to
the senses. The air all about them seemed to vibrate with the distant
melody of some angelic music, now sinking, now swelling in perfect
harmony; so soft, so clear, so bright, so inspiring in its wealth of
tone and joyous movement.

"Ah! Miss Fenwick," said Fillmore Flagg, "my senses are all entranced!
Your wonderful fairies in this grotto of magic are at this moment
thrilling my being with sensations of the most intense delight! How can
the Fairy Queen explain? What has she been doing with her magical wand
to produce such delicious perfume; such entrancing music?"

Fern's merry laugh rang out musically clear, and her eyes sparkled
roguishly as she replied: "I assure you Mr. Flagg, that in this instance
the fairies are not responsible. The explanation is quite simple but
rather long. Therefore let us move forward while I give you the details:
As we were stepping down on this graveled walk, I turned the switch and
started the ventilating fans, at the same time connecting the electric
current with a series of melophones located near the top of the arches.
Along the ventilating tubes, in a series of small compartments, are
sponges saturated with different kinds of perfume. These sponges can be
exposed to the air current or withdrawn at will, yielding a single
perfume or a blending of as many kinds as one may wish. The wonderful
variety of these choice blendings, which can be so easily produced,
affords a constant succession of sweet surprises. The melophones which
you hear, represent the highest achievement of art in the production of
automatic musical instruments. This set is the most complete and the
most expensive one in existence. In construction and final completion
they cost the inventor and maker three years of constant thought and
labor. The result is truly marvellous. The perfection of harmony and
purity of tone are convincing testimonials of their excellence. In
operation these instruments are placed in a very large double tube made
from a peculiar kind of metallic alloy recently discovered, which
affords the most perfect conditions for the conservation and
conductivity of all musical vibrations. They are capable of producing an
almost endless variety of choice music. The selection which we hear at
this time, is one which I have re-named 'The Carol of the Ferns.' Pardon
me, Mr. Flagg, if in my enthusiasm over the beauties of what you have so
poetically termed my 'magical temple of ferns,' some of my statement