The Merry Past 



generally well attended. Her affability to all was 

 proverbial, and during her reign Hatfield House was 

 remarkable for its character of hospitality, main- 

 tained with the greatest splendour. 



To the last Lady Salisbury scarcely ever omitted 

 her daily ride into the park on horseback, except 

 when the weather would not permit, and then she 

 went to the King's riding-house at Pimlico for an 

 hour ; and so high did Lady Salisbury stand in the 

 estimation of George IV, that he caused an opening 

 to be made into the interior of the Green Park, 

 exactly facing her garden gate, that she might have 

 the exclusive privilege of enjoying her favourite 

 exercise there undisturbed. 



This sportswoman's death was extremely tragic. 

 She had retired a short time before dinner to her 

 dressing-room to write a note, and her attendant 

 left her. The room by some means caught fire, 

 and every exertion to save her was in vain. She 

 perished in the fiery furnace, and the venerable 

 lady found a tomb amid the mouldering ruins of 

 the west wing of Hatfield, over which she had 

 presided for more than half a century. 



An old French sporting lady who was a great 

 character attracted a good deal of attention during 

 the English occupation of France, under the Duke of 

 Wellington, when some officers were billeted at the 

 Chateau of Zudguerke not far from Gravelines. 

 This was owned by the Baroness de Draacke, a 

 portly lady, of about fifty-five, of somewhat startling 

 dress and appearance. She wore top-boots, black 



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