Page:Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal, Volume 1, 1869.djvu/752

 610 The Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal. [April, He is not an old man, who remembers when iron was used in building, as a mere accessory to strength, in the shape of key-bolts, straps, stirrups, kneelers, and suspension-rods, in carpentry ; and anchors, in masonry, which attached the wall to the flooring-joists, either to up- hold the former, or to retain the latter in durance vile — in case of destruction by fire — to drag down the wall, in one common ruin. But those were the days, when comparatively little was thought of, save drudgingly practising, over again, the simple lessons, which forego- ing builders taught. Iron, however, began to develop its capabilities, under the magic of scien- tific study. The cooperative power of steam has enlarged the field of effort ; and stimulated science to so great an extent, that man may well ponder, in surprise, at the advancement made ; and look back, with amused incredulity, at the past greatness of Timber ; and the good old times when the " mants of the forest" held undisputed sway over the Art of Building. But, to play the conqueror, and usurp the throne, through so many misty ages held by Timber, was not all that ambi- tious Iron aimed at. No ! the very styles of Architecture were made sub- servient to the new ruler ; and Iron be- came so pliant a servant of the Archi- tect, that; with economy not hitherto dreamed of, the scope for design was apparently without limit. The lessons inculcated in this new reign were quickly improved upon ; and Stone began, under the mastery of the Sculptor, to assert its claims to higher art. Where now is Timber'} Ah, how circumscribed is that once proud oli- garch's dominion ! Who would dream, to-day, of working the "orders " in wood ? White lead has proved the tough old monarch's best friend ; and shields his greatness from the derision of Time, and the inquisitive rudeness of the elements. The world has rolled into another age of wonders : Science stirs up the cal- dron, and throws in new ingredients. Man looks on all, delighted, but pre- pares his mind for more, and " Still they come." The French architects have long had the advantage of the quarries of Mont- martre, near Paris, which yields them a beautiful fossil stone, so easily tooled, that it is commonly set in the wall, and there chiseled by the workman, who, now and again, descends from the scaf- fold, to view the effect of his work. The English architects have had the Portland Stone, to work upon, which presents every facility, while fresh ; and ultimately hardens to an acceptable de- gree. American architects have not had a stone so pliable, as those ; but the mar- ble has been worked, notwithstanding, to good purpose. However, to incur, for most domestic purposes, the cost of carving it to the degree, that French, or English works display, would be ex- travagance. In this position, we stood, then, in reference to our British and Gallic contemporaries, up to a compara- tively recent clay, when Cast-iron pre- sented all the ease of embellishment, which the most luxuriant imagination could possibly design. This discovery, or rather develop- ment, of the capabilities of the great mineral of the age, at once threw open the gates of American Architecture to the flood of novelty, which, as it were, burst upon it from Europe, in the Medi- aeval, Cinque cento, Louis Quatorze, and a number of other-named stjdes, which had mouldered, through long silent time, unnoticed, save to be sneered at, in the heterogeneous buildings" of the South of Europe. This, then, is the age of Renaissance, or second birth, of such st3des in Architecture; and Palladio lives again among us. What succeeding ages will think of our Architecture, is a question which we are quite unfitted to answer, even by a " guess ;" for, so habituated docs the eye