The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-01-12

ever seen, lighting up the dark,
richly glowing rooms with their love-
ly blossoms, in honor Of the eve
of Christmas. The three drawing
rooms, in which we spent most of our
time. were all most interesting from
historical point of view, and was kind
ly taken about and shown old carvings
and priceless pictures and rare old
frescoed ceilings, which his lordship
carefully explained when and by whom
they were put in the house. In one Of
the rooms, most beautifully finished in
carved panels. done 400 years ago by a
Gibbon or Gibbons, the gliding which
decorates them still remains dull and
rich, never having been retouched.
In the Portrait Gallery.
I was shown the room where all the
old family portraits are hung, of gener-
ations after generation. and the dear.
simple old man remarked that his own
was in an adjoining room, ready to be
hung with those of his departed an
cestors when the time should come for
it to take it's place. The grand old
place was an opening into fairyland
for me. l never had dreamed OF such
beautiful things, but here they were,
old tapestries, old pictures, great rooms,
wonderful carvings and superb statu
airy. Lord Tredegar was very particu-
lar to show us. also, the great stair
case, which Is wide enough for eight
people abreast and very grand, being
balustraded with most wonderful cary
ings in black oak, hundreds of years
old, and which have been often photo
graphed for art collectors, as they are
considered by connoisseurs to be among
the finest specimens of old carvings
left in England.
At the top of this staircase hangs an
immense tapestry, which Is considered
very fine. 1 at first thought it was
painting, as it looked so real but it is
all the needlework of some departed
lady Tredegar and her maids, who
whiled the hours away in this manner
when their lord was fighting In the Wars
of the Roses. One of the drawing room
floors is a single piece of oak the whole
of 1t having come from gigantic oak
tree which had fallen down from old
age in the park couple of hundred
years ago. 1t is black with age and
polish now, but just as solid as ever.
The butler, who by the way, is much
gIander man than his master, so far
as swagger is concerned, took us in
charge after supper and showed us
over some of his domains, his master
not knowing anything about them. We
went through the old court yard, under
which were situated the medieval
dungeons, in which languished long
ago the unfortunate enemies of the
house of Tredegar. We went through
the fat, comfortable old housekeeper's
rooms, where hung the portraits Of the
twelve Caesars of Rome, done by some
old Italian master hand. We descended
into the big servants hall. which was
of old the banquetting hall of the cas-
tie, and which certainly was medieval
enough for there were no windows in
it, and it was exceedingly high. I could
imagine the rafters ringing with the
coarse and hearty mirth Of the war;
riors of long ago, as they were seated
with their ladies and sweethearts and
the retainer of the house, about the
rough old banquet board which ex-
tended the length of the room. The
dear consequential old butler showed
me where they say the big salt cellar
used to stand, all above which We're, of
course, gentle folks, while all below
were not. Even here We're suits of old
armor, standing up bravely in the cor
ners. and so ridiculously heavy and
cumbersome that 1 should fear to see
man of today in one, lest he should
rapidly become non est. Old battle
81, oh
sCme old paintings, in which the house
seems to be rich, indeed. making every
step of the way most interesting.
III Baronial Kitchen.
We went into the kitchen where the
fires are immense and where l saw a
great spit, on which an OK can be and
has been roasted whole. the spit being
a patented device of the chief cook $
and turns constantly before the fire,
roasting the animal evenly without
anybody being by to turn the spit" as
of old. The ranges, coppers and irons
In this room would equip any big hotel.
From there we went on through the
kitchen maids room. after viewing the
"scullery,'' and were incidentally
treated to the sight of very pretty,
picturesque. young powdered footman
making love to Susan. He temporarily
quit, however in honor of our passing
through, as we proceeded to the
larders, where we saw the meats, game.
etc, hanging UP ready for use. In the
meat larder were launches of beef, legs
of mutton, livers, hearts, etc, besides
four or five whole sheep and other
meats. 1t looked for all the world just
| like u big and well-stocked meat
market, and imagine my feelings when
my lord butler calmly informed me
that that was a three days supply
only. The game, pheasants, venison,
rabbit and so forth filled another room
| farther on. Then we descended. to the
lower regions, and under his care we
went through the beer cellars, the ale
cellars. but did not have time to go
beyond to the big wine cellars. In the
| beer cellar there are two very fine
underground springs which furnish the
water supply Of the house, and several
old lions heads in stone, with their
noses crumbled away, guarding them.
| In the ale cellars there is a great big
| fat tank which Is named the Prince of
Wales. Everybody visiting these cellars
must drink from this tank or he will
| have Ill luck, so at least said the butler.
1t holds 1,100 gallons and Is certainly
very imposing. There are other tanks
called the Nelson, the Marlborough, the
Cromwell and 80 forth All the ale and
| beer Is brewed there. On one door
found this little legend in crooked,
! funny letters
*s
Roger Servis, Butler 1874.
He had cut 1t there himself, years ago,
when he had charge Of these cellars.
| Well we had to wrench ourselves
away at last, as 1t was near midnight.
| and Miss Driscoll. who is Organlst and