The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-23
WHERE THE QUEEN DIED.
The Isle of Wight, Town of Cowes,
and Osborne.

LONDON. Jan. 22-The Isle of wight,
where the Queen breathed her last, il a
beautiful spot. The town of Cowes Is
overlooking with correspondents, repre-
senting newspapers in all parts of the
world. in addition to numerous high on
Gals and their attendants.
The normal population of Cowes Is
$500. 1t has six fairly good hotels, how
ever, as in the yachting season 1t is the
centre of a fashionable colony Tho
Royal Yacht Squadron, the leading
yacht club of Great Britain, has its
headquarters at Cowes in a restored
fort or castle. which was built some 800
years ago. .l
The little River Medina, which flows
into the Solent. divides West Cowes and
East Co~es. The former is the business
town. the latter being sleepy little place.
1t takes two hours to travel from London
to Cowes by way Of Portsmouth
Two miles southeast of Cowes is the
royal residence Of Osborne. The Queen
lies dead in her bedroom in the west
wing Osborne was the Queens private
property and her favorite home. The
building OF the great house was begun d.
rectly after her marriage to the Prince
COMFORT and he suggested many of its
architectural features.
The happiest years OF the Queens life
were spent in Osborne House with her hus-
band and her young children. The Prince
Consort was devoted to the place
Osborne, being private property, is not
open to the public at any time, though
visitors are sometimes admitted to the
grounds.
The grounds now cover about 1000 acres,
the Queen having made many additional
purchases of land to the piece originally
bought by herself and Prince Albert In
1870. Additions have been made to the
building also. one Of the most Important
being a great banquet hall. so by 30 feet.
There have heec ss- smoDial functions
at Osborne. The house was built strictly
for private family Use and only once has
the Council Chamber been oficially used.
This was in 1S45, when Sir Robert Peel
decided that the famine in Ireland called
for immediate action.
Osborne House Is prim. somewhat
severe stone>and brick mansion of NO
particular architectural beauty. with
two towers OF unequal height, the
tallest being 1e7 feet. The rooms. how
ever, are adorned with many rare pict-
ure5, statues, and articles Of value. The
garden is arranged in terraces and ends
in a lawn which slopes to the waters
edge. where there is small wharf for
the use OF royalty.
The chief amusement of the Prince
Consort was the direction of model
'arm on the estate which has always been
Kept up by the Queen. The grounds bear
many living records of the Queens fami-
". Two Immense bushes were planted by
Victoria and Albert and near them are
smaller bushes OF various sizes, planted
by each OF the nine children
Then there are still smaller ones plant
ID by multitude of grandchildren and
,reat-grandchildren. Each bush or tree
pears a plaque telling by whom 1t Fas
planted and when.
Each OF the Queens children had gar
len and was held to strict accountability
or the condition OF the plot of ground
Zach had his or her set of little gardening
ools, and these are all TO be found today
n place In little Toulouse. Tho chill
ren raised produce and sold 1t at market
,rices to their mother.