TEMPLES AND BELVEDERES 



Hill estate of Mr. John T. Morris, a short flight 

 of steps leading down into the water proves an 

 additional attraction. These steps give access to 

 boats, and with distinct reflections in the still water, 

 the architectural value of the temple steps will be 

 appreciated. 



An absurd fashion is occasionally found in the 

 erection of garden temples on the estates of million- 

 aires whose lack of good taste is in proportion to 

 their great wealth. It is that of counterfeiting an- 

 cient ruins in the form of square or circular garden 

 temples. This is supposed to give a desirable air of 

 antiquity to the garden, which is certain to be of 

 questionable taste, unless it can be harmoniously 

 carried out through the entire scheme of architec- 

 tural embellishment. The effort to outdo the splen- 

 dors or the antique treasures, as the case may be 

 of a neighboring estate has caused many a garden 

 builder to commit absurdities where he had hoped 

 to achieve architectural renown. Aspiring to pos- 

 sess an antique temple of early Grecian or Egyptian 

 fame, the credulous purchaser may be persuaded that 

 the excavated ruins which are finally to take the form 

 of a garden temple when established on his home 

 grounds originally belonged to one of the Egyptian 

 noblemen described by Maspero in his "Dawn of 

 Civilization/' One of these ancient Egyptians estab- 



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