The Iola register., 1891-08-07
WcToRrA,s FATHER IN AMERICA.
The Duke OF Kent Lived In Nova Scotia
for Seven Years.

About seven miles west of the center
of Halifax, near the head Of Bedford
Basin. is beautiful spot. now much
used as a picnic ground. which every
Haligonian knows as The Princes
Lodge" 1t is part of the estate IN old
times leased by Sir John Wentworth
to the Duke of Kent for his royal resi-.
dence during the seven years that that
prince. the father of Queen Victoria,
lived in Nova Scotia. Sir John Went
worth has his country residence there
and called it. in allusion to Romeo
and Juliet" 'Friar Lawrence's Cell"
The duke enlarged the original house
until it was fine two-storied villa.
somewhat in the Italian style, with ex-
tensive wings at the north and south
and great hall and drawing rooms in
the rnnter.
Back of the house were stables for
his horses, and the grounds, though
rustic and having all the marks that
nature had originally put upon them,
contained many charming surprises.
His royal highness, who was at this
time commander of all the forces in
North America. had telegraph bat.
terry on an adjoining hill, by means of
whi, he could send his orders to the
citadel in town. In the neighborhood
of the lodge were artiiicers of various
sorts, so that the place was like little
feudal town. Indeed, the prince him.
self used to put his hand to the jack
plane or drive the cross-cut saw. and
fancy there was little that went on that
he did not personally oversee.
He was a strict discipliuarian, but
was very kind and affable in social
life, and especially interested in young
men. for whom he often did much.
His life had not been a luxurious one.
and he Inherited many of the simple
tastes of his father. plain old Farmer
George" which. on the whole, COM
mended him to Nova Scotians. So
ciety in Halifax in those days was
very gay, and it is said that the prince,
by his moderation in the use of wine.
and by refraining entirely from cards.
had good influence over the young
men of the town. To cure intemper-
ance among his men it is said he used
TO make them turn out at o'clock in
the morning for drill, which, of course.
made late hours away from barracks
impossible.
His punishments were very severe.
For one poor soldier he ordered !, 600
lashes on his bare back. and on the
grounds of the lodge is shown a cave
where another was confined for two or
three years until he died. Once or
twice. it is said, men committed sui
eide from fear of his punishments.
Prince Edwards friend and COM
panion during his Nova Scotia life was
clever French woman, Mime. AL
phonsie Therese Bernadine Julie de
Moutgenet de st. Laurent. Baronne de
Fortisson, whom he first met in Mar
Unique. and who. when he married the
queens mother, retired to a convent.
The Halifax people were dazzled
by the presence of royalty amoug
them. and when the princes seven
year term had expired it took society
a long time to settle down to its nor
NAL condition. In 1900 the Duke of
Kent began the erection of the present
citadel in Halifax. first removing the
old insecure Notifications, and then
building the massive walls that now
inclose the fort. A conspicuous mon
ument of his royal highness still re-
naming is the square wooden clock
tower below the glaciS. directly above
the middle of the town.-HGrper's
BazdT