208 ENVIRONMENT 



particularly apparent in the bent of the religious and 

 artistic emotions. The simplest religions mono- 

 theistic or dualistic have arisen amidst landscapes 

 which emphasize the impressiveness of simplicity 

 and uniformity : the most complicated vagaries of 

 polytheism occur where the darkness of forests, the 

 imminence of precipices, the rushing of torrents, 

 and the slow spread of floods display Nature as a 

 many-headed terror for mankind. It has been 

 held that the influence of hill scenery may be 

 detected in the architecture of a people. Archi- 

 tectural styles spread very rapidly by imitation, 

 and lose all connection with the region of their 

 birth. But we may gather from observation that 

 amidst mountains and pine trees buildings tend 

 to be more sharply roofed than in featureless 

 plains. Tall, far-spreading trees are a feature of 

 environment in Northern Europe : in the vaulted 

 aisle of a Gothic cathedral we feel as if over- 

 shadowed by their interlacing branches. Nor 

 need we doubt that the exquisite formulation of 

 artistic feeling which was the glory of classical 

 Greece was stimulated by impressions ot clear- 

 cut beauty in mountain, valley, and sea. Life 

 in a crowded city produces sharpness of character 

 as well as of features ; and amidst these sur- 

 roundings it is particularly true that " evil com- 

 munications corrupt good manners." Within 

 certain limits hardship strengthens, luxury 

 weakens the character. Some of us may remem- 

 ber Mr. Barlow's illustration of this truth in that 

 old nursery classic, Sandford and Merton how 

 cowardice and courage changed about between 

 two dogs which alternately became used to the 

 hearth-rug and the sheep fold. A muscle, or a 

 faculty, is generally strengthened by use, and 

 circumstances that compel its use are therefore 

 invigorating in respect to it. Energy is also 



