House and Garden 
affairs, invitingly situated at the end of some flower 
bordered path, or seen through a vine-clad per¬ 
gola, are delightfully suggestive of small informal 
gatherings. So also are the little summer-houses 
which one so frequently comes upon, nestling in some 
quiet corner, half hidden by masses of bloom and 
graceful foliage, or perched, perhaps, after the 
fashion of an old English gazebo, upon some eleva¬ 
tion commanding an extensive view of the garden and 
surrounding country. 
In style of architecture these garden-houses vary 
infinitely from quaint rustic shelters, thatched with 
straw or fragrant pine needles, to miniature temples 
of classic design. In furnishing and equipment they 
also differ widely, for while some contain only a few 
simple benches, many of the more pretentious ones 
are so conveniently arranged and fitted up that it is 
an easy matter to serve a dainty chafing-dish supper, 
or entertain one’s friends at an afternoon tea even 
on a rainy day. Indeed, one occasionally finds a 
garden-house so well constructed that it may be used 
with comfort on sunny days all through the winter 
months. 
Not a few gardens owe their attractiveness in part 
to the beautiful arbors and pergolas which embellish 
them. 1 he arbor is by no means a new-fangled 
accessory, nor is the pergola, for that matter, but the 
[ CARVED POSTS, LINTEL AND WELL CURB 
details, for otherwise they are in had taste. A fre¬ 
quent companion piece of the garden seat is a table 
of some sort. This convenient bit of furniture usu¬ 
ally corresponds in style to the seat near which it is 
placed, although contrasting designs and materials 
appeal to some people as being more desirable. 
Stone or concrete is far more satisfactory than wood 
for this purpose, since a table top of the latter ma¬ 
terial soon becomes warped unless carefully protected 
from the weather. 
The effectiveness of the most attractive furniture 
may be entirely spoiled by the wrong placing, how¬ 
ever. The essential point in selecting its location is 
that the spot chosen shall be the one best adapted for 
that purpose. 1'here should be a sort of inevitable 
fitness between these accessories and their surround¬ 
ings; otherwise the beauty and comfort of the garden 
are in no way enhanced and the very object for which 
the work was planned is defeated. The ideal loca¬ 
tion for a seat and table is a cool, shady spot, where 
one can find welcome shelter from the sun on a hot, 
sultry day and spend a comfortable hour with a book, 
or chat with a friend over a refreshing glass of one’s 
favorite summer beverage. 
The influence of far away Japan may be seen in the 
pretty little tea houses which are springing up in so 
many gardens at the present day. These picturesque 
AN ORNAMENTAL TOOL HOUSE 
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