ARCHITECTURAL FORMS IN NATURE. 



63 



with an eloquence inspired by the theme, outlined to a Liberal audi- 

 ence a scheme for federating the English-speaking peoples. These 

 are dreams; but the dreams of to-day are the realities of to-morrow, 

 and every step taken toward the realization of them is itself a gain. 



ARCHITECTURAL EORMS IN NATURE. 



By F. S. DELLENBAUGH. 



" Semblance of castle and arch and shrine 

 Towered aloft in the clear sunshine." 



THE world is old, yet the world is new. It is old in our sight 

 because it has endured for a time that from our puny stand- 

 point seems long, but which, gauged by the standard of eternity, 

 would barely be represented by a single tick on the dial that knows 

 no beginning and no end. It is a work still in process; when it is 

 done the human element will not be here to admire or condemn it. 

 When in the long ages of its de- 

 velopment parts of the solid crust 

 have been pushed above the 

 waters, the elements have js&CV 

 combined to pull them //yl*. 1 '* * 

 down and sink them A&$* ,i 

 again under the seas. /.]£ «jjjji Pr ' 

 It is a battle between 

 the waters and the dry 

 land, and when during 

 the refreshing shower 

 we see the rivulet at 

 our feet brown with 

 mud, we see the victory 

 of the rain; we see the 

 price the earth is pay- 

 ing to this subtle" foe. 



This warfare goes on day by day, year by year, age by 

 age, and will go on as long as a dry rock rears its head 

 above the deep. The rains and frosts and winds, acting 

 on the exposed surface with unceasing energy, have in 

 many localities produced strange contours and striking resemblances 

 to objects familiar in our daily life, especially to buildings and other 

 structures due to the hand of man. These are often on a giant scale. 

 But, in addition to the quality of size, these natural forms possess 



Fig. 1. — Completed Bridge. 



NftTl'RAi 8RIDW. 

 YIR.C1N11V 



