The Washington times., 1905-04-30
JAPANESE PAGODA
FOR KING LEOPOLD
1t Is d Marvel Of Rich
Artistic Beauty.
Is NEAR HIS ROYAL PALACE
Quaint and Magnificent Residence Re-
Gently Erected in Brusseis-Won-
der of That City.

BRUSSELS. April 29.-The magnificent
japanese pagoda erected by King Leo
poId near the royal place has just been
completed in its interior decoration. and
is q marvel Of beauty.
1t stands on the edge of the Royal
Park. and offers a piquant air of East
ern mystery to the beholder which is
a sharp contrast TO the prosaic high
road that skirts IT. Its closed door and
lattices add TO its inscrutableness, and
il suggests some lonely stranger who
refuses to sing the songs Of his native
land in a place of exile.
When King Leopold first conceived the
idea of placing a Japanese pagoda on
this spot, he found the rocky site he
had chosen so uneven that toward the
road great masses of stone have heei
built up, SO as to form a stable and
even base for the great structure. Then
1t seemed TOO perehed as it stood alone
to look artistic, and a large pavilion
or wing has been added which serves
as entrances and staircase to the actual
tower.
Marvels of Carving.
Both elffiees, Just completed, are mar
vels of carving and gliding, Some of the
art, and indeed, the greater part, if not
the whole. of the exterior of the pagoda
were. bought by the King from the Japa-
uese section at the last Paris exhibition,
and since then his majesty, who takes
the greatest interest in his novel erec-
ton. superintending everything, has en-
pioyed agents to hunt Japan for
treasures.
The pagoda is dark red, relieved with
gold and black, and its Tuddy up-tIted
leaves, like curled petals, suggest as
they rise, one above another, Scme ia
strange flower. When first erected
quaint bells hung from each corner
but these have been replaced by electric
lights, which would seem 10 carry out
the idea that it is destined one day for
public use. 1t must not be forgotten
that the King has given his property al
Laeken TO The nation at his death, ano
that the Japanese pagoda. with all Its
treasures, will. therefore, one day DeicnS
10 the country.
Rich in Decoration.
The large hall on the GROUND f'cor Is
a marvel OF lacquer and ricE decoration
The pillars. which line the walls au(
form corners. are covered with splendit
repousse gilded leather. and there is no
an inch Of space which is not beauti
fed with incrusted lacquer, carving a
giIded bronze The ceiling IS painteJ
with flowers in rounds on a whit
ground, ard the floor is covered witt
The finest Japanese mating
The han on the Iirst floor is, if pos
sible, more beautiful. Here the lacQue
panels, incruste1 with pearl, ivory etc.
are even more splendid, the carving
deeper. The gilded leather more marvel
Gus in design and richness. Here it no
only covers the pillars but forms a dou
bic frieze. Priceless specimens Of Jap
81
here, and two fine screens show design
Of japanese professions. The lacque
panels in the corner show a tortois
emerging from the water-the tortois
being q sacred emblem ia Japau-an
Two other figures. These are OF tn
greatest beauty imasiaa le. The cell
ing. too. is wonderful and indeed, ther
IS enough TO keep a cohnoisseur in rap
admiration for days. The remainin
three stories have not been furnishe
yet.