The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-08-20
STATESMAN
MAY BE DISMISSED

, Trinity University. Dublin. and presi-
dent of the Royal Irish Academy. and
was probably the only peer of tho
realm who Included among the Der.
mancnt members of his household
private astronomer. the learned DR.
otto boeodicher OF Gottingen Universi.
~. with whom he was wont to suAnd
many long nights together. exploring
the heavens through the Inmen6e
telescope erected by the third earl at
Birr Castle. the ancestral home MT
Parsons Town, and which telescope re-
mains to-day. after the lapse of moro
than half century, the largest In
the world, superior In size to the Lics
telescope in California.
Birr Castle has been the home OF tho
! Parsonses ever since this old English
family settled In Ireland. In the reign
Of Queen Elizabeth. 1t is a fine old
place. with moat. portcullis and draw
bridge. which call TO mind the cele-
brated siege OF tho castle after tho
Revolution of 1888. when William Par
sons, It's then owner. with his tenant
~. successfully withstood siege
of fifteen months BY the troops OF
James H.. under General Sarsield Ia
some of the outer walls of the castle
are still to be seen, embedded In the
stone and mortar. cannon balls as
charged ny Sa.sneld's artillery dur
has much to say OF the Parsons family
In the reign of the early Stuarts, and
II is not altogether complimentary. But
1t Is only fair TO ndd that the present
Earl CT Rose bears Il title of diff
ferent creation. and Is not descended
from. but merely related as collateral
10 the Lord Rose OF the reign of
Charles II
Birr Castle may be said to stand al
most In the midst OF Parsons Town,
founded by the Parsons family. tia
houses Of the town being built almost
right up TO the main entrance Tho
place is crowded with ell sorts of
treasures OF art and history. and
among the features of the extensive
garden and park are the wonderfui
box trees. twenty-five TO thirty feet in
height: growth asserted by experts
to be absolutely unique.
The present Lord Rose is quite
rich. For not only are the entails!
estates which go with the earldom. cN-
treHely valuable. but moreover the late
earl drew royalties from all sorts or
useful Inventions added TO which, his
mother. the now widowed Countess OF
Rose, was the only child and heir
ess or the late Lord Hawke. and as
such Inherited q fortune. which is es-
timated at some $4,000 year
''o SNOts IEtFs, n cavalry regiment
(Which must not be COMPOUNDED with
the Royal Scots. OF Pontius Pilates
BODY Guard. concerning which / wrote
in these letters the other day) has
neen playing very important role
In connection with the great strile
In London. and has contributed In no
small degree TO save the situation
there by safeguarding the transport or
provisions. 1t is a regiment which was
formed in the reign of Charles IL. by
Sir Thomas Dalziell, to fight the Coven-
anters, Sir Thomas being that strange
enthusiast who never cut his beard
nor altered the fashion OF his uniform
from the time OF the execution OF
Chatles l. His successor In the com
inand OF the regiment the Earl OF
D"hinore' was also devoted ndherent
OF the Stuarts and refusing to 20 over
with the regiment to William III on
the revolution, was removed from tho
command. Tho Scots Crcys served I'M
der the great Duke OF Marlborough,
TOOK part in George Ills cavalry
charge st the battle of Dettingen, wero
at Waterloo. where they earned the
admiration of Napoleon, who describ-
ed them as "ces terribles chevaux
girls in the charge of the Heavy Brig
ade at Baiaclava. and last but not
least. In the South African War. where
Tor the first time in their long re-
cora OF campaigning. they were com
peied to leave behind them their gray
horses' which are their distinguishing
features. and which were regarded as
rendering them too conspicuous a mark
Tor the Boer rifles.
Copyright. 1911, by the Brentwood
Company