152 



THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY.— SUPPLEMENT. 



^ESTHETIC ANALYSIS OF AX OBELISK. 



By G. A. 



I HAD climbed with a friend up the steep down 

 which overhangs Ventnor, and reached the 

 obelisk at Appuldurcombe. From its base the 

 eye ranges over the loveliest panorama in the 

 Isle of Wight. The Solent gleams blue in the 

 sunlight to northward, and the Channel, studded 

 with white sails, spreads below us to the south ; 

 while at the eastern and western ends of the 

 island, the great chalk-cliffs of the Culvers and 

 the Main Bench stand out in dazzling purity 

 against the purple waters of Sandown Bay and 

 Freshwater Gate. Around us on every side 

 stretches an undulating reach of tilled or wooded 

 country, all the more grateful, perhaps, for its 

 trim neatness to an eye wearied with the rank 

 luxuriance of tropical hill-sides. But what strikes 

 one most in the prospect is the singular way in 

 which every conspicuous height is crowned by 

 some kind of monument or landmark, giving to 

 each portion of the scene an individuality and a 

 topographical distinctness of its own. Here, close 

 at hand, is the Appuldurcombe Obelisk, built on 

 a commanding point of view by Sir Richard 

 Worsley, the former owner of the great house 

 which stands in solitary grandeur, shrouded by 

 the elms of the park, at our feet. The obelisk 

 has been struck by lightning and shaken to its 

 very base ; while the topmost stones have fallen 

 in a long line on the down, still preserving their 

 relative positions, and impressing the visitor with 

 a very massive idea of ruiu. Looking northward, 

 we see the monument on Bembridge cliffs and the 

 sea-mark on Ashey Down ; while on the opposite 

 side the St. Catherine's beacon and Cook's Castle 

 stand out among a number of minor pillars. We 

 bad been discussing some question of aesthetics 

 on our way, and, as we gazed round upon this 

 exquisite view — a mere hackneyed English scene, 

 it is true, and perhaps on that account not worth 

 the trouble of a description to those who measure 

 Nature with a foot-rule, but lovely, indeed, to any 

 one who worships beauty for its own sake, and 

 acknowledges it wherever he may find it — my 

 friend inquired of me, " How do you account, on 

 general aesthetic principles, for the pleasure we 

 derive from an obelisk ? " 



The question was not one to be answered in a 

 moment. Indeed, the actual analysis into simple 

 psychological elements of any aesthetic object, 

 however slight, is a lengthy task ; for many sep- 



arate factors, intellectual, emotional, and sensu- 

 ous, must be taken into consideration and duly 

 coordinated. We talked over the point as we 

 returned to Ventnor, and several other observa- 

 tions occurred to me in the course of our rambles 

 afterward ; so I propose to set down in this paper 

 the net result of our joint investigations. The 

 starting-point of our exposition will seem at first 

 sight sufficiently remote from any question, either 

 of obelisks or of aesthetics, but I trust that as I 

 proceed its relevancy to the main subject will be- 

 come clearer. 



A baby of my acquaintance, aged seven months, 

 is very fond of hearing a spoon knocked against 

 a finger-glass. One day the spoon waB put into 

 her hands, and, after a series of random efforts, 

 she at last succeeded, half by accident, in strik- 

 ing the glass and producing the musical note which 

 pleases her. This performance gave her the most 

 intense delight, as was evidenced by her smiles 

 and chuckles. She continued her endeavors with 

 varying success, and soon learned* how to direct 

 her muscles so as to bring about the desired ef- 

 fect. Every exercise of this power gives her 

 acute pleasure, and is followed by a crow of ex- 

 citement and a glance around which asks mutely 

 for the sympathy or approbation of by-standers. 

 Evidently, even at this early age, the gratification 

 of power, the pleasure of successful effort, is a 

 feeling within the range of her unfolding intelli- 

 gence. 



Another baby, half a year older, is in the 

 habit of pursing her lips and blowing upon her 

 papa, who thereupon pretends to be knocked 

 down, and falls upon the carpet. In this case 

 the gratification is even more evident, and the 

 supposed effect is more conspicuous and striking. 

 Other children, again, push down grownup peo- 

 ple with their hands, and are delighted at their 

 resistless fall. The main element in all these 

 pleasures is the production of a noticeable ef- 

 fect ; and it is obviously desirable, both for the 

 individual and the race, that such efficient action 

 should be followed by pleasurable feeling. The 

 power to produce great mechanical results and 

 the will to initiate them are necessary factors of 

 success in the struggle for life among the higher 

 animals. 



Boys a little more advanced in nervous and 

 muscular development derive analogous pleasure 



