GARDENS OF WELL-KNOWN PEOPLE 
its encircling trees to weaving curious patterns, it affects 
you like the conjured marvel of an Arabian tale. A 
strange hush falls upon it, the hidden blossoms spill 
out their most potent fragrance, and within the high 
walls the cup of beauty overflows. 
A garden of a different type is the one belonging to 
Mrs. Wharton, lying nearer to Lenox. Her place com¬ 
mands a magnificent view of the nearer and farther hills 
for miles, with half a dozen lakes flashing to the sun. 
The house itself, adapted from an English model that 
drew from the Italian, dominates a hilltop, and is at¬ 
tained by sweeping drives and surrounded by down¬ 
dropping lawns shaded by fine trees. On one side 
there is a rock garden of great beauty, and the shrub¬ 
bery, curving like an approaching wave, edges the 
lawns nobly. But it is the double sunken gardens, set 
down into the hill, that are the distinction of the place. 
Each has its central fountain, surrounded by geometri¬ 
cally shaped beds separated by narrow gravel paths 
and planted with brilliant flowers of contrasted hues. 
At their lower edge stand marble walls in the Italian 
style, with openings that permit exquisite glimpses of 
the view, and, at the same time, form a lovely back¬ 
ground for a few of the taller flowers and some choice 
rose-trees. 
Looking down upon these two gardens, separated 
from each other by the -terraced lawns, as you stand 
on the broad veranda of the villa, the glory of their 
1 35 
