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river streams from sources even as yet but imperfectly explored。
I have thought a good deal about Egypt； lately； with reference to our
historical monuments。 How did the great unknown mastery who fixed
the two leading forms of their monumental records arrive at those
admirable and eternal types； the pyramid and the obelisk？ How did
they get their model of the pyramid？
Here is an hour…glass； not inappropriately filled with sand from the
great Egyptian desert。 I turn it； and watch the sand as it
accumulates in the lower half of the glass。 How symmetrically； how
beautifully； how inevitably； the little particles pile up the cone；
which is ever building and unbuilding itself； always aiming at the
stability which is found only at a certain fixed angle！ The Egyptian
children playing in the sand must have noticed this as they let the
grains fall from their hands； and the sloping sides of the miniature
pyramid must have been among the familiar sights to the little boys
and girls for whom the sand furnished their earliest playthings。
Nature taught her children through the working of the laws of
gravitation how to build so that her forces should act in harmony
with art； to preserve the integrity of a structure meant to reach
a far…off posterity。 The pyramid is only the cone in which Nature
arranges her heaped and sliding fragments； the cone with flattened
Surfaces； as it is prefigured in certain well…known crystalline
forms。 The obelisk is from another of Nature's patterns； it is only
a gigantic acicular crystal。
The Egyptians knew what a monument should be； simple； noble； durable。
It seems to me that we Americans might take a lesson from those early
architects。 Our cemeteries are crowded with monuments which are very
far from simple； anything but noble； and stand a small chance of
being permanent。 The pyramid is rarely seen； perhaps because it
takes up so much room； and when built on a small scale seems
insignificant as we think of it； dwarfed by the vast structures of
antiquity。 The obelisk is very common； and when in just proportions
and of respectable dimensions is unobjectionable。
But the gigantic obelisks like that on Bunker Hill； and especially
the Washington monument at the national capital； are open to critical
animadversion。 Let us contrast the last mentioned of these great
piles with the obelisk as the Egyptian conceived and executed it。
The new Pharaoh ordered a memorial of some important personage or
event。 In the first place； a mighty stone was dislodged from its
connections； and lifted； unbroken； from the quarry。 This was a feat
from which our modern stone…workers shrink dismayed。 The Egyptians
appear to have handled these huge monoliths as our artisans handle
hearthstones and doorsteps； for the land actually bristled with such
giant columns。 They were shaped and finished as nicely as if they
were breastpins for the Titans to wear； and on their polished
surfaces were engraved in imperishable characters the records they
were erected to preserve。
Europe and America borrow these noble productions of African art and
power； and find them hard enough to handle after they have succeeded
in transporting them to Rome； or London； or New York。 Their
simplicity； grandeur； imperishability； speaking symbolism； shame all
the pretentious and fragile works of human art around them。 The
obelisk has no joints for the destructive agencies of nature to
attack； the pyramid has no masses hanging in unstable equilibrium；
and threatening to fall by their own weight in the course of a
thousand or two years。
America says the Father of his Country must have a monument worthy of
his exalted place in history。 What shall it be？ A temple such as
Athens might have been proud to rear upon her Acropolis？ An obelisk
such as Thebes might have pointed out with pride to the strangers who
found admission through her hundred gates？ After long meditation and
the rejection of the hybrid monstrosities with which the nation was
menaced； an obelisk is at last decided upon。 How can it be made
grand and dignified enough to be equal to the office assigned it？ We
dare not attempt to carve a single stone from the living rock；all
our modern appliances fail to make the task as easy to us as it seems
to have been to the early Egyptians。 No artistic skill is required
in giving a four…square tapering figure to a stone column。 If we
cannot shape a solid obelisk of the proper dimensions； we can build
one of separate blocks。 How can we give it the distinction we demand
for it？ The nation which can brag that it has 〃the biggest show on
earth〃 cannot boast a great deal in the way of architecture； but it
can do one thing；it can build an obelisk that shall be taller than
any structure now standing which the hand of man has raised。 Build
an obelisk！ How different the idea of such a structure from that of
the unbroken； unjointed prismatic shaft； one perfect whole； as
complete in itself； as fitly shaped and consolidated to defy the
elements； as the towering palm or the tapering pine！ Well； we had
the satisfaction for a time of claiming the tallest structure in the
world； and now that the new Tower of Babel which has sprung up in
Paris has killed that pretention； I think we shall feel and speak
more modestly about our stone hyperbole； our materialization of the
American love of the superlative。 We have the higher civilization
among us； and we must try to keep down the forth…putting instincts of
the lower。 We do not want to see our national monument placarded as
〃the greatest show on earth；〃 perhaps it is well that it is taken
down from that bad eminence。
I do not think that this speech of mine was very well received。 It
appeared to jar somewhat on the nerves of the American Annex。 There
was a smile on the lips of the other Annex；the English girl；which
she tried to keep quiet； but it was too plain that she enjoyed my
diatribe。
It must be remembered that I and the other Teacups； in common with
the rest of our fellow…citizens； have had our sensibilities greatly
worked upon； our patriotism chilled； our local pride outraged； by the
monstrosities which have been allowed to deform our beautiful public
grounds。 We have to be very careful in conducting a visitor； say
from his marble…fronted hotel to the City Hall。 Keep pretty
straight along after entering the Garden；you will not care to
inspect the little figure of the military gentleman to your right。
Yes； the Cochituate water is drinkable； but I think I would not turn
aside to visit that small fabric which makes believe it is a temple；
and is a weak…eyed fountain feebly weeping over its own
insignificance。 About that other stone misfortune； cruelly reminding
us of the 〃Boston Massacre；〃 we will not discourse； it is not
imposing； and is rarely spoken of。
What a mortification to the inhabitants of a city with some
hereditary and contemporary claims to cultivation； which has noble
edifices； grand libraries； educational institutions of the highest
grade； an art…gallery filled with the finest models and rich in
paintings and statuary；a stately city that stretches both arms
across the Charles to clasp the hands of Harvard； her twin…sister；
each lending lustre to the other like double stars；what a pity that
she should be so disfigured by crude attempts to adorn her and
commemorate her past that her most loving children blush for her
artificial deformities amidst the wealth of her natural beauties！
One hardly knows which to groan over most sadly；the tearing down of
old monuments； the shelling of the Parthenon； the overthrow of the
pillared temples of Rome； and in a humbler way the destruction of the
old Hancock house； or the erection of monuments which are to be a
perpetual eyesore to ourselves and our descendants。
We got talking on the subject of realism； of which so much has been
said of late。
It seems to me； I said； that the great additions which have been made
by realism to the territory of literature consist largely in swampy；
malarious； ill…smelling patches of soil which had previously been
left to reptiles and vermin。 It is perfectly easy to be original by
violating the laws of decency and the canons of good taste。 The
general consent of civilized people was supposed to have banished
certain subjects from the conversation of well…bred people and the
pages of respectable literature。 There is no subject； or hardly any；
which may not be treated of at the proper time； in the proper place；
by the fitting person； for the right kind of listener or reader。 But
when the poet or the story…teller invades the province of the man of
science； he is on dangerous ground。 I need say nothing of the
blunders he is pretty sure to make。 The imaginative writer is after
effects。 The scientific man is after truth。 Science is decent；
modest； does not try to startle； but to instruct。 The sam