THE FLORIST. 187 



one of whom, on presenting our cards and intimating the descrip- 

 tion of ice we require, he communicates the same through an open- 

 ing in a green-baized wall running the whole length of this place of 

 refreshment. Presently a pair of hands appear, in each a saucer 

 and glass topped up with the refreshing article, which our waiter 

 receives and hands us, accompanied with a plate of cakes from 

 which to select. The back of that green baize has to us always 

 been a place of mystery — a kind of California of good things, upon 

 which we have ofttimes speculated. The appearance and disap- 

 pearance of hands laden with icy treasures is, however, all that is 

 known to us ; and with a comfortable feeling that our cards have 

 procured the cooling refreshment they promised, we take a look 

 round at the company as pleasantly engaged as we have been, and 

 make our exit just in time to join the throng who are following a 

 military band playing a march on its way to the large orchestra, 

 towards which two more bands are also moving. This orchestra is 

 composed simply of seats and music-tables, without any covering, 

 and is situated in a spot well adapted to the purpose, with plenty of 

 open space, before it a deep dell, and the banks clothed with Ameri- 

 can plants. Military music or military bands are little to our taste ; 

 we cannot divest our minds of their association with war, which we 

 entirely hate and abhor, as one of the greatest curses that can afflict 

 humanity ; and whilst they are performing, we amuse ourselves by 

 watching a quantity of large bees, which, utterly indifferent to the 

 tempest of sounds close to them, are busily engaged in abstracting 

 the honey from the flowers of the Rhododendrons. 



Our friend satisfied with music, we walk off and take a look about 

 the gardens, and at the company, now rapidly increasing, and which 

 gives them a most enlivening effect. Seated beneath the shade of 

 trees and shrubs are young and old, their faces beaming with satis- 

 faction. The fineness of the weather has even tempted out the 

 scarcely convalescent and the lame, of whom we see several. Every 

 body looks in good humour, which, in one old gentleman's case, we 

 observe overflowing in offers of his snuff-box to the individuals of 

 the whole band of the Life- Guards. Neither are representatives of 

 other lands wanting in their gay costumes, adding to the innumerable 

 variety of colours which our fair countrywomen disport on this occa- 

 sion. What a gathering! what a mixture! — here a Bishop, there 

 a Friend (Quaker) ; here a nobleman or a lady of title, there those 

 that would gladly be supposed such. In one place an exquisitely 

 fine young gentleman, and near him a horny-handed clever gardener, 

 whose name as a winner is to be seen on more boards than one. 

 Wearied at last, we are glad to take leave of our friend, and to seek 

 the pleasing retreat afforded by the circular tent opposite the Orchi- 

 daceous plants. 



Here our imagination soon carries us into distant lands, where, 

 struggling through swampy and unhealthy valleys, weary, hungry, 

 thirsty, tormented with mosquitoes, and half prostrated with fever, 

 we fancy those enterprising men, some of whose discoveries are 

 before us ; and how earnestly do we long for their presence, that 



