May, 1912 
covering a hillside facing the gar- 
den. Ina little dale between the two 
hills, the brook flowing from the 
pond babbles on its way to join the 
Wissahickon’s placid course 
through shaded banks in the broad 
meadow beyond. The driveway 
skirts the margin of the pond, and 
here you come upon one of Comp- 
ton’s choicest features—an object 
that has probably caught and held 
your eye from the moment you 
passed through the gate. A flight 
of five steps rises from the water’s 
edge to a small circular Greek tem- 
ple of purest Doric pattern, 
wrought in white marble, the roof 
upheld by six shapely pillars. Out- 
lined against the dark green of the 
surrounding foliage, this bit of 
classic architecture stands forth in 
striking relief and impresses its 
character on all around. A stately 
pair of snow-white swans afloat on 
the pool adds an agreeable touch 
of animated life to the scene. Elsa 
and Lohengrin—such are their 
names—answer when called and are always eager for gob- 
bets of bread when anyone comes near. In the center of the 
pond is an island covered with thick-grown shrubbery, so 
planted that either blossoms or foliage afford variety of 
color at all seasons. Along the edges grow shrubs and Iris 
with wealth of gorgeous bloom. Not far beyond the pond, 
almost hidden from view by trees and boscage, you dis- 
cover a log cabin, past whose door the brook chatters noisily. 
A cobblestone chimney of generous proportions justifies 
A more enchanting place at any time from May to October than this corner of the garden at Compton would be hard to imagine 
AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 
The eeRGuee beguebt Hom okie 
155 
the expectation of cheer and 
comfort within. Nor are you dis- 
appointed on entering. A great 
wide-throated fireplace stretches 
nearly across one end of the cabin, 
and there a full array of ancient 
cranes, hangers, pots and kettles, 
with no end of curious eighteenth 
century kitchen equipment besides, 
invites the most prosaic to essay a 
meal. For little picnicking lunch- 
eons or for tea brewings on chilly 
afternoons in Autumn, this. tree- 
sheltered cabin is a truly ideal spot. 
The pleasantest way to ascend 
the hill to the house is through the 
arboretum. Leaving the pond and 
following a grass walk, you pres- 
ently find yourself in the midst of 
plantations of Viburnums, Bar- 
berrys and Yew. Here Ivy trails 
over chains and stakes set out to 
mark the path; there Wistaria, 
trained into tree form, waves its 
purple clusters in the breeze. Not 
far beyond the pathway broadens 
out into a circle, and there a marble 
fountain of exquisite workmanship casts its hundred tiny jets 
sparkling inthe sun. A few steps farther on a bower of hardy 
Orange trees encloses the alley. In Spring their great white- 
petaled blossoms star the leafage of glossy green; in Fall the 
golden fruit tempts eye and hand. On either side these trees 
have been planted, not in rows, but in the form of trefoils. 
Within the rounded trefoil ends stand tall, curiously wrought 
Chinese jars. ‘The effect of this richly colored pottery against 
its sombre background can scarcely be described. Joy fol- 
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