SIGNED BY KING EDWARD.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 909, 31 August 1910, Page 11

SIGNED BY KING EDWARD.

-A model mansion for dolls was undoubtedly the greatest attraction at the dolls' bazaar held at Lansdowne House, London, in which both adults and children alike wero keenly interested, says the English correspondent of an Australian paper. The collection of furniture, ornair.ents, books, china, and plate, secured by Lady Muriel Herbert, daughter of the Earl of Penbroke, is probably the most valuable of its kind in the world, and the house itself is the most wonderful every built. Five years have been spent upon its construction, and.it will be several years yet before it is finished. It contains fifteen rooms, including a ban-queting-hall, and marble pillars, panelled walls, decorated ceilings, and all tho luxurious appointments of a mansion are there. The house, which is 7ft. high by sft. in width, was opened by Queen Alexandra two years ago when she was at Wilton House with King Edward. The Queen used a golden key on that occasion, and it is now in her possession. Among the priceless treasures of this wonderful mansion is a visiting book about an inch square, in which are inscribed the signatures of Queen Alexandra, King Edward, Princess Victoria, Lord Rosebery, Lord Salisbury, and many other royal and noble personages. The autographs of Queen Alexandra and the late King are supposed to be the smallest ever written by their Majesties, and both of them are exceptionally clear and carefully inscribed. Everything is Liliputian in size. Tho Jacobean buffet is Bin. long, and close'by is an old oak table of corresponding dimensions. A Georgian silver beaker the size of a thimble is flanked by diminutive Queen Anne candlesticks; the grand piano is a masterpiece in satinwood and marquetry. . It is a perfect model, thoroughly in tune, and can bo played upon, although a child's hand would span the , whole keyboard. The library contains a number of tiny books and volumes of the poets in tooled vellum and shagreen, which measuro half an inch in length.