Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-12-15
ENCHANTED GARDEN
WRECKED BY SHELLS
Flemish Village Scene of De-
struction Wrought by Ger
man Artillery.
BEHIND TWO IRON GATES
Double Row of Cardinal and
Canary Dahlias Mari, Path
to Chateau.
ny ROHERT WELLS RITCHI:.
BENLNiIAN II EA DOL II,rI'pc nocnn

BELGIAN HEADQUARTERS. Decem-
Der H.--l.ct me tell you of the dream
garden found in tho middle OF the
battle line and how when | came to
look for it again IL was gone.
We, the lieutenant. the jolly chauc-
four and |, came down the road to
Rahoi. which is by the side of the
Client Canal and not three miles from
the walls Of the ancient city itself
At little bridge we found the ul,i-
mate Belgian OUTPOST OF the advance
upon Client aud beyond that bridge
hung an ugly ycllow-grcen cloud. add
ed TO now and then by something
which droppcd from tho sky and went
phut.' The cloud crawled and twist
ed among the willows like some mon
strous python. The lieutenant. and I
decided that. with Peary, we'd let this
north. We'd conceal the ear some
where. said the lieutenant--for Ger
man ariators always take crack at
autos on the theory that somebody of
importance is insidc--and then come
back 10 see what the gas was doing
SO. slowly driving back up the road.
Nc came upon my dream garden.
Ii lay behind two high green iron
gates and handsome white stone
chateau; garden and chateau sur
rounded by marrow moat chokcd with
chateau was nauSht but shattered
eyes-bleak and deSolatc 10 look upon
but the minute the gates closed upon
our car and it was securely slowed
beneath u chestnut tree tho gardens
cncha ntment was upon us.
4 double row Of cardinal and CANARY
aahiias walked down from somewhere
in dim russell distance to gree, us in
viti1g US to forget that two batteries
OF I5's were barking and swapping not
quarter mile away and that every
head wheeibarrow load Of death. all
invisible hut tremendously given TO
elf-advctisin-.
We allowed the advance guard Of
dah!ias 10 conduct us into the very
heart OF the silent Dlace. where fallen
chestnut leaves laid 4 damp. pungent
carpet for our feet. Here. where au-
tumns rnd-rolds and incomparablo
browne blended in A Eelasco dror. we
found the very inner shrine of this
enchanted acre where the battle was.
cUNNINGI.Y C0NSTnUCTEn
That IT. SEEMED NATURE
Grotto. so cunningIy constructed
OF steps upward to the entrance 10 a
l,ti,e private chapel--a fairy thing all
an brick and richly ,colored glass
steps water trickled over the narrow
lip OF waterfall and on tiny ped
estai just where the stream dropped
stood the guardian OF the dream gar
den--Nigin and Child. ensconced here
In this place OF moss and ferns and
remote calm.
watch a flight OF war birds 5000 fee,
overhead. But the enchanted garden
called us back 10 fresh explo!-. ton.
The lieutenant. who is u vcry Young
man. picked rose with the sing lie
hand left to him out OF the hcll Of tho
trenches. ]. much older. alas pick eli
Two punches OF grapes in the hot
house-srapes which would bring their
weight in silver in New York--and
cullcd some rosy tomatoes. pot grown.
for our lunch.
missed The lieutenant then and
wandered alone. Soon 7 heard from the
direction of the shattered chateau halt :
ing. haunting piano notes Tho oncn-
ing chords of the Spring Song they
were. played by the lieutenant who ha Il
picked rose. But. alas, that his left
coatsleeve is empty. the piano chords
faltered and died.
The gas came creeping upon this
dream garden and we had 10 go Three
hours later. as we were passing 7
looked through the green iron gate
way.
Two shells had landed in my garden
and the dream was shattered