Omaha daily bee., 1919-10-05

come sight in foreign land-and
at its side the British standard.
Craig y-Nos, the rock of the night,
seemingly stands out in somber hue
from its green background to wei
come us. 1t is not the only well
come. Mr.. Nicolini is i'll waiting
with the carriages. AS we alight,
Madame Patti utters cry of sur
prise; this is not the Nicolini whom
she left but a few days before with
fine full beard, it is handsome,
robust man with blue eyes, brown
hair and mustache-the beard has
vanished. Despite repeated e:.clama-
tons. rs this my husband?" Patti
seems to have already accustomed
herself to the change and rather
seems to like it.
From the station a serpent'ne
paved roadway leads down and
around the mountain to the gates OF
the walled enclosure.
Million Dollar Castle.
Craig-y-Nos has undergone many
alterations and extensions since 1t
came into the possession of Madame
Patti | 4 years ago. Vast sums had
been spent annually in enbellishing,
undertaking and charging it until
at present, it represents an invest
ment of over $l,000,000. The castle
is all imposing, oblong structure
with its main frontage towards the
rising sun and overlooking terrace,
lake, valley and mountain. The
turreted south wing with its narrow
windows and Norman crest was
built some 80 years ago. The rest
has since been added. Its massive
walls of sandstone, now gray and
Anticipated in appearance, are sur
mounted by castellated cornce set
off at each end by baston-like tow
ers rising above the three-storied
castle. Recent extensions and ad-
ditione have been i'll harmony with
the original design. The new center
tower is embellshed by clock
which strikes the hours exactly like
the famous Victoria clock in West
minister.
The principal entrance opens in
large airy hall from which con-
venient stairway leads to the stories
above which are devoted to cham
bers and sleeping apartments. 1t
goes without saying that these
rooms are superbly furnished and
equipped with all modern conven-
fences including electrical call bells.
Madame PATHS boudoir is more
deliberately yet unostentatiously ar
ranged. The most noticeable piece
of furniture is large safe in which
the diva's princely jewels and val
tables are securely kept. The
chambers are handsomely decor
ated, not overdone; the older ones
are finished with painted woodwork,
those just completed in the new
addition with beautiful natural wood.
Display of Trophies.
On the ground floor to the north
of the entrance hall is cosy little
reception room, in which is displayed
number of the great singers tro-
plies. Letters from the crowned
heads of Europe and eminent COM
posers, pictures of dear friends
bearing autograph Inscriptions,
among which that of Mrs. Cleveland
attracts the eye of the American
visitor; chaplets of gold and silver
and precious stones, and ether tok-
ems of admiration and esteem pre-
sent the story of the career of the
most famous songstress of our age.
The drawing room on the opposite
side OF the hall is larger and per-
haps little more deliberately fur
nished. An adjoining alcove con-
tains Parian marble bust of Patti.
A smaller plaster model Of the
prima donna i'll her youth, placed
in the hall above, gives material for
an interesting comparison. Por-
traits and photographs of the same
subjec. at different periods of her
career are by no means lacking, but
as they are we'll distributed through
cut the various rooms, their pro-
fusion does not obtrude itself on the
eye. The library is commodious
and fitted with every convenience
for writing. Along the walls is ar
ranged a small Z collection of well
selected literary works in English,
French and German. Many treat of
musical topics, but there are also
editions o. the leading poets IS we'll
as number of standard novels.
Among them l notice Lcngfellow's
poems. "Iohn Halifax, Gentleman"
Daniel Deronda, History of Music"
by Clement, the National Encyclo-
pedia, Ouida's works, Songs Of
Wales" works of Byron, Burns ind
Shakespeare. On the tables are
many finely illustrated hooks, be-
sides numerous Photographic al
buns, giving views of different
place; IN the many lands which Patti
has visited.
Meals in Conservatory.
The dining room is large square
hall, the walls and paneled ceiling
most handsomely decorated The
sidebo1rd is loaded down with rare
porcelain and silver. During the
winter It is in constant use, but in the
summer time the meals are served
in a dining room especially con-
structcd for convenience during the
warmer months. The latter is a
long conservatory built entirely of