128 7l STRANT
sessor, the beautics of whichi were most enthusiastically dilated upon Entering from the street, you find vour self 1n a small hall. Though of the most artistic design, this, too, | fancy, is yet another blind for what lics beyond. In this hall stands a bronze statuctte of Icarus, by Mr. Gilbert, AR.A. exceuted for Siv Frederick. -\ few steps more through a solid-looking black cbony door pml\cd out with gold the doors of the house arc and we enter the Arabian Counrt. Frederick’s Arabian Court is simply a Creation ; one can only stand and histen to the splashing of the fountain falling beneath
From a Photo. b
the golden dome at the far end of the court, and conjure up recollections of the fairest of scenes and grandest of paluces desceribed in the Arabian Nights. We are i Ken- sington ; but as one stands there 1t would not come as the least surprise it the Court were suddenly crowded with the most beau- tiful of Fastern women reclining on the softest of silken cushions in the niches m the corners ; it the wildest and most fasci- nating dancers of the Arabian Nights were to come tripping in, and to the sound of
THE ARADIAN
MWAGAZINT.
the sweetest of stramns glide across the smootle plaques ; it Aladdin himself were to cnter bearing on his back his burden ol precious stones. It 1s the very spot to which you would come to find all this. Sir [‘rederick pointed out to me the Damascus Persian, and Rhodian ware which is libe- rally scattered about. The delicate wood- work 1s from Cairo, the exquisite mosaics are by Walter Crane; the blue tiles are among the first De Morgan ever did, and the capitals of the columns are carved with various birds by the late Sir Edear Boehm. The only thing which has not been hrought from some [astern COuntry 1s some Very
e e e T VST ST AP B SRS SN R SRR
COURT, (Eiott & Fro,
aquaint candelabra exhibited in Old Tondon al one of the South Kensington Fxhibi- tions,
Walkme down to the far end of this bewildering spot I stand beneath the great ailt dome, and the sun which is shining causes 1t to sparkle with a thousand gems, On looking up, the dome scems to lose far away, so delicate and ingenious
the construction and the co]mnmo of 1t 5 a place in which to it down and dream, for there is not a sound except the
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