THE POOL AS THE FOCAL POINT OF THE GARDEN COMPOSITION 
“Pools add greatly to the beauty and quiet peace of gardens. They serve two purposes; that of a mirror to reflect the sky and 
surrounding verdure, and for water plants and goldfish.” This simple circular looking-glass type, like “a bit of the sky fallen 
through from on high,” makes a delightful pivot for surrounding bloom. Flome of Mrs. George Barton French at Southampton, L. I. 
FOUNTAINS WHICH MAKE FAIRY MAGIC 
IN THE GARDEN 
AMY RICHARDS COLTON 
Decorator, Author of “Choosing Chintzes for Sun-room and Veranda” (May, 1924, G. M.) and other articles 
The Murmur and the Mystery of Water Weave a Soothing Enchantment that Dispels Wear¬ 
iness and Lends Sparkle Even to Commonplace Plots or the Tiniest of City Backyards 
Like most arts, that of gardens—in which fountains and pools 
are naturally included—comes to us from the East. India, 
China, Japan, Persia, Egypt, all had them as part of a decorative 
scheme which included the house. A great many of our fruits, 
flowers, and architectural ideas concerning gardens have come 
down to us from these far- and near-eastern countries, filtering 
slowly through the early Greek and Roman civilizations and 
that of Italy and Spain, to northern Europe, and so on in turn 
to the New World. 
In Oriental countries the garden was a place of seclusion 
for family life, a cool and grateful refuge from the tropical 
heat, and a pool or fountain was usually the center on which 
the whole plan and life of the garden pivoted. Sometimes 
running water was introduced by diverting a natural stream 
or by bringing it in canals from a distance. If there was 
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ffilftSP RTIFICIAL pools and fountains have always formed 
the center of gardens designed for out-of-door living. 
j/W The word itself comes from the Latin fons which signi- 
lasdlail fies water gushing from a natural spring. Sheffey’s 
lines are familiar: 
“Arethusa arose 
From her couch of snows, 
In the Acroceraunian mountains. 
From cloud and from crag, 
With many a jag. 
Shepherding her bright fountains.” 
And doubtless from this natural model many of the intricate 
artificial cascade effects were evolved by the ingenious beauty- 
loving landscape architects and sculptors of the Renaissance and 
Eighteenth Century. 
