New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-21

Southern Gardens Being Depleted of Colonial
Estates of Northern MultiNfiEionaires.


The charm of the formal garden. after the flow
ers are considered. rests mainly with the placing
Of the pergola- the fountains. the benches and
particularly the sundal. for this last named old
time friend is of the principal features OF
every well ordered garden.
It is IN the Southern States that sundals
frequently found amid their original environ
raents. where they have faithfully marked the
fight OF hours since Colonial days. From many
of these homes they are being taken 10 adoTn the
Northern gardens OF multi Tnillionaires whose de-
sire for everything that can add attraciveness TO
their gardens has caused the landscape gardener
search amid the down but still beautiful
homes OF the South for these quaint and useful
ornaments OF stone. IN some instances they are
10 10 found richly carved, with moss and hchens
growing in the crevices Of the designs These evil
dences Of time are LEFT und!sturbed more OFTEN
than not for the man in search Of antiques appre
ciates the worth such proof Virginia Mary
land Delaware and the Carolinas are rich in old
sunGials, many of which famous from having
been erected by the makers of history There is
sundial, for instance in the old FREDERICKSBURG
garden Of Mary Washington, the mother OF George
Washington which is now owned by MIR. boswell
There is also at Kenmore, the home Of Betty
Washington Lewis, the sister Of George Washing
Both are of roughly hewn stone weather beaten
and stained from the storms Of almost Two nun,
dTed years. The first pedestal is sx-slded ana
heavy toward the base. with the dial face on the
top reaching just TO the edges OF the mount inc
other is & square shaft, with q square top block
on which the dial face is placed The block pro-
5ects beyond the pedestal. and is carved along the
edges the design being decorative but not elabo-
rate. The dial faces Of metal 4 third and
most interesting dial that belonged originally 70
George Washington. and placed at the front
entrance the house at Mount Vernon, is now
the property OF William +. IiaveTneyer, Jr.
A dial well known 10 every New Yorker and 10
an who have visited New York stands in Grace
Church yard. on tbs well kept lawn before the
frectory, and the other side Of the ward Is a
famous old vase Of Qnaiot shape and Roman orr
gin. At Bolton Prior7, Pelham, y. J., which Is
nov the home Of the Frederick Aliens, there is
lovely old sundial brought from England by
member Of the Bolton family, the former owners.
and IN the garden OF the late Rev Cornelius
Winter Bolton at Ermonk. Westchester County.
there formerly stood with stone top suggest
3ve Of a grindstone. crudely was It fashioned
The hours Were carved in Roman numerals and
the brass gnomon the only metal about II. The
pedestal was hewn stone column as nearly round
as possible, and at base ribbon grass grew IN
ATS varied Etripngs of green and siivery white In
the od-time garden OF Frederick J. Kingsbury. at
Waterbury. Conn., there is a dial with the date
5739 upon st.
/ II has square pedestal and fiat. square top
that projects over the edge Of the pedestal The
dial face Sc slightly raised. and bears the motto
b'Horas numero nisi serenas." Another mot
t1oed dial IS that IN the garden Of Charles F Jen
fkns. IN Germantown, Penn. which dates from be-
fore The Revolutionary War and has travelled from
1xlaoe place with members OF the Spencer family
ffrom whom Mr.. Jenkns's mother was descended
1.-THE Inscription IS, Time waits for man. The
shape Of the pedestal IS cylindrical the projecting
top being square and the dial face of brass
travellers Rest the charming Of Mrs Bowie
Gray, in Virginia. has stone dial almost the
fac-simile OF that owned by Mary Washington. the
pedestal top differing by swelling out. though still
six-eded. On this Is placed, as on the Kingsbury
pedestal square top. with hours carved in the
fstone.
carving copied after beautiful Pompeiian designs
one should that at Yaddo. Spencer Trask's
home. at Saratoga The superb bronze dial face
rests a marble slab that forms a long tabI-
supported at either end by crouching, convention
allied lions. This. TO catch the full glare Of the
run ts set upon a marble tagged terrace. semi
IN Hr-fh &c nd hal
trades. q vide fight Of marble steps leading to it.
AS the Italians past masters in the making
OF garden pottery and stone furniture, their slen-
der, graceful and wonderfully carved pedestals
for sundials appropriate for formal gardens
of this type. After the sundial is properly placed
the fountain has be set amid the garden bloom
with equal taste Unless the very centre or heart
Of the garden IS chosen. the place usually accord
ed IL is the foot of the broad flight Of steps
that leads 10 the terraced garden. or at
end of the garden, with arrangement Of shrub
bery as a background A fountain and a water
garden placed IN the centre make a delightful
break in the formal lines Of box bordered beds but
there IS restfulness TO be enjoyed from its plac
ing one Ioiter TO hear the musical splash
ing of the water. for such spot is without shade
This is q feature appreciated by most landscape
second fountain within hearing distance and in
shady spot. The fountain figures that placed
toward the corners OF the water garden when 1t is
oblong or rectangular are either cherubs dolphins
OF stone. and when a Japanese water gar
den is aimed clusters OF bronze iris lilies eject
the slender Jets of water, and tremendously
with the living plants.
There oblong marble boxes carved with
NEUROLOGICAL figures and supported by marble
blocks standards. TO Ill with growing plants for
lawn decoration, but the graceful with their
pedestals. far attractive 70 the eye OF the
beauty lover, q thing square in shape ponder
Gus ara large detracfs from All that surrounds il
when placed IN the open, and only appears well
with an immediate setting background Of
tall bushes wei grouped.
Wei curbs. copied and genuinely antique.
only occasionally met with. YET their value
IS 80 recognized among the garden accessories.
hut wall fountains. when built m as IS that near
the peTgola In Mrs. Lars Andersen's gardens are
q source Of Joy 10 All who may behold them
Purchasing IN Italy Greece IS an expensive
pleasure, for American incomes there are regarded
ae Unlimited and the sellers accordingly ask fabu-
lous prices. However, IL a really exquisite foun-
tan Is coveted. there Is on,~ - IN which