House & Garden 
THE SALON DE LOS REYES CATOLICOS 
the avenues, we see the surrounding low 
hills whose barren slopes add emphasis to 
the verdure of Aranjuez. Fantastic foun¬ 
tains in the parterre behind the palace, indi¬ 
cate that water is not a scarcity here. I n 
tact, beyond the parterre we see the winding 
river Tagus, and across a small suspension 
bridge, tastefully flanked with figure-capped 
pedestals and stone vases, is situated the one 
sign of commercial industry in the village— 
a substantial and very respectable looking 
flour-mill. Evidently the water power is 
put partly to industrial uses, and is not 
wholly absorbed in the ornamental function 
of supplying the fountains. 
But standing here before the entrance to 
the palace garden, the delicious odor of the 
flowers comes to us ; the gates are open, we 
are tempted to explore further, and we enter, 
passing the gay fountain with its commemor¬ 
ative columns on either side. Much as we 
have seen of delights, one little dreams of the 
treat that here greets the eye. Roses every¬ 
IN THE ISLAND GARDEN, ARANJUEZ 
where, roses of all kinds and varieties, grow¬ 
ing high on a single stem, to burst out in a 
clustered mass at the top, or clambering over 
the walls a solid mass of bloom,—roses of 
a size to challenge measurement, for rarely 
does one see such splendid blooms. 
From an L-shaped wing of the palace, 
which serves as a barrier from the public road, 
along which we have approached the garden, 
a high wall extends for some distance. It 
is effectively treated, in brick with stone 
trimmings, and adorned with niches, contain¬ 
ing stone seats. These niches alternate with 
smaller high-up recesses, in which busts have 
been placed. Surmounting the wall is an iron 
railing, forming a protection to the prome¬ 
nade, which leads from the second story of the 
windows of the palace. Over wall and railing 
climbs a white rambler rose, its heavilv laden 
sprays hanging far out over the garden paths, 
or crawling in behind some bust to form a 
delightful background of green and white 
against the deep rich red of the brick. 
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