Page:Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal, Volume 1, 1869.djvu/751

 THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW AND AMERI CAN BUILDEES' JOURNAL. Vol. I.— Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1S6S, hy Samuel Sloan, in the Clerk's Office of the Distru Court of the United States, in and for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. MONTHLY REVIEW ARCHITECTURE IN AMERICA N A IS S ANT AND RENAISSANT. IT is one of the singular phases in the history of this world of ours, that, whilst ft rolls on through gathering years, its youthful growth is still peren- nially made manifest, in the ever ad- vancing power of intellect, which it puts forth. Every age has its wonders ; yet those wonders never cease ; but rather multiply ; and nothing is more surpris- ing, than the narrow-mindedness of that age, which acknowledged but seven wonders in the world. To the senses of childhood, each thing looked upon, heard, or felt, is wonderful, until some- ■ thing still more attractive claims its place, and draws away the attention. "We are all children in this respect ; and the woi-ld is ever holding us in this fairy-like enchantment, by never ceasing its allurements for us to wonder as we go. Nature grows her facts of animal and vegetable life ; and Man, that most won- derful production of Almighty Power, vies with Nature in the struggle to be wonderful. Man has the advantage ; for, he borrows thoughts from Nature ; and surpasses her with her own mate- rials. Intellect is the weapon he wields; and all goes down before it ! Nor is it in ages only, that wonders are produced. They multiply and in- crease so rapidly, that years and even days, or hours, are sufficient to develop them. In Art and Science, we find those wonders classified ; and, as the restless Intellect ponders on their history, an- other hint is borrowed, and another ; until, teeming forth, come wonders still, to distance all of these. Architecture, venerable with ages of honor, yet holds a prominent position in the progress of the world ; and puts forth, ever and anon, new claims to attention. So will it still continue to do, as long as mind controls matter, and Science gives food to sustain that mind, which grows stronger and more produc- tive, transmitting its efforts to ever coming ages, that, in their turn, add their progressive proportion of that tribute, which, though constantly paid to fame, is still for ever due. Nature lends her mineral wealth ; and the Architect turns it to account, iu every way he can. Thus we see the metals, wrought out to be subservient to his art, becoming more and more attractive, and still improving, the more they are improved. (609)