German Houses and Gardens 
AN OLD WOODEN GATE TO A GERMAN GARDEN 
different sort of steps, straight, very practical 
but very inartistic, uncomfortable. The steps 
are of iron, beside them a brick curbing, on 
top of this more iron rods, and up it goes in 
a straight line. It takes one’s breath just to 
look at it. 
Such pictures from the garden might 
be continued indefinitely. Every single 
detail brings its lesson. Beauty could be 
gained by the simplest means and it has 
been neglected. An enclosure of masonry 
is a thousand times more beautiful than the 
most artistic bent-iron fence. One cannot 
even admit that iron is more practical, for 
the wall prevents 
inquisitive people 
from looking in, 
and gives all kinds 
of charming im¬ 
pressions from 
without. Walking 
about, one may 
have the sensation 
of being far away 
from the world, 
inaccessible as 
in a haunted castle, 
and the passer-by 
outside may im¬ 
agine behind that 
high wall whence 
the wind brings 
the scent of fra¬ 
grant blossoms there is some island of the 
blessed ones, a hidden paradise. In the 
opinion of the writer there is no place 
for such pictures of the mind in the most 
beautiful work of the founder or metal- 
smith. One may look through an iron 
railing, across green lawns, only to see 
horrible iron Tritons sending water-jets from 
their mouths. Or the gate at the entrance. 
What is the excuse for the design at the 
foot of the preceding page? It cannot 
compare with the simple lattice-door above, 
which is not consciously artistic and yet so 
graceful. 
t 4 2 
