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witli which the Cyclopean architecture of the shops under- 
neath the Exchange would be compared with the fragments of 
the friezes a] id mouldings which might he found among the 
ruins. Imagine the perplexity with which the portico of 
the Infirmary would he compared with the facades of some 
of the Portland street warehouses, and all attempted hy 
some systematic thinker to he co-ordinated with the Assize 
Courts and the New Town Hall. As for the endeavour to 
ascertain anything about our domestic architecture, that 
would he hopeless indeed. But there is one consoling 
thought. It is possible that with regard to this at any rate 
the perplexity may never occur ; for it is few indeed of our 
modern houses that will stand into a second or third 
century ! 
Perhaps the most important feature in this matter is that 
what we are doing hy this artistic and architectural confusion 
will not stop with the perplexity which it will cause concern- 
ing the remains of our own time. That might he suffered. Some 
may say, our buildings, at least our considerable public build- 
ings, are all dated ^ — so are our hooks, and our sculptured in- 
scriptions. True. But the difference between those of our day 
^vlliGh are dated, and those of six centuries ago, which are 
not dated, will grow less distinguishable every century, 
until at last they will all be touched with one equal aspect 
of antiquity, and the utter confusion which will then appear 
among those which are dated, can hardly fail to bring equal 
confusion, and at last discredit upon those which are not. 
I do not think that this is a light matter, though I have 
pointed out in passing a certain ludicrous aspect which it 
undoubtedly possesses. I think it points to deeper defects 
in the mental and moral life of the age : to a craving for 
the excitement of the picturesque rather than an apprecia- 
tion of the really beautiful ; to a want of originality in the 
higher forms of art, that is poorly compensated by the skill 
with which we can lay Etruscan and Pompeian vases or 
