The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1890-09-19

A soNC.HjRp IN EDEN.


PATHS Enchanting Life Of Repose and
Luxury in Her welsh Castle.
The castle at Craig-y-Nos, Wales,
stands back about 100 feet from tho
high road connecting Swansea and Bre-
con. From this th%oroughfare it is sep
asated by a pretty garden, square in
shape and entered by a circular drive,
all this portion of the grounds being en-
closed by high stone walls, covered by
creeping roses and ivy.
AT the back Of the castle the grounds
form seven magnificent terraces leading
down to the river, spanned by q rustic
bridge, beyond which is a woodland
park beautifully laid out, and beyond
that the mountainous mass Of gray
stone, from which the castle derives its
name, Rock of the Night" or, as the
Welsh have it, "Craig-y-Nos."
Entering the house and ascending a
double fight of stone stairs you come
to a hall running the whole length of
the old part OF the castle. Exactly op-
poslte the entrance is the drawing
room, communicating at the further
end with a superb winter garden.
All the reception rooms are filled
with objects of art, presented to Nine.
Patti by august and distinguished per-
sonages. Her bedroom and dressing
room are perfect gems, overlooking the
valley, and are situated in the older
portion Of the castle. At the other
wing of the building are the two bill
lizard rooms, n English the other
French-large, lofty rooms. beautifully
decorated-the English one containing
q gigantic orchestrion, which plays
twenty-five pieces of music, with a
spirit, force and delicacy of expression.
A door from the billiard room leads
you into q passage communicating with
the new theater, a perfect gem in blue
and gold, and rs complete in its ap-
pointments as any first class theater in
q large city. The decorations are
equisite, with the m of all the
great composers in letters of blue and
gold at the top of the ceiling.
The drop curtain represents Nine.
Patti driving q Roman chariot. drawn
theater is estimated at 96, 900.
The daily life OF the castle is as fol-
lows: The guests are served with
breakfast in their rooms, at their pleas
ure. Madame passes her mornings in
wi .P Ae"uAHe anu =
ing letters. At noon precisely all her
guests are expected to assemble in the
huge annex of glass, adjoining the din
ing room, where "denieuner a la four
Ghetto" is served in princely style. Let
ters and newspapers are delivered, fol-
lowed by coffee. At the close of the
meal a soothing hour, given to
cigars and small talk, dashed with the
latest news from Paris and London.
At precisely a string of carriages
makes Its appearance at the entrance of
the castle, and the whole party of
guests, in parties of three or four, led
by their hostess, are whirled away to
some beautifully picturesque spots, ten
or twelve miles away, where all alight
and partake of some light refreshments.
AT 5 o'clock the cortege draws up at the
castle doors and all retire to their
rooms, where tea is served until dinner
time, at Z sharp, when the electric light
is turned on and the mansion assumes a
most festive aspect.
AT the sound of the second gong all
repair to the reception room, thence to
the dining room, led by Nine. Patti.
Dinner at Craig-y-Nos is a meal that
would nave secured the appreciation of
Lucullus himself, when that accom-
plished epicure dined with himself.
The meal concluded, all retire to the
billiard room, where a pleasant evening
is spent, until the hour for retiring,
usually II o'clock. An hour later the
gas, and with it the electric lights, is
turned off, and darkness. save the glim-
mer of a candle here and there, reigns
throughout the castle.