The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-09-04
4 FLORAL FETE.
A Midnight Scene in the Botanic Gar
dens Of London.

\ London correspondent of the Chi
cago Inter Ocean writes as follows of the
annual midnight fete at the Botanic Gar
dens:
The gardens are situated in Regents
Park, and are entirely surrounded by
high hedges and forest trees They are
circular in form, cover twenty acres OF
ground, and are SO ingeniously designed
as to appear much larger than they real
" are. We were received at the entrance
| in n leafy bower, where ourselves and
our cards were closely scrutinized by
| three different officials, after which we
! were permitted to pass within the charm
ed circle. 1t was scene OF dazzling
<plendor, and might well be termed Il teie
! caB.petre, for, in the midst of a great city,
it partook of a rural character. Illumin-
ated chains of colored lamps were sus-
pended along each side of the avenues,
the serpentine walks, and all the flower
| eds. rockeries, artificial lakes and rustic
| bridges were fringed with them. Elec-
! ,ric lights were placed on the top OF the
| conservatories, anemomiter towers, and
tiag-staffs, brilliantly lighted up the
| lawns and parterres where 10000 of the
creme de la creme of London society were
promenading or sitting, and display
| ing to the best advantage the exqui-
site toilets of the ladies, most of whom
appeared in decollette dresses with court
trains, costly lace, and many diamonds,
no bonnets, and the hair arranged with
feathers and flowers.
! Upon the arrival of the Prince and
Princess of Teck, and some other mem
bers of the royal family, signal guns were
fired. and instantly, as if by magic, the
gardens became illuminated by colored
fires, red, green, blue, yellow and mau-
vre, the whole combining to produce
scene such as the wand of "Prospero'
might be supposed to conjure up. Sew
eral military bands stationed in the con-
seryatories at different parts OF the gar
dens discoursed most excellent music
during the evening, and had there been
dapcing-which there was not-the tetf
would have resembled grand ball in the
open air.
Four large tents had been erected, two
of which were beautifully decorated with
flowers and evergreens, and appropriated
70 refreshment tables The third, called
the american Tent" contained only
American plants and shrubs, prominen
among them being magnificent collec'
tion of rhododendrons. The fourth ten
was marvel of beauty; it covered more
= than an acre of ground, which was laic
out in serpentine walks, and succession
Of terraces; round the tent there was
background of orange trees, graceful
palms, and ferns; and upon the terraces
imbedded in tender grass and moss, ant
looking as though they grew from th'
place they had been artistically deposit
} ed. were thousands of roses of every varl
I ety and color, from dark rich crimson Il
delicate, creamy white; they were as re
= markable for size as beauty, many 0
them being as large as an ordinary san
Ger. From this tent of roses we passed
4 into an arcade, quarter of a mile long
T. throughout the entire length of whicl
5 extended large tables leach covered witt
a snowy cloth,) and upon them varion
: floral devices-for the decoration of din
r ner and supper tables-were arrange
with exquisite taste, and though man
splendid geraniums, fuchias, lilies, pink
and feathery grasses and ferns were t
be seen, roses were everywhere predom
;, inant. Special attention is paid to tn
! introduction of this queen of flowers a
: through England, and judging from tn
rare specimens we saw exhibited at tn
= botanic tete, English gardeners must hay
reached the acme of perfection in tn
- particular branch of horticulture.