Now you see it, now you don’t.

‘All glory is fleeting’. I felt the truth of this statement after my visit to Casa Loma in the heart of Toronto.

Casa Loma is the former estate of Sir Henry Mill Pellatt. The son of an avid stock broker and a financier and industrialist himself, Pellatt was a man of fine taste. He loved entertaining VIP’s and vowed to build a one hundred-room castle fit for the Royal dignitaries. At a time when an average 4-bedroom house in Toronto was around 2,500 dollars, he pledged to spend 100 times that money on the construction of his dream house. Begun in 1911, it took 300 workers around 3 years to complete the construction at an expense of three and a half million dollars at that time.
Each room was a master-piece of architecture in its own. The finest material -- mahogany, walnut, and oak, Italian stained glass, and marble -- adorned the ceilings and the walls. The handpicked furniture was of the best quality money could buy. It also reflected the mood and use of each room. For example, Lady Mary Pellatt’s suite had the detailed work on the furniture mirroring the carving on the mantle and plaster cornice. In the library, the herringbone pattern on the oak floor created different shadings when viewed from opposite sides. The Elizabethan inspired ceiling featured elaborated plaster detailing, including the Pellatt coat of arms.
A garage housed Sir Henry’s collection of motor cars including Toronto’s first electric car, and the stalls, made of mahogany and Spanish tiles, were abode to his horses. He had about forty servants to look after the gigantic residence for himself and his wife, Lady Mary.
A five and a half acre garden featured sparkling fountains, unique sculpture and dazzling displays of rare annuals and perennials, and the towers provided the breath-taking view of the city from the highest point of the property.

Yet, for all the marvel they possessed, Lady Mary soon became confined to her wheelchair and stayed mostly in her suite, overlooking the gardens, not being able to fully enjoy the luxurious home her husband had built for her.

Then, in 1929, when the stock markets plunged, so did Sir Henry’s empire. He only lived and enjoyed his enormously giant and gloriously decorated architect for less than ten years. He became so stranded for money that, unable to pay the expenses and tax on the property, he had to abandon the castle and at one point had to seek shelter in his chauffeur’s house. To add to his sorrow, his beloved wife soon passed away. Mr. Pellatt decided to remarry later, but after only two years, became a widower a second time.

Sir Henry quickly saw his dream fade away before his eyes. The unique pieces of furniture, the marvelous decorations, and art collections, all had to be auctioned off. He even had to sell his beloved wife’s wheel chair to pay for expenses.

Finally, unable to pay the taxes or maintain the property, with class he decided to donate the castle to the City who opened it to public for viewing as a historical building. The Kiwanis Club of Casa Loma took over the maintenance and operation of the Castle.

And thus the story of a great rise and fall ended.

Sir Pallet’s life story is an inspiring one – it reminded me of the old proverb ‘man proposes, God disposes’. In other words, all our life, we strive for money, fame and status but these are peripherals that can part with us at any time. Sometimes we try to fine tune every detail about our future but it turns out to be something completely opposite to our dreams. That is where our mathematical calculations fail and we must bow our heads down and surrender to the power of our Lord.

Asma Warsi