THE LURE OF THE GARDEN 



These high brick walls are characteristic of Charles- 

 ton's gardens. They are various in design, relieved 

 by elevations and blind arches, by small turrets and 

 square ends. Often they are entirely hidden under the 

 English ivy, or softly pink from long standing in sun 

 and rain. Some are coped with stone. All lend magic 

 glimpses of the wonderlands they shelter, through an 

 arched gateway or unexpected opening, or by spilling 

 over a shower of wistaria or laburnum. But these 

 places are essentially town gardens, made to lend se- 

 clusion and quiet to the house, as well as loveliness, 

 and to be lived in as part of the home. They are lova- 

 ble, discreet, and sequestered, nor are they entirely sel- 

 fish. For down the steps and beside the porches, over 

 the walls and through the lattices, the flowers give every 

 passer-by hints and promises and prophecies, no full 

 revelation, but exquisite glimpses. Charm is the key- 

 note, and the perfect relation of house and garden each 

 to each, and both to their owners' needs, whether of 

 body or soul. 



Surely our grandmothers of the North and the South, 

 working in a new land and under strange conditions, 

 left us a worth-while heritage in these posy beds and 

 garden closes of theirs, a heritage whose value we are 

 growing to appreciate, and whose example we shall do 

 well to imitate. 



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