Page:Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal, Volume 1, 1869.djvu/876

 708 The Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal. [May, of a liberal admixture of the Saxon element in their composition. The Anglo-Norman is in a great measure the tj'pe of English Govern- ment after the conquest, and, in its variations from the French Norman, is a forcible demonstration of the analogy which exists between government as a science, and architecture as an art. Indeed, a search after the origin of architecture will be found to be only a search after that of government, for if we 2:0 far enough back to discover the first signs of attempts at architectural works, we will find ourselves at the era of the first efforts at government. During the early years of the world's history, each man lived to himself, by himself, and for himself; there was no effort to form communities, no combina- tion having common interest or looking to the end of mutual protection. Each man governed himself in his own way, and as these ways were entirely subject to whim or fancy, there was consequently no government at all. At this stage, architecture had not been born. Man lived literally upon the face of the earth, ate the natural fruits of the earth, and sheltered himself from the elements in such cavities and clefts as nature afford- ed. Being ignorant of the art of gov- erning, he was ignorant of that of building. One step further, and we see the first rude effort at the formation of communities, (and consequently of gov- ernments,) and at the same time the first result of a conception of Architec- ture becomes visible. The early Nomadic tribes, wandering from place to place, without a home, had still their huts, temporary and weak, 3'et, nevertheless, artificial, being the result of something outside of simple nature and independent of its forma- tions. That light which induced the concep- tion of the advantage of a union of in- terests under the government of a tribe, served to illuminate the same minds with the idea of the necessity lor a means of protection from the elements, and thus were born these twin chil- dren — Government and Architecture, which were destined to be the great pro- genitors of the civilization of coming ages. In the first stage, Architecture pre- sents itself as entirely utilitarian. No attempt was made at anything above utility and only the primary steps at- tained in that, but, in the next era, w r e not only see great advancement in the production of works of usefulness, but discern the glimmering of the dawn of taste ; an effort, — slight as yet, but con- taining the genius 'of future success, to add something to the mere necessi- ties of shelter and abode. At the same point we discover that we have reached a second era in government. An idea of justice has crept into the expanding minds of men. Government, simply as a means of control, is here not up to their requirements. A desire to reward virtue and punish crime in the due pro- portions of right and wrong, has mani- fested itself, and consequently a nearer approach has been made to civili- zation. Another step and we behold the successful attempt to embod}- thought and sentiment in such adorn- ments as the age has discovered, and the equally successful effort to per- petuate these and render them palpable to future generations. Here again we have reached the period when men, com- prehending the necessity for yielding to the public good, submit themselves to the ruling of their fellows, and suffer such penalties as, in the opinion of their countrymen, their offences merit. The next age opens to us the glory of that genius which finds its best exem- plification in the Architecture of Greece and Rome. Here civilization seemed to have reached its climacteric. It was at that stage when it appeared doubtful whether it could be carried farther, and whether, for want of some higher sphere to conquer, it would not fall. This fear seemed to meet with a realization when