St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-10-04
Sole Survivor of the Brussels Ball.
Lady Tighe. who Buclsled on the Duke
or WellingtOn's Sword Before the
Battle OF Waterloo, is Sill Alive,

hattie OF Waterloo, Is Sill Alive.
Near Kilkenny, Ireland on the banks
OF River More, lies Woodstock, the vast
estate of Lady Louisa Tighe and here,
surrounded by every luxury and loved
and honored by all who know her, lives
the daughter of the Duke of Richmond,
who almost century ago buckled on
Lord Wellingtons sword when he left
Brussels on the campaign which amazed
the world.
Dominated by its superb baronial man.
sion OF granite, hewn and carved on the
estate, Woodstock extends over circuit
OF forty miles, and its walks, roads and
drives extend five hundred miles. Con-
nected with the estate are some curious
privileges, among which is the right of
tenants to lay all their grievances or dis
putes before the lord of the manor-not
entering the house to do so, but standing
in courtyard directly outside of the
study window.
AT a fixed hour every morning, Sun
days excepted, the late Colonel Tighe
always made his appearance, being I'M
der unwritten bonds never to refuse the
request of the widowed or the fatherless,
while the tenants were pledged to abide
by his decisions, as they now are by
those OF Lady Louisa, well aware that
so considerable and humane a "chate-
laine" can only decide for their present
good and future welfare.
CAN FREE CRIMINALS.
Twice year lady Louisa has the right
to free two criminals, even at the very
gallows steps, and she has always exer-
cised this privilege wisely. How she
deals with dishonest persons is shown in
an instance in her own household a few
years ago.
AS was the yearly custom at Wood
stock, Lady Louisa was entertaining
members of the royal family, and had
large house party in their honor. Con-
versation turned one evening upon some
of the very curious and rare gems which
had come to Her Ladyship from the
Duke OF Richmond, especial reference
being made to black diamond, the only
one of its kind in the world. The guests
expressing desire to see this dian ond,
the steward was sent for the cases-rare-
ly opened-in which it and other unique
jewels reposed. The man trembled and
turned pale, but brought the cases only
to have it discovered that the black dia-
mond, the Duke Of Richmond's watch.
an heirloom of inestimable value, and
several other rare and historic gems
were missing. Further search revealed
that the silver chests had also been
tempered with.
The suspected man broke down and
confessed his guilt, but, throwing HIM
sell on Lady Louisa's well known Glenn
ency, he was punished only by dismissal
and an injunction to leave that part of
the country forever.
AMID FINE SURROUNDINGS.
The drive from Innistagh to Wood
stock is over fine country, richly tim
bered and prosperous. Miles of stone
terraces and several lodges are passed
before the grand gateway, surmounted
by lion and griffin, is reached. Pass
ing the fine lodge, an avenue two miles
in length leads to the mansion, an i'm
nense granite structure, its countless
windows giving character to the some
what severe lines, and the entrance sug.
costing royal welcome.
Within, the grand hall and stairway
form sumptuous setting for any scene,
and in summer, when the gardens are
ablaze with almost tropical bloom, the
lower doors and windows reveal scene
which a Claude or Vernet might have
been glad to depict. In these famous
Woodstock gardens are terrace upon
terrace, and bank upon bank OF lavish
color, while each stone in the marble
terraces is from designs of Daniel Sullivan
each different, and each representing
some striking or famous scene in different
nations of the earth, while far as the eye
can reach pillows of green and bloom ex.
tend, with walks laid out in every
fashion, reaching to what are known as
The "Slver" and "Gold" sand beaches
viewed by old Lady Louisa from her
library window, and near which is an
exquisite fountain.
TRUE LOVERS TREE.
Not far away is tree Of enormous
growth which the Society Of Forestry
takes pride in, as it is the only one ex.
tant in the European world. 1t was
brought from Egypt, and in Oriental lore
is known as The True Lovers Tree, y
from a popularity in the foliage. On
being touched the leaves curl up softly
as though in gentle response to the hand
caressing them.
Nearby is the shooting tower, build.
ing overlooking the wide preserves
Though deer are killed by the hundred
only the right side of the animal is ever
cooked and eaten at Woodstock. 1t is
supposed this custom arose from the
fact that in generations gone by favo'
rite animal was accidentally wounded
on the left side, and its owner declared
that henceforth in the length and breadth
of Woodstock no deer should ever be
shot or harmed unless the sportsman
touched the right side.
On this portion OF the grounds alone
two hundred men are employed, and on
what is called the Home Farm ada
cent, three hundred men work daily IN
all seasons, while more than one hundred
women and girls are hired simply to
gather the fallen leaves and weed garden
beds, Lady Louisa being, even in her ex'
IRENE old age, ardentlv interested in hei
own sex. These workers, in order tc
preserve picture effect, are costumed at
Her Ladyship's expense in uniform o
green and white, made in the most be
Coming peasant style. The skirts, o
shamrock green, are pinned back ove1
skirts of a darker hue, and the bonnet.
are of plated straw of the quaint cot
tage pattern, tied under the chin.
In all of the six lodges at Woodstock
the persons employed have been chosen
with direct view toward giving then
specially appropriate occupations. Wo
men who are compelled by loss of for