The Portland daily press., 1895-10-19
LADY HENRY SOMERSET AT HER
HOME.
Boston Teacher of Gymnastics Fits Up
Gymnasium at Reigate Priory.


Gymnasium at Reigate Priory.
Few EnglishWomen have received more
marked appreciation in America than
Lady Henry Somerset For this reason
it may interest our readers to hear some
account of this lady's home-or rather
homes-in England, taken from the let
tors of a young American, Miss Char
lotto Elizabeth Maxwell, Boston teach
er OF Swedish gymnastics. who has been
suendin., the summer with Lady Semer-
get
As guest of Lady Somerset Miss Max
we'll has been an inmate Of two of those
Esglish country houses which astonish
foreigners by their size and splendor.
Eastnor Castle and Reigate Priory both
belong to Lady Somerset by Inheritance.
Reigape Priory is the older of the two
and has recently been restored and parts
of it re- uilt.
Mr.. Somers Somerset, Lady Henry's
only child, will probably some time be
the Duke of Beaufort. The Beauforts are
descended from the Plantagenets, and
arms of England. The ceilings of the
rooms at the Friory bear the Plantagenet
trailing rose, and the royal arms are
everywhere. The motto of the house and
the arms are carved over the tops of the
beds in exquisite designs; they are on
the dishes of the table, on the immense
silver trays used for the tea and coffee.
4Jo fnI aft q
nor Castle have been brought from other
countries and once belonged to famous
reople; and almost everything at the
Priory has history that goes back to
the might of time" Eastnor is one of
the show castles of England and is there-
fore much better known to travellers
than is the Priory.
Miss Maxwell was present at the grand
reception held in honor of Mr.. Somer
sets attaining his majority. 1t is like
story book to read of the Illuminated
grounds, the groups Of colored lights in
the Italian gardens, the bands on the
lawn, and the orchestra IN the house !;
the grandees in diamonds, and the
masses in serge. Lady Somerset and
her son received in the great Holbeln
Hall. The presentation Of plate by the
tenants was in this hail. and there Mr..
Somerset made his speech That cere-
mony being over, Lady Somerset and
the Mayor of Re1gate, Mr. Somerset and
the Mayoress, led the way to supper. 1t
was the merriest and joliiest of scenes.
The great hall was cleared and there was
dancing within and without. Within,
real English waltzing, with no reversing,
but round and round, which makes every
head but an English head reel and grow
giddy.
Lady Somerset owns the entire Borough
of Reigate, whole streets in London, and
''she has farms and she has manors"
besides. 1t is we'll for her $50, 900 tenants
that she is the lover of her kind. Always
working for the amelioration and eleVa-
tion of humanity, working, and work
ing hard more hours than any of her ser
wants, going from place to place to
speak for what she holds the greatest and
the best, never knowing when she can
call an hour her own, she is indeed q
Lady Bountiful
The PrioTy is thrown open one day in
the summer for a fete given to tenants
who rent property for a year; another day
for those who rent for three months; and
still another for the monthly tenants
Tents are raised on the grounds and pro-
vision made for hundreds of people.
There is music and dancing and dim
mar and illuminations. The children
have also fete day, when the whole
place looks like CIRCUS ground. All
kinds and colors of tents, are pitched; ;
there are games and jugglers and bands
of music an 500 children are made happy
all day long; going where they please,
doing what they like, amused and taken
care of, ending the day with a supper on
the lawn.
Lady Somerset's interest in the health
giving results of Swedish gymnastics was
reused during her recent visit to Boston,
and at Reigate Priory Miss Maxwell re-
ceived carte blanche to fit up gymnasi-
UNI in a thorough and substantial man
ner This gymnasium was placed at the
disposal of classes, and the young Boston
teacher has been busy indeed, making
Swedish gymnastics well known to
classes of ladies, girls and children, all
Of whom regret her approaching return
to Boston for her winters work. That
Lady Somerset should so promptly grasp
the advantages of the Swedish system
and should place its opportunities within
the grasp of others is but one instance of
her ready sympathy and beneficence.
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