“A Thing of Beauty And Joy Forever"

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 16, 21 January 1936, Page 8

“A Thing of Beauty And Joy Forever"

TO VISIT CITY NEXT MONTH.

While in Auckland recently Mr T. W. Henderson, secretary of the Palmerston North branch of the Crippled Children’s Society, availed himself of the

opportunity of viewing “Titania’s Palace,” the Lilliputian fairy building created by Sir Ncvile Wilkinson K.C.U.0., for his daughter and later dedicated to the cause of raising funds for crippled, neglected and unhappy children throughout tho world. Words failed Mr Henderson to express adequately his appreciation of this exquisite achievement but remembering that tho palace is coming to Palmerston North from February 17 to March 4 in furtherance of this great cause, Mr Henderson is anxious that as many people of this district should share the inspiring experience that was his. The idea of Titania’s Palace first came to Sir Nevilo Wilkinson at his home, Mount Merrion, situated on a wooded hill a few miles south of Dublin. During tho summer of 1907 he was at work at his easel drawing the trunk of an old sycamore, when his daughter, aged three, declared she had seen a fairy disappear among the moss which covered the twisted roots. This led to the conviction that there was at the roots of tho tree some subterranean dwelling where the fairies took shelter during the daylight, to come out when the moon was up and perform their customary dances in the fairy rings. In this dwelling were no doubt the treasures of fairyland gathered together during many ages, and hidden from the eyes of human children. It seemed to the author, a pity that so much beauty should lie for ever hidden, and it occurred to him that if a special building were made above ground, “The Fairy Queen and her Court might be persuaded to transfer themselves and their treasures to the visible palace so that all children of the world might be invited to admire them. To fulfil the promise made to his daughter that she should be shown tho home to which the fairy had returned, Sir Ncvile began to draw the plan of a miniature building, which by the beauty of its decorations should be fit for the residence of Her Pridcseence, Queen Titania, her consort Oberon and the Royal Family of Fairyland. While tho exterior was being carefully fashioned in the workshop of James Hicks, of Dublin, Sir Nevile Wilkinson was using every minute of his spare time in painting tapestries, mosaics, tiles, frescoes, and the rest of the wonderful interior decorations associated with Italy of the Kennaissance. The ground plan of the palace is in the form of a hollow rectangle, nine feet by seven feet, occupying an area of sixty-three square feet. The total height is 27 inches; it contains 10 rooms in all built round a central court yard, and is lighted and heated throughout with electricity and when packed for travelling it weighs 3* tons. It took 15 years of patient work to create this exquisite dwelling, and it was fitting that her Majesty Queen Mary should have opened it on her own birthday and signed her name in the tiny royal visitors’ book. Her Majesty has maintained the keenest interest in the palace and in Auckland there arrived a piece of the Duke of Gloucester’s wedding cuke as a special gift to Titania from tho Queen herself. Since that first opening the palace has visited more than 100 cities in the British Isles, the United States and South America. Before its arrival in Australia where enormous business was recorded, 200,000 persons being privileged to view it, the sum of £40,000 had been handed to associations working for the welfare of crippled children. Mr Henderson visited the palace on the second day of its opening in Auckland and had to wait in a long queue, he told the “Times.” In his opinion the palace is very definitely something every adult with a soul should see and for the children it provides a pageant of colour. The delicacy of this creation due to the origin of its conception cannot fail to appeal to children. Everything about the palace is genuine and lasting with no suggestion of having been arranged for the moment. Of its artistry and cultural appeal there can be no doubt because each person whose efforts are contained in this edifice is recognised as a leader in his own department of craft. Throughout the building the refinement of its conception, which is tho hall-mark of good taste, is most marked. No-Wkcre in the world could there be assembled so many tiny antiques in so small a space. Many of tho pieces have unique history, their origin dating as far back as 3000 years, and others are replicas of notable treasures.

Time would not permit of a detailed description from Mr Henderson, who said that while all the rooms commanded attention, the Hall of Guilds provided an arresting entrance for the visitor; tho Throne room with its precious examples of the highest art of famous jewellers, captured tho imagination—the pearl and peacock throne of Fairyland was breath-taking, he said, ar.d the distinguished chapel with its exquisite panelling something to marvel at. Kemoto as New Zealand is from the greatest treasures of the world, the opportunity is vouchsafed to few of its people to view suck a combination of artistry and culture. On no account must it bo thought that therein are assembled a collection of toy pieces, but rather something which will be treasured by the British Nation tor evermore. This is the perfect fairy palace which, if transformed into a mortal palace, would make the owner blest beyond his wildest dreams. Through the generosity of Sir Nevilo tho palace has been brought to New Zealand to further the work of those engrossed in tho care of crippled children and the entire proceeds from the tour will be handed over to these societies. Tho thauks of everyone in this country are due to Sir Nevile Wilkinson for the opportunity of viewing these treasures# Mr Henderson concluded, his enthusiasm having carried away the hard-hearted reporter to whom he was chatting.