New-York tribune., 1899-06-04
PART I'LL
EIGHT PAGES.
OLD KENSINGTON.
THE ONLY LONDON PALACE IN WHICH
EVERYBODY is NOW DEEPLY
INTERESTED.

would tersey describe as "a longfelt want"
has been supplied to-day by the opening of
Kensington Palace to the public on the Queens
birthday. This is a palace in which everybody
is now interested. This cannot be said Of any
other royal palace in London. Westminster
Hail. with portions OF crypt, is the only relic
OF famous Kings House where English mon
archs lived for many as FIVE centuries but
81 is associated not with the fortunes Of Mon
archy but with the evolution Of Parliamentary
institutions. OF the famous Whitehall Palace
OF Henry VIII and Elizabeth not a stone re-
mains: and OF the Stuart palace designed for
the same site, hut barely begun, there is single
hall now used as military and naval curiosity
shop The rambling palaces and congeries Of
courts gardens and lodgings for retainers which
cnee lined the Thames from old Scotland Yard
well up 10 the Abbey have vanished, and the only
"reminiscences of bygone revelry and chivalry
are a few open spaces with historic names. q
olump Of trees In Whitehall Gardens, a ban
quoting house with faded Rubens ceiling and
the famous hall where all that was mortal OF
GLADSTONE lay in state year ago Only anti
ouarians care to puzzle over the mysteries OF
these famous sites Of mediRval monarchy The
pomp and glory Of the Painted Chamber and Of
the Whitehall Of the Tudors and Stuarts have
passed away and have ceased TO interest prosaic
London
buckingham Palace is associated exclusively
with the Court functions OF the latter half Of the
Victorian reign. George III purchased II, but
made little use of IT, and while George " rebuilt
II. he did not occupy II. AS the town residence OF
The Queen. II has been enlarged and recon
structed for ceremonial purposes. and II now
forms a great quadrangle, gloomy rather than
stately where four or five drawing rooms and
a State ball and a State concert are held in the
course Of year. There are no historical asso-
Citations connected with this Palace. The Queen
Is only there three or four days each year. and
apparently is always eager 10 escape from it,
Buckingham Palace has been called melan-
choly monument 10 the Queens widowhood. 1t
10 the symbol Of royal neglect of the capital.
1t is not palace which either appeals to the
Imagination or possesses any romantic or per-
sonal interest except as the social entrance gate
where young ladies Of high rank or of the smart
sets come out and are at liberty to disport them
selves at town parties and country-house balls.
ST. JAMEs's IN HISTORY.
ST. James's Palace dates from the reign of
Henry VIII and is not without historical
"reminiscences. The unhappy Queen Mary died
there Charles I passed underneath the roof in
uneasy slumber the last night of his life; and
one of the Stuart Pretenders was born there.
It was the chief residence OF royalty from Will
am III to the last of the Georges. The Queen
and several of her children and grandchildren
we're married ;here. and the chief social func-
lions Of her reign until the death of the Prince
Consort were held there. ST. James's Palace has
NTH
.udes. the pleasures and sorrows OF royalty fcr
two centuries. and with its memories Of intrigue
and pageantry 1t still lends an official name 10
he English Court; yet it's traditions have passed
tut Of mind and it has ceased 10 be centre OF
romantic or popular interest Perhaps this is
because little remains Of the original palace Of
:he Tudors and the Stuarts. whose connection
with it was slender at the best although two
initial letters are still to be found in a chimney
piece as a reminiscence of Henry VIII and
Anne Boleyn More likely il is because. as Sir
Walter Besant has suggested II is impossible
10 throw over William III and the Georges the
luminous halo OF romance" since while they
carried on the Protestant succession they were
Aliens incapable OF inspiring the old kind Of
PERSONAL loyalty 10 the sovereign.
Hampton Court hardly lies within the circuit
u London and II has ceased 10 be regarded as
4 royal palace. but is more accurately described
ls the residence Of aristOcratic Crown pension
lrs and as the Sunday recreation ground of
AIRY and 'Arriet Kensington is the only re-
naming palace and neglected as it has been
.or long time IT has taken slight hold upon
public interest Until its present restoration 1t
nas been occupied recently by the Princess
Louise and the Marquis of LOrne and before
hem by the Duke and Princess of Teck: but
bng before their time II was royal residence
William III either built or reconstructed II, and
10th he and Queen Mary lived and died there
rs well as Queen Anne and George II. Thack
nay loved 1t, and did much Of his best work
within sight Of It; but there has never been
much enthusiasm over this sombre and shabby
palace II is not easy 10 explain why this is So
or William III was King who rendered Prot
.stant England an inestimable service and
queen Anne's reign was a period OF glorious
warfare and triumph, but for the popular imagi-
nation old Kensington Palace has had no
glamour.
LOYALTY TO THE QUEEN.
When one enters the palace the Queens
.ghtieth birthday, thousands OF visitors
have been at liberty TO do to-day. there is a
real sense OF personal interest in the birthplace
Df the greatest and best Of English sovereigns
II England accepted a dynasty Of alien kings
without having any sincere affection for them
Or any deep abiding interest In their fortunes
md personality. the feeling Of devotion and
gratitude 20 the present sovereign IN her ola
age is even warmer and more convincing than
The old-time loyalty Of Elizabethan days the
force Of this personal homage to the good queen
Is felt when one wsnders through the Corridors
and apartments OF the palace. There Is no
thrill of interest when the council chambers OF
William and Mary. the dining room ana
orangery Of Queen Anne and the drawing room
Of Queen Caroline are entered. There are hne
examples OF oak paneiling in Queen Mary's gal