Sun-dials 
377 
The dial-face is upheld by a carefully modelled tor- 
toise in bronze, which is an equally suggestive em- 
blem, connected with the tradition, folk-lore, and 
religious beliefs of both primitive and cultured peo- 
ples ; it is specially full of meaning in this place. 
The whole sun-dial shows much thought and aes- 
thetic perception in the designer and owner, and 
cannot fail to prove gratifying to all observers 
having either sensibility or judgment. 
Occasionally a very unusual and beautiful sun-dial 
standard may be seen, like the one in the Rose gar- 
den at Yaddo, Saratoga, New York, a copy of rarely 
beautiful Pompeian carvings. A representation of 
this is shown on page 86. Copies of simpler antique 
carvings make excellent sun-dial pedestals ; a safe 
rule to follow is to have a reproduction made of some 
well-proportioned English or Scotch pedestal. The 
latter are well suited to small gardens. I have draw- 
ings of several Scotch sun-dials and pedestals which 
would be charming in American gardens. In the 
gardens at Hillside, by the side of the Shakespeare 
Border is a sun-dial (page 378) which is an exact 
reproduction of the one in the garden at Abbots- 
ford, the home of Sir Walter Scott. This pedestal 
is suited to its surroundings, is well proportioned ; 
and has historic interest. It forms an excellent 
example of Charles Lamb’s “ garden-altar.” 
On a lawn or in any suitable spot the dial-face can 
be mounted on a boulder ; one is here shown. I 
prefer a pedestal. For gardens of limited size, much 
simplicity of design is more pleasing and more fitting 
than any elaborate carving. In an Italian garden, or 
