The Washington herald., 1911-06-23
DEVoNSHIRE HOUSE.


were present at the remarkably grandiose
junction at Devonshire House on the night
Of the annual races, at which the Duke
and Duchess OF Devonshire were the
hosts. The scene was one of exceptional
splendor. for Devonshire House is one OF
the select palaces Of London, and, with
its magnificent rooms and spacious gar
dens, Is peculiarly well fitted for great
social gatherings
The presence Of British royalty at De-
vonshire House is a matter of tradition.
The marvellous circular staircase, Of which
I have had occasion to speak before, with
its marble and alabaster, its handrah OF
solid glass, has witnessed the ascent OF
many kings OF princes and princesses,
and Of countless mobiles and distinguished
personages. Hospitality always has been
cherished tradition of that house. Yet
opine that it would make the present
duke and his charming duchess smile at
the kind OF supper that was provided at
the dances Of nearly two centuries ago.
Yes; and so would the guests themselves.
Lady wentworth, in letter to her son,
speaks OF ''the very handsome supper
given at Devonshire House at that period
as follows: AT the upper END cold
chicken, next to that a dish OF cake,
parched almods, sap biskets, then dish
of tarts and cheese cakes, great GUS
tard, preserved ''apticocks," and finally
"a quarter of lamb" This was GER
tainly an incongruous bill OF fare, and
would hardly satisfy a modern assem-
blage OF the upper crust. The ball at
which the above splendid" banquet was
served, took place in 173S, or only short
time before the disastrous fire which
destroyed the original building, which
had been erected by Lord Berkeley, Of
Stratton, in 1865. at cost OF some
s30.0O0 on ground occupied formerly by
Hay Hill Farm. That house, according
to the record. had a beautiful vista to
Hampstead and the adjacent country" I"
In those days the house had far more
grounds, as they included all Berkeley
Square, but Lady Berkeley. after her
husbands death, let a portion for build
ing purposes.
Berkeley House was the home OF Prin-
cess Anne during the time when she was
not on friendly terms with King William
and Queen Mary. II was bought, in
1897 by the Duke of Devonshire, who
entertained the King there the following
year. 1t was during the incumbency of
the third duke that the house burned
down. A leading critic OF the day said
of II: ut is spacious, and so are the
warehouses OF the East India Company,
and both of them are equally deserving
of praise" Its external appearance, IL
must be admitted, was in no way strik-
ing. but inside it boasts of magnificent
suites of rooms. filed with the most ex-
quisite art treasures.
During the reign OF George III Devon
shire House was a famous political meet
ing place. The then duke was an un-
compromising opponent Of the unpopular
Lord Butte. and his successor continued
the same political tradition with the
powerful support OF his wife, the beauti-
full and famous Georgiana. 1t was her
influence that secured the triumph Of
Charles Fox at the notorious Westminster
election IN May, 1884. An even greater
proof OF her power and charms is to be
found I'm the fact that she induced women
to abandon the fashion for hoops" and
introduced the custom of wearing
feathers.
The great ballroom has been the scene
Of many interesting social gatherings.
None has been more notable that the
performance of Bulwer Lyttons comedy,
Not So Bad AS We Seem This was
given in 1851 for the benefit OF the Guild
of Literature and Art, and Queen Vic
toria and the prince consort were among
the audience, while Charles Dickens was
among the actors. Douglas Jerrold, John
Leach, and Maclise were also in the cast.
The entrance to Devonshire House was
originally by a double fight of stone
steps, forming an external staircase lead
ing to the reception rooms on the first
floor, but this was done away with many
years ago. and the entrance placed on
the ground floor through the hall which
led into semicircular apse containing
the famous staircase with the glass hand
rail. The famous collection Of pictures
for which the house Is renowned Is scat
tered through the magnificent suite Of
rooms on the first floor. Among the art
treasures of the ballroom are splendid
Andrea del Sarto, Paul Veronese, and
Jordaens, the great Flemish painter. The
ballroom itself is decorated in the rich
and elaborate Venetian style, with much
intricate gliding and a heavily orna-
mented ceiling.
Fine works of art enrich all the other
rooms of the suite. and in addition TO
pictures there is much beautiful furni-
ture of all periods, and lovely Sevres
and Chelsea china, Italian cabinets, and
Renaissance ornaments, the accumulated
treasures that wealth combined with good
taste and knowledge has been able to
gather in the course of many genera
tions.
without assuming the responsibility
of chronicling the great British ma
tional racing event, will add a few
words about the origin of the famous
Derby. The first OF those races was run
131 years ago, on May 4. 1850, when Sir
Charles Banbury's Diomed beat Maj.
OKelly's famous Eclipse and seven
others. The stakes were 1.o25 guineas.
It was only one-rnile race, and proved
so small an attraction to the sporting
fraternity that it was found necessary
to fortify the EPSON programme with a
cockf1ght Public interest in the mat
ter was so slight that the Public Ad-
vertiser, though 1t found room to record
the breakdown Of q one-horse chaise on
the road home from EPSON, had not even
a corner to spare for an account of the
race itself
Englishmen Of to-day go to EPSON in
search Of sport. Few of them know, or IL
they should know, care that their fore
fathers were wont to look for health in
that little, undressing Surrey town,
and, what Is more, that they actually
found 1t there. EPSON Wells were famous
long before races even were thought OF
and royal visits were very common. Dis
covered in the reign Of Elizabeth, the
wells soon became famous, and EPSON
grew from country village to gay and
brilliant town, with absolutely the last
word in luxurious hotels at that day.
Pepys, Of course, visited them and tasted
the water-four pints was his allowance
for d taste. BY 1910 the wells were de-