Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1919-02-20
,;e,s, we stenned from the staircase

bauister. We stepped from the staircase
TO a long corridor which ran the iengtn
of The wing. and on both side were rooms
which the officers used. All along the
walls hung portraits and paintings OF the
various generations of Talleyrands who
for MANY centuries have been the own-
ers of Velancay, and in case on one
side OF the hall were the court clothes OF
one of the earliest counts, and you never
saw such gorgeous garments IN all your
life. Captain Edwards was given the
Red Room-red carpet on the floor, REQ
peoples frescoed on the wall. red covers
on the massive bed-in tact. everything
that had any color at all was deep REQ,
and the effect was beautiful.
The first thing did was to look oui OF
the window, and from the great height |
could see many miles to the soutn.
Close TO the walls OF the buildings was
the deep, long since emptied moat with
the banks covered with grass. and lust
under 1.-The window was drawbridge,
and if was up, since no one used that en-
trance auy more. To the lett saw
bluff that dropped sheer to the river, per-
hans hundred feet below, and IN front
rolled the many acres OF the estate. AS
in all parts OF France, there was great
deal OF the country wooded, tor there is
a law that when man cuts down Tree
he must replant one, and IN this way the
forests are perpetuated. The Cher river
crept through the fields and woods, and
the landscape was certainly pleasing. AS
| looked saw large bunch oil animals
grazing in field that looked TO me IKE
deer, and asked the "Y' man and ne
said that they were deer, and that on the
estate there were more than hunoIea
of them, and that every once in while
one OF them was killed and for day or
two venison was plentiful. ! asked him
how il was that the Y. M. G. A. had got
ten hold OF such fine place, and he told
me that theSCounteSS was an American
and had offered part OF the Chateau to
be used by officers. The "Y" had not
been slow to accept the offer. and the re-
| suit is that the Americans have mighty
| fine place where they can spend a lew
days. IN,
The older part OF the Chateau was BULL
way back in the fourteenth century. and
while il shows that il has a very great age
vet il is kept in perfect repair, and Will
probably stand for years to come lhe
moat has had no water in 1t tor over a
hundred years, and surrounds three sizes
| OF the building, the fourth side having inc
natural protection OF the bluff upon winch
| il stands. There are draw bridges on two
sides, and a permanent bridge has been
| erected at the main entrance. Al the
rear OF the Chateau is Sunken garden,
ann in this spot much effort has been pul
forth to make il beautiful. A number oil
small fountains with marble statuary are
scattered about, and the flowers have
been gathered from all over the world.
was mighty sorry that some OF them
were not in bloom, but even at that Inc
garden was wonderful. did not have
as much time TO 60 over the estate as
would have liked to have had, but II was
certainly a privilege to be able to see
that much wouldn't mind owning g
place like that il il was in sight OF the ole
home town-but they couldn't give II &c
me over here il had to live in it.
Coming back we came different road
and by a by a new cavalry station thai
has been recently established about ter
kilometers from here. There must have
been live thousand horses there, and JUS
1 as we got there OuHCH Vi IOOhiCS "SiS
having their afternoon riding lesson.
never knew before how easy it was fol
a horse TO throw green rider. CUES:
saw six hit the mud. and about that time
the instructor, who from his actions was
an old time cavalryman, began to direc
a few choice and well-chosen remarks Il
those who had been unfortunate enough
10 be dislodged. | must admit that III
had fluent flow Of language, and ate
that there were no more casualties.
| don'tknow when | am coming home
i don't know when anything is golnI
to happen-but do know that we arr
sadly out OF luck, and that we may spent
another summer here. But believe mi
when they give me the word J will b.
home without any hesitancy, and agalns
that glad day can but wait patiently an!
hope for the best. Give my love to al
the folks, and tell them to remember tina
il is not my fault that | am staying, ant
that before many years hope to be able
to greet them at a closer range. Witt
best love for yourself, am,
Lovingly,
| BILL.