" The very quietness of nature is gradually 

 withdrawn from us; thousands rvho once in 

 their necessarily prolonged travel mere sub- 

 jected to an influence, from the silent sky and 

 slumbering fields, more effectual than known 

 or confessed, now bear with them even there 

 the ceaseless fever of their life; and along 

 the iron veins that traverse the frame of our 

 country, beat and flow the fiery pulses of its 

 exertion, hotter and faster every hour. All 

 vitality is concentrated through those throb- 

 bing arteries into the central cities; the 

 country is passed over like a green sea by 

 narrow bridges, and we are thrown back in 

 continually closer crowds upon the city 

 gates." 



KcsKiN, in "Seven Lamps of Architecture." 



