Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-08-26
King LudwIg's Famous Garden

The reigning King Of Bavaria |
has made the terrace Of Saalbau his |
palace. The lodgings are in the
most extrayagant rococo style, and
there is a garden compared with
which Semiramis' were but vulgar
kitchen gardens. 1t is in this fairy
garden, wherein the flowers of the
tropics sing voluptuous SYM
phony of perfume, that the King
spends his winter days-days which
are so dark and melancholy at Mu-
Mich. When one enters this garden
one scarcely believes the evidence
of his own eyes. One is tempted
to take the servant who guides you,
and who, in doing SO, violates the
orders, for an infant magician, for
a sorcerer, for an enchanter. On
the right hand is a large rock,
covered with moss, on which trail,
like enormous serpents bristling
with darts, cacti and orchids. The
background represents an East In
dian landscape, with tall, slender
bamboos and ad-leayed bananas;
and in the rear is a cascade, which
pours its opal waters with silvery,
musical tumult. When one gets
near the rock, one discovers, under
ivy drapery, the entrance Of a cav
ern, which leads to the waterfall.
AS one proceeds farther into the
cavern its sides widen, and, through
the vaporops blue shades which fill
it, precious stones, diamonds, and
golden stalactites glitter like drops
, Of dew in the sun. Let us leave
the cascade on the right, and move
toward the left. We shall enter
an avenue of palm trees, and reach
a Moorish kiosk, whose Dubious
, cupola rises to the glass roof
) of the greenhouse. A blue
: silk curtain closes this kiosk,
where relgns a religious calm
l unbroken, as in some chapel.
9 The windows have the form Of the
! trefoil leaf, through which deli,
C cate light filters, and a cut-glasi
S chandelier throws in the center o.
S this sanctuary its rainbows innu
c merable. A narghile, or Turkish
: pipe, adorned with long pearl EN-
/, broidered tubes, stands on a lapis
q lazuli table. One thinks ones sci
L in a Sultan's saloon. This edifc,
e is called "The Kiosk of Delights.
e The King of Bavaria never crosse
/ the threshold, except dressed as
e Turk of the old school, wearing al
u enormous turban, and with a gold
1t en- crescent in the middle of hi
IS back. He winds up the self-play
Ie ing piano, which is concealed be
u hind a curtain, lights his Turkisl
IS pipe, stretches himself at length o.
y sofa, and passes away whole al
l. ternoons amid tobacco's ambe
Y clouds and the melodies of his me
le chanical orchestra. There ar
r. many mysterious and perfume
II paths-bordered with seats coyere
t. with satin, and well-stuffed-an
Is evergreen arbors, at whose farthe
lie end is a Venus, or a crouchin
~ Sphinx-leading from the Mooris
III kiosk to the enchanted banks of
m little lake, which is blue and limpi
is as a fragment of Orient sky, an
IT, which seems to dream of its natiy
ly land under the motionless cupol
gs of palm-trees. 1t requires Dore
IN pencil to depict this marvellou
be scene. 1t is a splendid vision,
IN corner of Paradise. Mountain
lg as obedient as those of Holy Writ
m docile cliffs, frame this lake, i
II which thousands of gold and silve
ne fishes sport, on which beautifr
IN Chinese ducks swim, and which
IL lighted by day as well as by nigh
81, by eternal moonbeamS. There
st machinery by which the stal
ok spangled sky may, at will, be CO..
n, cred by black clouds, vivid ligh
he ming flash, hoarse thunder pea
es and the lake becomes tossed by al
d, CRY pillows. The King of Bavari
e. costumed as William Tell, the
g. enters boat moored to tree o
'le the bank, casts off, and drowsamon
nd the dashing billoWs.