Open [3.3 MB]

40
LEINSTER
the sloping Bellevue grounds, a village prettier even
than Enniskerry. And in truth Bellevue was a
splendid type of what I have in mind: place and
grounds created in the eighteenth century by a cul-
tivated Dublin merchant of Huguenot stock; a house
where Grattan was a frequent guest; which till the
other day showed in gathered perfection all the
domestic art of that great period, with its Sheraton
and Chippendale sideboards, its marvellous plaster
cornices and ceilings, its inlaid marble mantelpieces,
and, for a final glory, its bedstead painted by Angelica
Kaufmann. The grounds were planned to match
in the same delicate graceful taste, a little mannered,
but always admirable. It had a lovely nature to
work upon, and that same taste has made the sea-
ward fringe of these nearest Wicklow Hills into the
very garden of Ireland. That is the beauty nearest to
the capital. And if the feeling of trimness wearies
you, all you have to do is leave the road and strike
out where you will across the heather. To their
great honour, the liberality of all landowners in this
playground of Dublin leaves the casual passer-by free
to wander almost as unrestrained as he might be in
Achill or on Slieve League.
For the country which lies beyond Dublin's imme-
diate playground there is this to be said. Even the
railway going to it is delightful. I know of no prettier
—