The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-10-22

lated in Gray's facetious poem OF the
"Long Story"
The new Stoke Hall was built by John
Penn from designs by Wyatt. 1t is chiefly
of brick. succeed, and comprises large
square center and two wings. The entrance
front is ornamented by a colonnade OF ten
Doric columns, approached by imposing
fights of steps, leading to the famous oval
central Marble Hail The south front, also
adorned with acolonnade, has twelve iluted
Dorc columns and is 1906 feet in length.
MANY visitors here mistake the old manor
house ut the north of the church for Grays
former home. 1t Is a beautiful and pic
turesque half ruin, occupied by the keeper
of Stoke Park. It's chmneys are the largest
! have seen in any old English manor house,
and there are undoubtedly today more
bricks in these ivy covered mementos OF
old time cheer than were originally re-
ouired in the entire construction of the
walls.
John Penn built the modest yet noted
mansion of Solitude still standing on the
bank of the Schuylkill, opposite Fair
mount, in Philadelphia. Much of the rev.
enue from remaining Pennsylvania Pro
prietary" interests was expended here.
Vast sums were used upon new Stoke Hall
and its library. statuary and paintings.
He also rescued from oblivion the actual
burial place of Gray by placing the me-
mortal slab against the church wall be-
meath the vestry window, and erected at
his own expense the huge monument to
the poet which dominates all the slumber
Gus scene.
On the death of John Penn, Stoke Manor
was inherited by his younger brother, Gran
vile Penn, who died at Stoke in 1874. He
was an author and was admitted to be one
of the most learned English laymen Of his
time. His oldest son, Granville John Penn,
not only restored" but practically rebuilt
Gray's house, West End Cottage, on the
West End Road. 1t was converted into
sumptuous Elizabethan mansion, with ev-
cry accessory of ornament and beauty. In
1850 it was sold to a gentleman named
Darby, but was afterward purchased by 4.
Alhausen, Esq, whose family and heirs
still possess it, and with it the right of use
of the Gray family pew in the southwest
corner of the south aisle Of the old Stoke
Poges church.
A curious illustration Of the decadence of
great families, as well as Of vast fortunes
even in England, is found in the final ex
tincton OF this the most eminent branch of
the Penn family, and the diversion Of their
once great estates. Every one is familiar
with the escheating of William Penn's
American possessions, in which the ESTATE
of the late proprietaries was vested in the
Commonwealth, ;" the payment by Pennsyl-
vania Of g1G0,000 sterling to the devisees
and legatees, sin remembrance of the en-
terprising spirit of the Founder" and the
granting by the English parliament, in
1890. Of an annuity of 1900 to his heirs and
descendants. All this was IN addition to
the rich English possessions of the Penns.
which included the manor of Stoke. And
vet on March 90. 1867. Granville John Penn,
lord of the manor of Stoke, died in his chair
with an unsigned will in his hands. All his
properties were inherited by his brother,
Thomas. That gentleman. who was in
clerical orders and man Of extraordinary
learning, was subsequently declared insane
and incapable Of managing his estates.
These passed into the tentacles OF that
great English octopus, the chancery court,
and finally, after the death Of the unfor-
tunate Thomas, got into the possession Of
William Stuart gentleman, Of Alderman
Abbey, in the shire of Herts Today the
Penns OF Stoke POges are no more. The
romping children Of country squire have
banished the tender wraiths that peopled
the home and haEnts Of Gray at West End
Cottage. while the lord OF the manor
whose parkkeepcr now uses as a farm
house the ancient home Of the CObhams,
the Cokes and the lordly house Of Hast
ings. where Queen Elizabeth was royalty
entertained, and whose own present prince
" habitation was once the palatial seat OF
the Penns-s maker Of matches in Lon
don.
Stillno one can come TO the sweet old
place without being touched by the tender
spirit OF repose which brOods not alone
upon Stoke Poges Church and churchyard,
upoa the entire Stoke manor, where, half
hidden beneath sylvan shades, appear the
very place where the poet lived and sang,
the picturesque old ruin where once dis
ported lords and ladies, and even royalty
itself. and the grander seat OF the Penns,
but upon the entire historic parish.
All it's environment strangely stirs the
heart and memory. Over TO the south is
royal Windsor, through whose successive
enochs the whole vast book of English
history may be written, from the Veto
rian era to the time Of Arthur his knights
and the Table Round. Milton wrote his
"IjAllegro" at Horton, just below. Coop
er's Hill, consecrated to the muse OF Den
ham. is nearer still. Herschel made his
first great discoveries in astronomy in
that old red brick mansion just beyond
Slough on the highway TO Windsor Ed
mund Burke and Edmund Waller lived at
near Beaconsiield. Not two hours walk
distant is the grave of William Penn, and
quite as near are the famous Burnham
Beeches discovered by Gray himself when
upon his first visit TO the region which
his genius was destined to make one of
the best loved spots of earth. | visited
these, as will all who come 10 this spot
where the "Elegy" was written. But no
pen can again so deliciously tell of Burn
ham Beeches, and the languid, lazy, easy
going Gray himself, as did Gray's III this
bit from one of his charming letters to his
friend Horace Walpole
"My uncle is great hunter in imagina-
ton: his dogs take up every chair in the
house. so am forced TO stand at the pres
ent writing; and though the govt forbids
his galloping after them in the field, yet
he continues still 10 regale his ears and
nose with their comfortable noise and
stink. He holds me mighty cheap, per
ceiye. for walking when | should ride and
reading when should hunt. My comfort
amidst all this is that have at distance
of half a mile, through green lane, forest
..fsl al