BRIDGES 79 



true that a certain section of the stream may not be 

 crossed in any other way ; but supposing that imme- 

 diately above and below this point, the water narrows so 

 that it might be conveniently stepped across, the effect of 

 the bridge will be to suggest trouble which might easily 

 be avoided. A bridge is built to be used, yet we find, 

 in quite a number of gardens, bridges spanning streams 

 which a person without the least pretensions to athletic 

 powers would find no difficulty in stepping over. In 

 such cases, the bridge is often made so large that it is 

 altogether out of proportion to the width of the stream, 

 the two ends being, perhaps, six or seven feet beyond the 

 sides of the banks. In summer, when there is little more 

 than a trickling thread of water, the effect is supremely 

 ridiculous. However, this is nothing compared with the 

 folly of erecting a bridge over dry land, yet I have seen 

 quite an elaborate structure built on a lawn. Of course 

 it was covered with a growth of creepers, and in summer 

 looked extremely gay, but there was no mistaking it for a 

 bridge, pure and simple. The only instance where a 

 bridge is required in the garden, except for the purpose of 

 crossing water, is in the case of a deep cleft or sunken 

 walk, but this is rare except in very large pleasure 

 grounds or those situated in a hilly district. Seeing the 

 follies which have been perpetrated, we cannot, then, be 

 too careful that, in the first place, the bridge is a necessity. 

 Having decided this point, the character of the surround- 

 ings should be carefully considered, so that the proposed 

 bridge may be thoroughly in keeping. 



Of the various materials which may be used for con- 

 struction, stone is the most desirable, iron the least so. 

 Wood is picturesque, and in some cases answers well 

 enough, but it soon decays, and the cost of continually 

 renewing' the structure soon makes it one of the most 

 expensive materials. A well-built bridge of masonry 

 lasts a lifetime, and, providing that the design is not 



