As you know, very many wonderful things were done with regard to the
making of the Lake and the construction of the Fairy City. But all
these suffer by comparison with what was accomplished in connection
with the Palace. It is built of the purest white Marble, Facing the
Fountain, on part of the flat top of the Hill, it stands amidst the
most spacious garden grounds, and can be seen from every part of the
City. It contains exactly twenty-four rooms: one for every hour of the
day. They are divided into three equal sets. In one of these sets the
whole of the work of the Palace is carried out. Another set is devoted
to pleasure and amusement; whilst above these are the rooms in which to
rest or sleep.
From the white marble steps leading from the balconied verandah at the
great front entrance to the Palace, a broad level pathway sweeps in a
half circle out to the circular path which surrounds the Fountain
gardens. Thus the Palace and the Fountain Gardens join each other. Like
all the other paths, it is covered with golden coloured gravel; and,
flanking it on either side, set in the loveliest of green grass lawns,
there run two delightful flower-beds; forever filled with golden
marigolds!
The high double doors which give entry to the Palace are made of
oxidised, or slightly darkened silver, and stained glass. They are set
in a splendid framework made of the same kind of silver; and this, and
the lower panels of the doors, are inlaid with delicate designs in
burnished gold. On the framework, the design takes the form of the
trailing Sarsaparilla; whilst the panels are decorated with exquisitely
executed bunches of flannel flowers surrounded with an oval border of
Eucalyptus leaves. The glass in the upper halves of the doors, richer
than any to be seen in old Cathedral windows, has had burned into it,
in their own natural colours, Wattle blossoms and Waratah blooms. The
Wattle blossoms occupy the centre panels, and the torch-like Waratahs
are placed at either side.
Through the doors one passes into a wide Hall, out of which rises a
branching stairway giving access to the rooms above. The Hall is paved
with gorgeous tiles and lined with “fiddle-back” blackwood. The Hall
seats are made of the same beautiful wood. On one side of the Hall,
framed in silver, there is a picture of a hive of bees; and on the
other side, also in a silver frame, there is a picture of an Ant-Hill;
both indicative of work or industry.
But perhaps, before going further, you would like to know how the
Fairies make the lovely tiles which pave the Hall. It is really rather
interesting, and serves to show how very clever they are. Well! This is
what they do!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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