldwell is about 70 purchase the
old Bonaparte estate at Point Breeze,
Just above here.
The park portion OF this once splendid
estate still exists entire. Behind an old
picket fence its broad acres are spread
out like carpet Of dark green velvet,
and the white walls Of the ancient turn-
bic down mansion house are plainly dis
cernible through the trees that environ
it. Here was what was called the Lake
house. the home of Princess Zenaide,
daughter Of Joseph Bonaparte, who &C
companied him to America in his exile.
The Old Manor.
II was a fine house in its day, as the
three wide tloorways opening upon the
yeranda indicate. It's rear stood IN
what at the time of it's erection was q
lake, and at that time it overhung the
water like q Venetian palace. The
ws1s.oFex snr,Hav
q really fine arched bridge. which Prince
Bonaparte built at his own cost, now
winds through reedy marsh.
When he purchased the place in 1916
one Of the princes first acts was to build
d dam across the narrow valley at the
mouth Of this little stream, and thus to
create a pretty lake 200 yards broad by
nearly half a mile long. In this lake
were several islands, with velvety grass,
young trees and fine shrubbery. Black
and white swans added life to the idyllic
picture. Stairways of stone led down
the side of an abrupt bluff to a boat
landing, where little fleets Of pleasure
craft, bright with colored awnings, lay
moored.
An Underground Passage.
Right here was mystery From the
shore of the lake to the house of Prince
Ae0AAhphktE was hAA ulANCA SAOW&A1 pten1tN&C-
way, carefully walled by brick and
called by heavy iron doors. The end of
this curious passage is clearly discernible
ON the lake front, and, descending the
stone steps, three arched doorways are
seen. One of them is large enough for
railroad train, the others are small as
postern gates.
Long rows of stately sentry pines
guard the broad lawn on which stands
the modern manor house, built by Henry
Beckett, son of Sir John Beckett, Of
Somersby park, Lincolnshire, England.
It is an Italian villa of three stories. and
contains twenty-five spacious apart
ments, besides many corridors and mar
row passageways. IL has been unten-
ated FOR many years. It's massive door
frames and really imposing stairway
and rotunda stamp it as an architectural
effort of no mean taste and skill.
AL the gates about the mansion are
kept locked for the reason that almost
annually some crank or other attempts
10 take possession on the ground that he
or she is entitled to the establishment by
right of descent.