Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-10-18
AN AMERICAN COUNTESS.
The Home of Lady Essex-Some OF
Its Attractions.

CMadame)
Casslobury Park. Watford one Of the
seats of the Essex family. Is the loveliest
OF the many lovely ancestral homes or
England II is not necessary 10 go back
to the time when il was the royal rest
dence of Cassivelaunus, Prince Of the cas-
sill: It will suffice for present purposes 10
say that 1t was the dowry that Dame
Elizabeth Morrison brought her husband
Arthur Lord Capel. from whom the pres
ent owner is llnealiy descended.
Having iourneyed to Watford to see
Lady Essex, | strolled ieisurely through
the park. which Is open to the public, untl!
| reached a fence which forms bounda-
~ separating it from the private grounds,
and in a few minutes | reached the main
entrance and was ushered through
small dining-room into Lady Essex's bou-
doir. a pretty room, decorated IN "hi'e
and gold. and furnished In the French
STYLE. Innumerable miniatures-about
one hundred and seven-copies Of Rom
nev. mostly and, as | afterward learned.
painted by q former Lady Essex, adorned
the walls and filled up spaces between
large pictures; and the cabinets ana doofs
leading into Lord EsseX's study were OF
buhl.
Before | could do more than glance at
the thousand and one interesting objects
around me Lady Essex came in. wish
could have sketcheJ her as she entered
FOR the benefit Of my lady readers. Iali'
slender. with large eyes and lovely com
pleXion. she had all the vivacity ana dei-
cate loveliness for which American ladies'
are Justly famed. Her beauty wa en-
HANGED by the simple picturesqueness OF
her dress, which consisted OF "A pale plue
and white print gown. falling in long.
straight folds from a lace yoke. Al the
back it was confined to the waist by whlte
satin ribbon. which fell in long ends to
the edge OF the skirt a blue batiste old
fashioned sun-bonnet. edged with race
covered the dark hair. and gave the iinish-
ing touch TO a toilette which reminded one
OF Marie AntiOnette when rusticatinS at
tho Petit TrianOn.
Lady Essex, having kindly greeted me-
suggested that We should adjourn To one
of the tents on the lawn for chat Here
saw gayly decorated hammocks,
tents large and small. ana a rustic struc-
ture. lined and upholstered in pale blue'
and furnished with bamboo reclining
chairs and tables.
Lady Essex is Lord Essex's second
wife and the daughter OF Mr.. Grant the
American millionaire. She has step
n. II
II lived almost entirely in England be-
fore my marriage" she said. (which
took place in December. 1893. and before
then / had travelled great deal
have crossed the ocean seventeen times;
but for all that. | am very bad sail
or" she added. smlingly. Il do not look
strong. you think? Oh. | feel very well;
but was advised TO winter in the South
OF France but | am glad to be- back
tn 70 a AZ
do not care for society at all.
what are your favorite pursuits?
IL drive No, | do not hunt; but Lord
Essex is very keen on It. and | walk
good deal with my dogs. We have
seven collts, and | am very fond Of gar
denlng We intend shortly making seve-
raj alterations and renovations. which
are greatly needed for at present a good
deal OF the house IS shut up.
II suppose you know" she continued.
the late Earl was Lord Essex's grand
father. ana he lived to the age of SO;
and il is about fifty years since any re-
pairs were done. Interested in charities.
YOU ask? Yes; | am in the Needlework
Glld. and also in the Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty TO Children
Time would not permit me TO do more
thar have a rapid glance over the prn-
cipal rooms, for Cassiobury is very
large place, and a perfect storehouse of
valuable pictures. books and curios. Lady
Essex was an admirable cicerone, and
narrated several interesting legends,
which space will not allow me to repeat.
In one of the four beautiful libraries
saw. carefully preserved in a little cabi-
net. the handkerchief which Lord Con
ingsbv had used to stanch, the wound
VI William III. at the battle of the
Boyne. This" said Lady Essex. point
ing to q large portrait In beautiful
gold frame, lis Henry ~. and he him
self presented it to one of the Earls Of
Essex" \ quaint old warming pan was
a gift from Queen Elizabeth In promi-
nent position in one of the rooms hung
a large painting of Kitty Stephens. the
actress. who became the second wife Of
the nth Earl Of Essex.
The paintings include Vandyke's ia
nous picture OF Percy. tenth Earl of
Northumberland. and fine examples of
Cuyp. Sir Joshua Reynolds. Hogarth.
Ley Gainsb0rough, Landseer. and many
other well-known artists.
The only really modern rooms in the
mansion are Lady Essexs bed and dress
ing-rooms in both the walls are OF deli
cate shrimp pink ceiling white, and car
pet red: the bed with its richly-embrold-
cred satin coverlid Is yelled by curtains
Of white-spotted net, which fall from n
ring fixed In the ceiling; the dressing
table Is draped with the same. but the
top of II is of lookng-glass, on which
stand the richly chased gold articles de
toilette: the threefold bevelled mirror IN
framed to match. on the walls are beau
tiful BartolOZzi engravings In oval frames
The furniture is carved In delicate shades
OF biue and pink. and the cushions are
OF blue batiste, with the Earps coronet
embroidered In white.
Glastonbury was built by lingo Jones. and
the gardens laid out by the famous Lee
Notre. who also planned the gardens OF
Versailles The grounds extend over 80
acres. and no word painting can do ius-
tice TO their beauty Cedars which have
lived and fiourished for over three centu-
ries, beeches, oaks. and elms. and n forest
of frs Copper beeches, with their lovely
tinted foliage, rise from among masses Of
golden-tinted bracken, which affords a
pleasant hiding-place for myriads OF rab-
bits Peacocks proudly trail their jewell
led tails along the velvet sward, pheas-
ants fly from tree 10 tree. and In the ear
IL morn the birds unite in one heavenly
song OF thanksgiving.
Then the gardens. Imagine clumps OF
rhododendrons OF every hue, masses Of
azaleas, orange trees in tubs, winding
walks hedged with fragrant honeysuckles.
a wilderness OF roses Cfner than those OF
the Vale Of Cashmere). beds Of pansies.
and other old fashioned flowers. Rows OF
stately hollyhocks. faced by peonles OF
rich crimson and pink, rustic hooks,
moss-coyered rockeries. miniature lakes.
shaded by weeping willows and alders,