The record-union., 1898-03-07

what might be done with comparative
ly small area of gently sloping land.
This part is beautifully kept up with
just the right note, being neither prim
nor neglected, SO that it possesses the
peculiar charm of old places still in
daily and familiar use.
The Villa d'Este, with which this villa
might be contrasted, equally beautiful
in its own way, has been suffered to
run wild-the trees and shrubs overhang
ard partially obstruct the paths, and
the roses are lost in the high grass. 1t
is wonderfully lovely, but very melan-
choly, and yet one would hardly wish it
otherwise, illogically enough, but logic
is swept away in a review of ones i'm
pressions of these Old World gardens.
Nevertheless, one is glad that there Is
a villa TO be studied where he may see
what a place properly taken care of
may be.
But my choice pitched upon the gar
den of the Lante rather than upon the
one in Tivoli, because the latter, ly-
ing upon an exceedingly steep hillside,
has less bearing than the other upon
ordinary problems of this kind. The
slopes upon which the formal garden Of
the Villa Lante is built are much more
gentle and the supply of water feeding
the fountains is much less generous.
The architect of the Villa d'Este levied
upon one of the many torrents that tear
their way through the hills of Tivoli.
But at Bagnaia the clever way in
which stream but ten inches wide and
four deep, moving at a fairly rapid rate,
p1 ha iAsfr ri red "
most effect is very instructive. The
water is brought from the hills over a
little viAduct and falls in a cascade into
the semi circular recess between the
two little summer houses on the upper
most level. 1t then rises into the
fountain set within the high oetagonal
inclosure of clipped box. Fhis foun-
tain is slzillfuliy contrived with small
basins that serve as reservoirs to re-
store some OF the head. From here it
is led underground some feet and
gusheS out again to race down a curl
Gus conduit made to simulate a strange
kind Of crawfish, over a shell held be-
tween the fore claws of the monster in
another waterfall to a semi-circular
basin where two colossal water deities
recline. Formerly the basin rim and
the balustrades and staircase ramps
at this point had jets and spouts Of
water and must havesbeen most effect
i've. but these are now disused The
tops of the balustrades are followed
into conduits. and the pedsstals into
reservoirs for the mouths on their
fronts. On the level of this basin is
another reservoir some fifty fe.1- long.
into which the water rises again and
gathers head for the next Fountains
charming one circular in plan. in two
levels, so that the lower one repeats in
a convex curve the many little jets of
the concave upper portion-and is seen
no more till it spouts up in splendid
column ana plays against the device of
the Albani family held over it by the
virile figures that dominate the flow ar
garden. and then is led through the
balustrades to find a placid resting
place IN the great square basin. ex-
cept where cherubs seated on the praws
of little stone galleys. laden with grow
ing flowers. blow up a slender spray.
Beyond the high wall inclosng this
rarterre at the left and on lower level
is large elliptical basin with carva-
tides against the retaining wall.
] made no special study of the Iesa
regular portions Of the villa and retain
only the impression Of glimpses down
long straight vistas in the woods to
little fountains. ard winding paths that
lead one past stacnaEt reservoirs where
great Tritors vainIv try to blow conch-
shells cheked up with weeds and moss.
y little shrine in the hollow of a tree