Schræder, a celebrated Swedish gardener, was employed by the czar to
execute a plan he had approved of, for the gardens of his summer palace.
The work was already far advanced, and among the different parts that
were finished, were two large divisions adjoining to the principal
avenue, opposite to each other, enclosed with a hedge, and covered with
turf. The czar, who came often to see the progress of his undertaking,
on observing the two grass-plots, conceived a design of converting this
place of mere amusement into a kind of school. “I am very well
satisfied,” said the czar to the gardener, “with your performance, as
well as with the variety and beauty of the several divisions that are
finished: however, you must not be angry if I change the form of these
two spots of ground. I should wish that the persons who walk in the
garden might find the means of cultivating their minds; but in what way
can we contrive this?”
“Sire,” said the gardener, “I know no other than to put books on the
seats, protected from the rain, that those who walk in the garden may
read when they sit down.”
“This is not far from my meaning,” said the czar, laughing, “but, books
in a public garden! that will never do. Another idea has struck me. I
should like to erect statues here, representing the different subjects
of Æsop’s fables. For this purpose the ground must be differently laid
out, that the division of the several parts may correspond with the
fables I am speaking of.”
Schræder executed his orders with all possible intelligence and
despatch, and much to the satisfaction of the emperor.
The garden consisted of four squares, with walks in the form of
labyrinths leading to them. The angles were ornamented with figures,
representing different subjects from Æsop’s fables, with a _jet d’eau_
concealed in a little basin, under moss or ruins, and surrounded with
shells brought from lake Ilmen, or that of Novogorod. Most of the
animals were as large as life, and of lead, gilt. They ejected water
from their mouths, according to their various attitudes. In this way the
walks were ornamented with sixty fables, forming as many _jets d’eau_.
At the entrance was a statue of Æsop, likewise of lead, and gilt.
The czar very naturally supposed that few people would be able to
discover the meaning of these figures, and that fewer would comprehend
the instruction they were designed to convey. His majesty therefore
ordered a post to be placed near each of them, and to these posts sheets
of tin were fastened, on which the fables and their morals were written
in the Russian language.
This place was the czar’s favourite walk; in its shades he often passed
whole hours, recreating himself among these creatures of his creation.
This garden was afterwards nearly destroyed by a terrible tempest and
inundation. The trees it contained were torn up by the roots, and the
green hedges and figures of animals damaged, either by the fall of the
timber or by the elements. The trees were raised, put into their places
again, and propped up; but as it was not possible to repair the injuries
done to the figures, the czar’s “summer garden” ceased to be a “garden
of instruction.”
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