Levens Hall 
THE HOUSE FROM THE GARDEN 
Wmm 
and soon the best examples equaled, if they did not 
surpass, the famous garden of Pliny of which we have 
a minute description by the hand of that celebrated 
author, and in imitation of which these topiary 
gardens were designed. The accompanying illus¬ 
trations will give a far better idea of the effect of this 
work in general, and of the Levens Gardens in 
particular, than can any amount of description how¬ 
ever detailed. The various trees are usually sur¬ 
rounded by flowers set out in neat beds with an edge 
of clipped box for the border. Walking along the 
well-kept gravel paths, the visitor first notices among 
the more striking forms a peacock of box only slightly 
larger than life, again a lion with a crown on his head, 
and further along a figure of the king also crowned. 
In another corner stands the queen with her arms 
akimbo, while near by is a colossal helmet and an 
umbrella. Sometimes the paths pass beneath box 
archways. Opening vistas are forms interesting for 
their picturesque fantasy rather than because they 
are copies of any natural objects. To many visitors 
the “judge’s wig” is most amusing; a graphic though 
gigantic copy of the official, and to American eyes, 
half grotesque, wig worn by the English judges while 
on the bench. This particular wig stands some six 
feet high beside the walk, and many a cup of after¬ 
noon tea has been served under its shelter, even in 
rainy weather, for the thick interlacing branches of 
the clipped yew afford ample protection from the wet. 
Tradition has laid here the scene of many a court¬ 
ship, but, unfortunately, there are two concealed 
entrances from the back, which, if the legend may be 
believed, have more than once caused serious inter¬ 
ruption by an eavesdropper. The dark foliage of the 
yew, unfortunately, makes it difficult to bring out the 
best characteristics of this popular piece of scenic 
gardening. Beyond the topiary gardens are the 
fruit gardens and bowling-green, both enclosed by 
thick hedges of clipped beech more than twelve feet 
high and so dense that they afford as much shelter 
and protection as a stone wall. The bowling-green 
is especially attractive with its splendid turf and 
high smooth walls of green. From here a path across 
the grass leads between high walls of greenery to a 
circular space, itself sheltered with hedges, from 
which smaller walks radiate in all directions. 
To the visiting foreigner, the house is of exceeding 
interest. One tower has on it a clock with a single 
hand to tell the time, and within are rich windows, 
tapestries, embossed leather and other decorations 
from every period of English art, all combined 
together to make a very harmonious effect well 
worthy of careful study. On the stable wall is an 
ancient sun-dial, and against high stone walls are 
everywhere trained fruit trees or roses after the 
English fashion. The gardens contain about seven 
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