Page:The Diothas, or, A far look ahead (IA diothasorfarlook01macn).pdf/39

 quarried and ground down; till, in the course of ages, further discoveries in agricultural chemistry had led to the disuse of trap in favor of other rocks.

The light being unfavorable for the view in that direction, I soon turned away from the river in order to examine objects nearer at hand. Having gained some insight into the changes effected by time in the city, I felt some curiosity to discover whether corresponding changes had taken place in the slow-moving country. I was soon to learn, that the alterations in the aspect of the city were but slight compared with the utter change in the conditions of rural life. Cities, after all, remain much the same, as to their main characteristics, in all ages. The difference between Babylon and London must be much less than the difference between the aspect of the country around London as it appeared to Cæsar and as it appears to us now. Changes of equal extent had been wrought. here.

We had left the train at what appeared to be a small village. Yet nowhere was to be seen any trace of that pervading lack of neatness and finish which, in our day, usually characterizes the country. The smooth concrete of the platform where I stood was continued in one unbroken sweep to the houses seen on the farther side of the broad, open space surrounding the station. The buildings visible, though inferior in size to those of the city, were as solidly constructed, and of similar materials. Broad verandas, extending completely round each story, imparted, by their broken lines and deep shadows, a peculiarly picturesque character to the architecture.

My attention was specially drawn toward the house