THE FAIRY CITY

Where the magic well was found,
Peace and comfort now abound;
For a city, nobly planned,
Builded by a Fairy Band,
Rears itself above the hill,
Where a garden, formed with skill,
Graces every Court and Street,
Every path of pleasure sweet,
Down to where a water-ring,
(Lake of careful fashioning!)
Spreads its silver circling band,
Round about a Fairy land!

In the first story you were told how Prince Waratah, travelling in search of a wife, found, by accident, “The Magic Well!” You were also told how the finding of the well so inspired him, that he resolved to build a city round about it; and with this object in view, set out with a great company of Fairies, fully equipped, to march across Australia to where the Well is situated.

As you will remember, they had nearly reached their destination when they were savagely attacked by the Desert Fairies; but, with the timely aid of the Shower Fairies, the enemy was successfully routed; and the tale concluded by telling how, rested and refreshed, they all set out upon their final march, singing as they went.

When in the early afternoon they arrived at the site of the Magic Well, a halt was called; and for a little time everybody rested. Then, taking a company of working Fairies to the top of the hill, the Prince directed them to remove the grass tussocks he and his friends had planted to hide the opening to the Well from sight, and to dig down until they were told to stop.

These instructions they faithfully carried out; the Prince, meantime, watching their work with the utmost interest. [36]

When, as he judged, they had gotten to within a few inches of the flat brown stones which formed the trap-door entrance to the Well, he ordered them to retire; and calling to those friends who on the previous occasion had seen it opened, he placed them in charge pending further orders. He then instructed one of his Officers to parade the entire Company close to the Well upon its Eastern side. This done, standing upon some of the freshly thrown out earth, he told them that in a few minutes they should witness a most engaging sight. In clear-cut language he followed this statement with a brief narrative of the finding of the Well; its fascinating history as related to him by his father; and an outline of his intentions with regard to the building of the Fairy City. In this project, he added, he expected to receive their willing co-operation and assistance; an expectation which his confidence in them led him to believe, would be fully realised!

As might have been expected, the speech was received with vociferous applause, which applause almost reached a roar, when, at a wave of his hand, amidst the greatest curiosity and excitement, his trusty officers within the Well, opened the door, and a great stream of clear, cool, crystal water shot fountain-like into the air!

If they had dared, they would at once have broken from their ranks and rushed pell-mell to the side of the Well to see from whence the Water came; but, too thoroughly trained to break discipline, they waited the command to dismiss.

Before dismissing them, however, the Prince ordered the cooks and kitchen assistants to retire and prepare an extra special open air supper. This, he said, was not only to indicate his pleasure at the fact that at last they had arrived at the scene of their future operations, but in token of his admiration of the way in which they had borne themselves throughout the trials and terrors of their long and arduous march. They were then released from duty; and whilst the meal was preparing, occupied the time in a most minute examination of the Well and its surroundings.

Just as supper was about to be served, and when everyone was in place, the Prince rose and said: “Before partaking of the dainty viands now before us, I wish you all, on this historic and maybe sacred [37]occasion, to rise and drink with me, in the waters of the Magic Well, all success and enduring prosperity to the greatest enterprise ever initiated in Austral Fairy Land ‘The Building of the Fairy City!’ ” Immediately all stood up, and with cheers that almost reached the sky, quaffed a fairy flagon of clearest water to the Prince’s Toast.

A “Fairy flagon,” you should know, is made up of Gum leaves put into moulds, points up, and pressed into the shape required. To hold the leaves together, and to make the flagon retain its shape, a kind of cement is used, made from an extract of black ants’ milk and beeswax. It is very binding, and in addition, takes on a most beautiful polish, through which the gum leaves shine as clearly as do fruits or flowers that are preserved in ice.

Now the waters of the Well have a very singular and happy effect upon all who drink of them; for though the Prince had not said a word about it, they contain certain life-giving properties which bring to those who drink them the most enchanting results. It is because of these peculiar properties that the Well is a Magic Well; its waters work wonders in a way that cannot be seen. Thus, shortly after drinking of them, the Fairies found themselves greatly stimulated and exhilarated in spirits. But their prime quality lies in their power to rejuvenate those who partake of them. That is to say they have the effect of making one young, and strong, and active again, no matter how tired or worn out one may have been beforehand.

But to resume! After supper—and a very fine one it was, too!—as usual, they sang their crooning lullaby songs until all except the sentry guards fell off in sleep.

Next morning, their strength renewed—rejuvenated, in fact—just as the golden lances of the sun came piercing through the fast dispersing clouds of night, they woke, ready and eager for any kind of work there might be to do. And certainly there was no shortage of employment. As soon as breakfast was over the Surveyors looked out their instruments and made ready to determine the limits and proportions of the intended city and grounds. Very clever fellows are the Surveyors. And yet all their skill is based upon a thorough grasp of a few simple facts. They know, that just as the alphabet is called the A B C, because in those letters are contained every line [38]and curve that is necessary to the formation of any of the other twenty-three letters; so, within the circle, ◯, the square, ◻, and the triangle, △, are to be found every line and curve, and every degree of measurement that can possibly be used in the laying out or building of anything in the world, from the Pyramids to a Modern Battleship!

Using the Magic Well as a centre from which to start, they first ran a line two miles due East, and a second one two miles due West. Returning, they did the like thing two miles North and two miles South. Then, just as a boy uses a piece of string tied to a stick stuck in the ground to draw a big ring in which to play marbles, so they, by means of a large number of pegs, made a circle exactly twelve miles in circumference, right round the base of the hill. In this way there was enclosed an area of ground that was precisely four miles across, no matter from what part of the outer edge the start was made.

As soon as the ring was clearly marked, a small army of Fairies were put to work all along its outer edge, digging out a trench twelve feet wide and four feet deep. Later on, this trench was made fifty-two feet wide and twelve feet deep. As the earth was taken out it was speedily removed by another army of fairy workmen and deposited on different parts of the Hill pointed out by the Prince’s Engineers, to be used later on in the making of lakelets, lily-pools, waterfalls, and all manner of delightful arbors, rose gardens, lavender beds, pansy plots, daffodil rings, and a thousand and one other altogether beautiful things meant for glorious display.

In the meantime, certain specially qualified engineers—who really belonged to the Cave Fairies, and therefore fully understood underground tunnelling and mining—having been persuaded by Prince Waratah to join his forces, were industriously directing the sinking of four great pits close beside the Magic Well. Each of these pits was situated directly under one of the lines running North, South, East and West. When they were sunken thirteen feet, sloping tunnels were begun, which tunnels, following exactly beneath the lines drawn on top, ultimately found an opening into the great trench on the rim of the circle two miles away. [39]

But, of course, none of this work went on without interruption. It was only a matter of a very few days, when the Desert Fairies, impelled by curiosity, came to see what was going on. The great trench, which, as you will have surmised, was being digged to form a circular lake, first attracted their attention. And very much it puzzled them. What it all meant they could not understand; but, true to their vicious instincts, they soon made up their minds to try and destroy it. This they sought to accomplish by blowing immense quantities of loose sand into the excavation; thereby making it necessary to do the work all over again.

If, for the future prevention of this wanton and dastardly outrage, no remedy could have been found, here was an end to the making of the Lake. But there were brains among the Prince’s Engineers, and one of them very cleverly constructed a most ingenious device for counteracting or stopping the flying sand. In a certain spot in one of the otherwise dry and sterile gorges, watered in some way not yet discovered, he had seen a very large number of bamboos growing. They were of all sizes; from the thickness of a lead pencil to the circumference of a man’s wrist; and being very sheltered from the wind, they were all extremely tall. Getting a huge quantity of them brought up from the gorge, he first had them cleared of inside pith so as to leave a free passage from end to end. Taking the thinner ones, he had tiny holes bored into them about half an inch apart. This done, he fitted them, straight up and down, into a frame of the thickest ones, twelve feet square. When a number of these squares had been so fitted, they were taken to the outside edge of the Trench, and there set up by means of props or stays, also made of bamboo. A long line of bamboo piping was then laid to each of the squares, and duly fitted into that portion of the frame which touched the ground.

As can be seen, all that was now needed, was a supply of water rushing through the pipes to burst through the holes—no bigger than those in a gas burner—to make a water sprayer of astonishing value in beating down every grain of sand that came against it.

Very ingenious also, was the way in which this feat was accomplished! An enormous basket-basin was first woven out of bamboo [40]leaves and thoroughly stiffened with beeswax. It was then set upon pillars, made with stones taken from the ground, right against the opening to the Well. In appearance it looked something like the high round tanks one sees at railway stations. There was this curious difference, however, that through the bottom of the basin bamboo pipes came down, and these were joined to the other pipes that were to take the water to the squares.

Now it has to be remembered, that when the trapdoor of the Magic Well was opened, the water shot upwards into the air. To permit of the basin being placed in position, and for other reasons, the door had been closed and the water shut off. To make it fall into the basin when it should be again released, a kind of stand-pipe, surmounted by a concave shield something the shape of a reaping hook, was so erected as to be behind and over the water as it would rise. The shield, like the basin, was made of waxed bamboo leaves.

In due course, everything being ready, the trap-door was again opened, and, just as expected, the rising column of water struck the shield, and, running along its concave curve, poured downwards into the basin. For a little time the water seemed to leave the basin faster than it was received; but that was not really the case, for the engineer had calculated the matter to such a nicety, that not until the basin was almost brimming, and the weight of the water helped, did it empty as quickly as it was filled.

And what a sight it was when the squares sent out their spraying, sparkling streams of water! No wonder the Desert Fairies drew back in startled amazement. Rain they knew! A travelling water-spout they had seen and marvelled at! But here was something past all comprehension; a hundred thousand never-stopping jets of water, shooting straight at them, and, more weird and awe-inspiring than anything they had ever heard or seen before—giving out the strangest music, and the most brilliant colours, as the wind and sun played in and out among them.

Very soon they saw the results of the water’s action. Everywhere within range the sand lay flat and heavy; and try as they might, every attempt to fling the loose grains through the spraying water into the trench was a dismal failure. They were completely [41]worsted, and for many a day thereafter the Fairy Workmen were allowed to follow their pursuits in unmolested freedom.

Having now rid themselves of the attacks of the Desert Fairies, the work of laying out the City and surroundings rapidly advanced. In particular, four things were pushed ahead with all possible speed. They were, the finishing of the great trench, the completion of the tunnels through which the water was to flow to fill it; the building of a very large basin and ornamental fountain over the pits and opening to the Well, and the construction, underneath the basin, of simple but effective machinery for the control and regulation of the waters of the Well.

In due time they were all finished, and ready to be put in use. Prince Waratah thereupon declared a general holiday in order that all might take part in the first and most important event connected with their venture, namely, the turning on of the water that was to transform the trench into a Lake, and, in so doing, convert what had hitherto been a hill in the desert, into Fairy Island!

They were therefore asked to assemble round about the Fountain, which, up to that day had been screened from view, what time those engaged upon its erection carried out their task. Now, exposed to all beholders, they saw that it consisted of three parts. First, there was the great black polished marble base, several feet in depth. Upon this base there rested a projecting white marble basin in the shape of an enormous water-lily; whilst the Fountain itself—made of greenish coloured bronze, rising from the centre—was so fashioned as to represent a glorious bunch of Waratah blooms, from the middle of which, a good deal taller than the rest, a very prince of Waratahs appeared!

When the Fountain was in action, from every tiniest petal of these mimic blossoms was meant to shoot a delicate spray of clearest water; whilst the lofty central flower would send a shaft sheer into the sunlight! And so cleverly was everything adjusted and arranged, that not a drop of water was wasted. It all fell into the basin; and by means of neatly hidden overflow pipes, ran into the pits beneath, and so through the tunnels into the lake!

All this, however, is anticipating the event. [42]

At twelve o’clock precisely, in accordance with the Prince’s orders, the levers of the machinery, out of sight beneath the basin, were swiftly reversed. Instantly the Fountain began to play! From the bunched blossoms burst a misty spray; soft, cool and altogether delightful; especially when a number of gaily coloured rainbow tints peeked and pranced and revelled through and through it! In addition, high into the air from the central flower, shot a silver shaft of water; that, breaking as it fell, seemed to tremble into unnumbered strings and sprays of diamonds, zircons, tourmalines, topazes and opals, as the sun’s rays glanced and gleamed amid the glistening drops! The spectacle was both charming and delightful; and the Fairies cheered and cheered again at the varying effects!

Then, suddenly, as often happens in a crowd, they broke into bands; some to go this way, and some that. Naturally enough, by far the greatest number of bands made for the Trench; for of course everybody was anxious to see what was there taking place. Almost before they arrived, however, the water came running through the tunnels; and, as they stood watching, steadily began to make its way from edge to edge. Of course it took many and many a day to fill; but, with a never stopping supply of water pouring into it from North, East, West and South, fill it did; and has remained so filled ever since!

Now the creation of this great Lake round about the land chosen for the Fairy City, and its gardens and grounds, not only acted as a bar to certain enemies, but so vast a quantity of cool fresh water had a miraculous effect upon the atmosphere. It became more humid, more moist. Trees and shrubs that could not have lived there before, no matter how much water might have been given them, now flourished amazingly. Flowers, fruits and other edibles of all kinds grew to perfection with astonishing rapidity. Birds of every sort and description, attracted in some mysterious way to the Lake and Hill, came in hundreds and settled there permanently. Bees, Beetles, Butterflies, and Moths, in like manner, came, as it were, out of space, to find a new, and possibly, a happier home than they had ever known before. [43]

“Instantly the fountain began to play.”

“Instantly the fountain began to play.”

[45]

In an incredibly short space of time, therefore, the place became bright with the strains of feathered songsters and the glitter of their gaily plumaged friends.

About the Hill Miniature Forests were planted and grew as if by magic.

On the outer edge of the Lake, partly to honour his noble Father, King Eucalyptus; but also to act as permanent protection against the detestable Desert Fairies, who, like the Bedouins of the African desert, are always on the look-out to despoil and destroy, Prince Waratah caused to be planted a magnificent belt of Eucalypts. This great forest of truly splendid trees stretched in an unbroken line right round the Lake, and very soon became a joy to all beholders, and the dwelling place of every Australian animal that can be named. How they got there must for ever remain a mystery; but there is good reason to believe that Prince Waratah, who loved everything Australian, sent out Fairy scouts and messengers, mounted upon storks, cranes, and native companions, to tell them all about the New World, so to speak, and to bring them there!

As to the City, that soon began to show itself!

Following upon the general plan marked out by the Surveyors, high up on the hillsides pretty fairy residences were erected, their coloured roofs and snow-white fronts standing sharply out amid the trees and shrubbery scattered round about them. How all this work was done would take far too long to tell; but to give you an idea of what the City and surroundings looked like after they were finished, imagine yourselves going there on a visit.

Having arrived at the great belt of Eucalyptus trees surrounding the Lake, you would probably be directed by a Fairy Forest Ranger to one of the many narrow paths leading to what is called “The Outer Causeway.” Taking the direction indicated, on coming through the forest, there would suddenly break upon your sight a gloriously beautiful Garden City set upon a Hill. At the foot of the Hill, running in a wide band completely round it, blue as the skies above, lie the waters of a serene and lovely lake. In some respects, this water circlet is not unlike the ring that surrounds Saturn, as [46]pictured in the books dealing with Astronomy; but this impression vanishes the nearer its margin is approached.

When you reach the “Outer Causeway,” you discover that it is a wide flat pathway, made of concrete bordered with red granite; and that it encompasses or surrounds the whole of the lake. Where it touches the water, at equal distances apart, there stand three hundred and sixty-five rough-cut grey granite pillars; one for every day of the year, each seven feet high, to represent the days of the week. On the top of each of these pillars a perfectly round lamp has been placed; whilst at the foot, iron bolts and rings have been affixed. Thus the Pillars are not only useful for lighting purposes, but they also serve as Moorings for Boats.

Getting into one of the many Ferry Boats that cross from shore to shore, in due course a landing is made on the “Inner Causeway.” Like its namesake, it also is a wide flat pathway; but in this case it is made of White Marble bordered with polished red granite; and it encloses or encompasses the whole of Fairy Island. On its outer rim; that is to say, on the side that touches the water, at equal distances apart, there are placed three hundred and sixty-five pillars of plain burnished copper, each four feet high; and, linked to these, are a double row of brass chains, polished and lacquered to the colour of sunset gold.

At the proper landing places, these chains are detachable, and attendant Fairies are in readiness to remove them as the boats arrive. Passengers are thus enabled to step ashore without inconvenience or trouble.

There are only four landing places; and from each of them runs a white marble path that leads to one of the four City Entrance Gates.

The four gates, which are placed North, East, West and South of the City, are set in a very strong wall of polished red granite, twelve feet high and thirteen inches thick, representative, of course, of the months of a year. Built into, and incorporated with the wall, and made of the same material, at even distances apart, are fifty-two watch towers, each seven feet high, one for each week of a year. These are surmounted by pillars of exquisitely wrought copper, [47]capped by star-shaped electric torches that, throughout the livelong night, send their searchlight beams across the Lake.

The Entrance Gates are perfect in proportion and design. They are made of copper; and each bears upon its central shield, in burnished brass, certain singular figures that to those who study them, are full of meaning, and carry many a useful lesson. The Eastern Gate, for example, is ornamented with a truly life-like picture of the Sun rising from a slightly ruffled sea into the cloud-crossed Heavens. In popular phrase, this is known as “Day’s Gate”; but it is really meant to indicate the entry into life, wherein there are many clouds of ignorance and doubt, to be swept away by bringing to bear on them the light of education, thought, and reason.

The Western Gate, quite apart from its geographical position, is easily picked out by reason of the fact that it bears upon its face a striking likeness of the Full Moon bursting through the misty vapours of the night into the high unclouded skies. This is styled “Night’s Gate”; but that is but a poor attempt at imagery, for its purpose is to typify the way in which the pure souls of men and women rise above the mists of death and make their way to the free clear spaces far, far above the world.

On the Northern Gate appears a representation of our own earth, seemingly buffeted about by stormy winds and lightning flashes; but still steadily pursuing its appointed way. The portion of the World most prominently displayed is Australia. In this case the name commonly given is “Earth’s Gate.” It is, however, a very inadequate title, for it is intended to convey the idea that duty and love of country are two of the greatest virtues; and that the endeavour of everyone should be, in spite of trouble or adversity, to continue along the path believed to be right, and in so doing, to remember that one’s native land should ever be uppermost both in private and in public effort.

The Southern Gate has emblazoned upon it a portion of what a poet has described as “That inverted bowl we call the sky.” In this instance the “Milky Way” is pictured; and prominent among the Stars beneath, the Southern Cross is shown. Generally speaking this is called “Heaven’s Gate,” and is a much more expressive [48]term than that which has been applied to any of the others. Nevertheless, the name given does not fully cover its inner import or meaning. As is well known, the “Milky Way” is caused by the massing, or bringing close to each other, of a very great number of stars; and, as their lights mingle, there is produced the strange, spilled milk effect, which gave rise to the descriptive appellation. But that is by the way! What it is meant to convey to those seeing it featured on the Gate, is the idea that Heaven’s Gate is guarded by an innumerable host of Angels—milk white in their purity—who will not allow anyone to pass except by right! And only those have the “right” to enter Heaven, who, by their good conduct, truth telling, and straightforwardness, are fit and proper persons to be admitted to the Kingdom of God! The Southern Cross beneath, with its five glowing stars, represents Faith. Not that blind kind of faith which just believes a thing because someone has said that it is true; but one that is based on the fullest use of the five senses of Touch, Taste, Sight, Smell and Hearing, which have been given us as aids to understanding and knowledge.

Such, then, is a brief description of the Gates of Fairy Land; through one of which, to enter the City, everyone must pass. There is but one other remark to make concerning them. Whenever there is any reason for them to be mentioned, the order in which their names are given is always Northern, Eastern, Western, and Southern. This is so because the initial letters when put together spell N-E-W-S; and it is in this way that the Fairies contrive to give a constant reminder to everybody interested that they are well informed as to what is taking place in the four quarters of the Globe; without which information, they would, of course, be very sadly behind the times.

Having passed through one of the Entrance Gates, the first thing to strike the eye is a long path covered with golden coloured gravel. On either side of the path there is a green grass border. One of the reasons for having these borders is, that gold and green are Australia’s National colours, and as the Fairies are very patriotic, it is easy to understand the significance or meaning of this delightful arrangement. [49]

“To see the city at its best, it must be viewed at night.”

“To see the city at its best, it must be viewed at night.”

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At each of the Gates an exactly similar path may be seen. They run in straight lines to the Fountain and Gardens at the top of the Hill; and they are laid directly over the tunnels that carry the water from the Magic Well to the Lake. As a consequence, they serve more than one purpose. Firstly, they divide the city into four great triangles of exactly equal dimensions. Next, they give access from the four cardinal points of the Compass to the Prince’s Palace and to the Fountain Gardens. Lastly, whilst completely hiding the tunnels from view, they make them easy to get at in case of accident. To have had any buildings above or across the water tunnels would have been a very great mistake; for quite apart from the difficulty of making repairs, if such were necessary, the weight of the erections might have brought about the very trouble it was desirable to avoid.

All the other paths run in circles. There are very many of them; but their number has never been told. Facing all the paths or streets, Fairy Houses have been built—dainty little dwellings of the quaintest patterns imaginable; but all of them having a piece of garden ground to add to the effect. The houses of the Prince’s officers and the Fairy Leaders are on the four main straight streets; those of the other Fairies are on what may be termed the circular streets. The Prince has had reserved for his own use a very fine piece of land facing the Fountain on the flat top of the Hill. Here his wonderful Palace is erected, the foundations for which were laid even before the Lake was made.

But to see the City at its best, it must be viewed at night, when the artistic lighting arrangements show it up in all its glory.

Before attempting to describe the lights, or the perfectly entrancing effects they produce, it has to be stated that the streets are, by the Fairies themselves, called the “streets of the stars.” Hence it is quite common to hear such names as the “Street of the Southern Cross”; the “Street of Orion”; the “Street of Canopus”; or the “Street of Mars.” This arises from the fact that Stars and constellations have been used as lighting models. The constellations, or groups of stars, are in use for the broader streets, and at all crossing centres; whilst the stars have been copied for the narrower streets and for the watch-towers on the wall. [52]

As an example of many others, the Street of the Southern Cross will do to illustrate the way in which the City is lighted.

Here, at regular intervals apart, stand very finely made copper lamp-pillars. They have all been treated to what is called “oxidation”; with the result that they have an elusive sheen or polish about them that is very attractive to the eye. To further enrich them, and make them still more beautiful to behold, they are inlaid with burnished silver in pretty trailing designs borrowed from some of Australia’s best known plants of a creeping or climbing habit. Among the number may be seen the purple Sarsaparilla; the white Forest Queen, and Sturt’s Desert Pea. On the head of each pillar is placed an exact model or copy of the Southern Cross, from whose five stars there pours a flood of light from night till morning. When all the lamps in all the streets are thus sending forth their rays, the combined effect is positively glorious. The City seems, as it were, clothed in light; soft and delicate; and yet so clear as to bring to richer beauty everything it touches. Houses and gardens, clearly seen, are yet dream-like in their loveliness. Trees and Fountains; Lily ponds and Lavender beds; Water-falls, grottos, gorges, valleys; all are magically and mysteriously still, and wondrously beautiful! Viewed in this way, it is indeed a Fairy City, and a fit and proper setting for the crowning jewel of all its architectural and other wonders: The Prince’s Palace!

But of that Palace, and of all its marvels, time does not permit to tell. That is a story which must be reserved for another occasion. Suffice it to say, that when it was at last finished and furnished, many there were who thought that it was time the Prince renewed his search for a wife; for here indeed was a Palace fit for any Princess on earth!

Ornament.

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