90 ROYAL GARDENS 



convenience of its inmates. Near the eastern boundary of this, 

 in front of the palace she was born in, facing the huge capital 

 of the Empire she was called upon to rule, a noble statue of 

 Queen Victoria has been modelled, and recently erected to her 

 memory by her daughter. Princess Louise. 



Another piece of statuary has within the last twelve months 

 been placed here. Every one will remember it was in Ken- 

 sington Gardens that ' Peter Pan ' met with some of his sur- 

 prising adventures. To commemorate the pleasure which 

 this delightful character has given to so many children — 

 young and old, — an exquisitely fanciful figure ^ of the boy 

 *' who wouldn't grow up " has been given a place in the 

 grounds his spirit may almost be said to haunt. The idea of 

 erecting this emblem of all that is most charming and innocent 

 in a child among the tree-shaded lawns that have for nearly a 

 hundred years been a playground for countless thousands of 

 London's children, is one of such surpassing beauty that it 

 seems to belong rightly to the age of Theocritus rather than 

 to the hurried days of the twentieth century. Or is it a sign 

 that there is still a good deal of poetry left, latent and seldom 

 expressed it may be, in a nation sometimes supposed to be 

 merely prosaic and entirely addicted to money-making ? 

 Another valuable idea has just borne fruit at Kensington, 

 and a portion of the palace, by the late King's wish, is now 

 devoted to the new London Museum. 



For all these and many other additions and embellishments 

 which have been, or are being, brought to perfection, num- 

 berless visitors to Kensington Palace and Gardens are duly 

 grateful. It is highly satisfactory to observe that all the works 

 so far completed have been carried out in a spirit of reverence 

 for times past, and with an enlightened taste. They are truly 

 appreciated, and the privilege of being able to see them at 

 close quarters affords an enormous amount of enjoyment and 

 recreation to every class in the great community of London. 



^ By Sir George Framplon, R.A. 



