French Gardening and Its Master 
PLAN OF THE GARDENS AND PARK ST. CLOUD 
accounts of his dealings with his artists of various kinds, that 
the Grand Monarque was far from being what an architect 
would call an easy client. He had ideas of his own, thought 
he knew it all better than the cleverest of others, made changes 
from beginning to end during the progress of the work; and 
indulged, without a thought of the other man, in all those 
annoyances which, if they were not at times so difficult to 
bear with, we should call petty. But with all that, he recog¬ 
nized very substantially, in honors, in pecuniary grants, and, 
best of all, in enlarged opportunities for work, his indebted¬ 
ness to those who worked for him. Le Notre was a consum¬ 
mate courtier, never for a moment presuming to a semblance 
of social equality with the great nobles for whom he worked ; 
but at the same time giving rein, in their presence, to the 
charming child-like good nature and enthusiasm which was so 
important a factor in his success. Those who employed him 
loved him, and he made his way, and got his way, quite as 
much, probably, by the exercise of his personal charm as by 
bringing into play the more masterful powers of his intellect. 
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