The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1915-12-11
THE LURE OF THE sUNDIAL.
(Flo Field in Times Picayune. J

The sundial comes down to us in {
luxury of medieval glamour, from castle
court yards and ancient gardens where
1.-THE Princess of All Romance plucke(
the white lily of truth, where the pea
cock spread his splenders and the
minstrel sang his song and Time moved
Igently by a shadow finger that counted
only the hours of sunshine
What tales were told, what love made
what blood spilled like roses-beside
the sundial Across the fancy moves
a background of dim splendors, ladies
in cloth of gold, plumed knights and
pretty pages. and mailed villains, rustic
Robin Hoods, friars and pied, tinkling
symbols of the modern comic supple.
ment! The shimmering dust of rich
memories lies upon it. In the sunlight
we hear the hum of bees-the honey
bees of story, and catch the fash of
butterfies-the butterflies of Legendary,
extravagant beauty! o, come again with
your gifts, you honey bees and butter
| flies!
In an odd corner of a vacant lot just
| off Lee Circle there is workshop and
a little German gentleman and a great
lot of lore on sundial making to be
found, The deep grass is thick with
vases and columns, massive stone
globes and other pieces of gallery ar
chitecture and here and there are sun.
dials. Perhaps. they tell the time O.
day for General Lee, and the wayfaring
sparrows that love the spot, for people
nowadays find dollar watches better
suited to ordinary needs, and the sun
dial is reduced, or exalted, to a thing
purely ornamental.
"Yet it is the most dignified piece of
garden furniture and it is for beauty
that it is useful" explains Mr.. Hans
Hirsch Abroad, in France and Eng
land and Germany, no garden worthy
|of the name is considered complete
without sundial-but it is the spirit,
the genius of the garden ITSELF"
And he should know, this little Ger
man gentleman, for in the gardens of
Kronberg there are sundials which he
made, and in the famous gardens of
Villa Hugel, the great Krupp estate
near Essen, where tame deer Craze on
the English lawn, there are two more
from his hand and in so many other
gardens that he smiles at the question
of number. Back in the old world SUM-
dials are everyday affairs, and gardens
are still places of pleasure and romance
and leisure.
The garden into which one may not
wander or sit at ease with book free
from scrutiny and intrusion, Is not
garden. 1t is merely gardeners exhi-
bition, a show case, a decoration for
the benefit Of the public but in which
one has no place or share-even when
it surrounds ones home.
If anything on the earth should be
sacred to family joyousness-sur it
should be the garden. The English
home, SO formidable to the stranger,
holds a garden at it's heart, and such
garden! Usually the long French win
dows of the library or sittingroom open
upon it. A high, sun-browned old brick
wall surrounds it on every side, and
there are currents or pear trees or
rose trees or English ivy softening
this background. When there is room,
there are always trees, hammock
the inevitable tennis court, but if there
is space for nothing else, there will be
the tea table and lounging chairs on
the smooth green velvet mat of sward.
If there is charming perspective,
there will be sundial-and then it is
"a place to dream in!
In Germany the garden Is psyche
logical expression practically illustrat-
ing the German temperament. The
humblest garden plot is made to yield
its mead of utility But violets border
the cabbages! Straight to the garden
the guest is taken. However tiny,
there will be an arbor for afternoon
coffee drinking. The grotto is an insti.
tuition with the prosperous. 1t will be
built at the garden end-of a sort of
bower which makes for warm nook in
winter and cool spot in summer.
There will be kitchenette concealed
in the wall and a cemented cupboard
in the ground where the kuchen and
fresh butter and milk-white honey are
kept-and Ach Colt! it is haven for
cheerful family gathering all the year
round!
Where the garden paths are pref
test, sundial marks the pleasant
hours.
1t is said that Grecian philosopher,
who lived 500 years before Christ, put
-