HORSE-CHESNUT. 
77 
HORSE-CHESNUT. 
LUXURY. 
It is more than two centuries since the 
Horse-chesnut has been an inhabitant of our 
climate; and nevertheless it is not yet observed 
to mingle its superb head with the crowd of 
trees indigenous to our forests. Its delight is 
to embellish parks, to adorn superb mansions, 
and to throw its broad shadow over the palaces 
of kings. 
One showery day in the commencement of 
spring suffices to invest this beautiful tree with 
all the richness of its verdure. When it grows 
by itself, nothing can be compared with the min¬ 
gled magnificence and elegance of its pyramidal 
form, the beauty of its foliage, and the richness 
of its flowers, which gave it the appearance of 
an immense chandelier covered with innume¬ 
rable girandoles. Ever attached to pomp and 
profusion, it covers with flowers the green turf 
which it protects with its shadow, and yields to 
pleasure its most delicious seclusion. But to 
