Annals of our ancestors; one hundred and fifty years of history in the ...

I70 ANNALS OF OUR ANCESTORS
ner's garden! Sadly did I recall the vision of loveliness which
commercial greed had literally wiped from the earth. Where
were the hundreds of works of art which Mr. HoiFner had,
through a long life of extensive travel, gathered from the four
corners of the earth.?
The garden, as I remember, occupied a prominent place in
the suburbs of Cincinnati, on a rise of ground sloping both
north and south, and where there was a perennial spring which
sent forth Hmpid waters carried through pipes to a fountain.
The fountain was a large dolphin carved from stone, and the
waters from the spring filled, with many pleasant murmurs,
a basin large enough to be called a pool. A multitude of gold
fish flashed like living jewels in this pool; some were blood-red
with black tails and fins, and as the variegated bits of life
darted here and there they were as fascinating to me as crown
jewels could ever be. Curious stones were set in rugged de-
signs about the margin, and a weeping willow bent over until
its swaying branches touched the crystal water and brushed
the snow-white water lilies that rested on the surface of the
pool. Rustic seats were placed about under the drooping
tree, where visitors could rest and admire this garden of de-
lights.
To us it was an education in the beautiful in art and nature.
To wander over the grounds could but suggest the wealth and
culture of Mr. HofFner, for they were a storehouse of sculpture.
Greek gods and goddesses glistened white amongst the trees.
Mercury, with winged feet, was poised with one foot on the
pedestal and one in air, ready for flight; Pan with his pipes
played underneath a bough; but now all were gone! It was
Brother William who used to guide us through the grounds
and tell us the stories of classical mythology represented in
the beautiful statuary there. I missed the marble figures
glancing through the green, with something like a pang of
heart.
In the old days, three large greenhouses occupied a prominent
place; one was reserved for cacti in all their rare and
grotesque forms; another was for members of the lily family
and other lovely flowers and plants; while the third was filled