Roads and Paths 83 



the ridge indicated by the shading in the plan, 

 being the most conspicuous object in the neigh- 

 borhood, as well as the two markedly divided 

 portions of the meadows which are overlooked 

 by a certain building on the height. Another 

 road leads to this building along the upper side, 

 and for the sake of convenience I required a foot- 

 path connecting the two roads which had to be 

 at the left side leading to the castle. I first laid 

 it down as in Plate V, ^, where the ascent is eas- 

 iest, this being the line it would follow in ac- 

 cordance with ordinary rules; yet I was never 

 satisfied with it, and although I changed the line 

 ten times, the path persisted in spoiling the har- 

 mony of the view. It finally occurred to me that, 

 since the hill once for all conspicuously divided 

 the prospect into two almost symmetrical por- 

 tions, the path interrupting the stretch of 

 meadow would have to follow the same direction 

 so as not to destroy the harmony, or, so to speak, 

 the balance, of the picture; for there is a certain 

 kind of undefined, hidden symmetry in which 

 there is no contradiction whatever, but which, 

 in order to produce a satisfactory effect, must be 

 evident in every expanded arrangement of this 

 kind. As soon as I changed the line of the path 

 in agreement with this principle (see x), the 

 matter was arranged satisfactorily. It may take 

 a practiced eye to understand this point on the 

 plan, but the advantages gained by the change 

 may be perceived by any one on the ground. 

 Drives should be laid out so that chief points 



