The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1889-02-26
LETTERS FROM THE OLD COUNTRY.
no. XXI.-BY L. L. ID.
CONCLUDED.


rail was very enjoyable. We arrived |
at the Manor House in time for din
ner at 7, and everything indoors and
out seemed more like private house
and grounds than one for public en-
tertainment. At half-past nine the
next morning we entered upon a day
of delightful sightseeing. We were
driven through charming country to
Kenilworth Castle, about five miles
away. Here history and romance
are closely interviewer, but the his
tory alone is thrilling almost beyond
belief. One can only sorrow over
the ruthless destruction of this grand
old castle, the favored and favorite
resort of so many monarchs, and the
gift of high favor to so many noted
men in the past. We found a custo-
dian on the spot, who knew his les
son well, and whose vivid descrip-
tions and placings of historical
events made our visit most satisfac-
tory. We climbed the broken stairs
and looked out of the window at
which Amy RObsart kept such merry
watch, saw the grotto in which she
met the Queen, the steps to which
she was dragged to confront Earl
Leicester; saw the dismal pit in
which Edward IL was confined three
months, the shaft up which they
conveyed the molten lead to be
poured upon their enemies In time
of siege. Saw the remains Of the
magnificent banquet hall erected by
Leicester for the entertainment of
Queen Elizabeth. Traced the differ
ent styles of architecture from the
Norman period down. Saw the
bounds of the grand tilt yard where
the wonderful tournaments took
place, and the places once covered
by the mOat and lake, now green and
dotted with shrubbery. The grand
dismantling of the castle was done
in CromwelPs time, many portions
of the fortress being entirely de-
stroyed. One side of the main
stronghold was torn out and the
thickness of the wall at that point
was sixteen feet. The ivy, with her
loving, clinging nature, has done her
part to blot out the harshest outlines
of fallen greatness and inevitable
decay, and render the ruins of this
once magnificent castle one of the
most picturesque spots in England.
A drive of four miles brought US to
! Warwick Castle. This is considered
the best preserved specimen of an
cient grandeur to be found in the
country, and is of great antiquity.
In all probability it antedates the
! Norman Conquest, but since that
time it has held a very important
place in history. Earl Norwich, the
great King Maker, lived here, and
Earl Guy Warwick, one of the very
first to possess it, was of mighty
stature-some say over nine feet in
height. Upon entering the outer
gate the road we follow for over a
hundred yards is cut through the
solid rock, and the sides from twelve
to fifteen feet high on either hand,
are swept with dropping foliage and
creeping vines. The first view of
the Castle upon emerging from this
shady way, is very grand. Two lofty
towers, arched gateways, and en-
battIed walls, look down upon lawns
and shrubbery that nestle up to its
very foundations. Within the gate
way, which is guarded by a
portcullis, and two inner gates, we
find ourselves in the Inner Court
which is like fairyland itself. On
either side are the two towers. Be
meath the one are dark and dreary
dungeons, where many poor pris-
oner has languished in days gone
by From the top of the other a
magnificent view is obtained Of the
surrounding country. A beautiful
green lawn and fine driveway are
surrounded by the main portion OF
the castle. On the farther side OF
the court, an arched gate permits Us
to pass out into the gardens, which
are almost beyond description
Tangled woods and messy paths
we'll kept lawns and graded walks.
banks slOping to the beautiful River
Avon, beds of flowers massed and
arranged with startling yet agree
able effects, all unite to bewilder the
senses. A large greenery contains
the celebrated Warwick vase. This
is the largest vase, ancient IOr
modern, known to be cut from a
single block of marble. Around the
brim it measures twenty-one feet, It's
capacity is lob gallons. With the
pedestal it stands ten feet. The
carvings on it are fine. A lions
skin thrown over the top, the head
and paws hanging down on the side,
are splendidly chiselled. Heads of
Bacchus as we'll are nearly life size.
This vase was discovered at Ha-
drian's villa, fourteen miles from
Rome, in the bottom Of a lake,
where it had been hidden for safe
keeping over 1000 years. 1t is of
Greek sculpture and was presented
to the Earl of Warwick by Mr.. Ham
ilton, who was at that time ambas-
sador at Rotue. This was in the
reign of George III. The vase has
stood in this greenhouse (which was
built for its reception) over 100
years. Returning to the castle we
are shown the state apartments
which are truly regal. Some splen-
did portraits Of former earls and
countesses. Other paintings said to