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triumphs of human ingenuity； one of the most beautiful； as it is one
of the most useful； of all the mechanisms which the intelligence of
successive ages has called into being。〃
〃I see nothing；〃 my companion answered； 〃but an old broken…down
wagon。 Why they leave such a piece of lumbering trash about their
place； where people can see it as they pass； is more than I can
account for。〃
〃And yet；〃 said I； 〃there is one of the most extraordinary products
of human genius and skill；an object which combines the useful and
the beautiful to an extent which hardly any simple form of mechanism
can pretend to rival。 Do you notice how； while everything else has
gone to smash； that wheel remains sound and fit for service？ Look at
it merely for its beauty。
See the perfect circles； the outer and the inner。 A circle is in
itself a consummate wonder of geometrical symmetry。 It is the line
in which the omnipotent energy delights to move。 There is no fault
in it to be amended。 The first drawn circle and the last both embody
the same complete fulfillment of a perfect design。 Then look at the
rays which pass from the inner to the outer circle。 How beautifully
they bring the greater and lesser circles into connection with each
other！ The flowers know that secret；the marguerite in the meadow
displays it as clearly as the great sun in heaven。 How beautiful is
this flower of wood and iron； which we were ready to pass by without
wasting a look upon it！ But its beauty is only the beginning of its
wonderful claim upon us for our admiration。 Look at that field of
flowering grass； the triticum vulgare；see how its waves follow the
breeze in satiny alternations of light and shadow。 You admire it for
its lovely aspect； but when you remember that this flowering grass is
wheat； the finest food of the highest human races； it gains a
dignity； a glory； that its beauty alone could not give it。
〃Now look at that exquisite structure lying neglected and disgraced；
but essentially unchanged in its perfection； before you。 That slight
and delicate…looking fabric has stood such a trial as hardly any
slender contrivance； excepting always the valves of the heart； was
ever subjected to。 It has rattled for years over the cobble…stones
of a rough city pavement。 It has climbed over all the accidental
obstructions it met in the highway； and dropped into all the holes
and deep ruts that made the heavy farmer sitting over it use his
Sunday vocabulary in a week…day form of speech。 At one time or
another； almost every part of that old wagon has given way。 It has
had two new pairs of shafts。 Twice the axle has broken off close to
the hub； or nave。 The seat broke when Zekle and Huldy were having
what they called 'a ride' together。 The front was kicked in by a
vicious mare。 The springs gave way and the floor bumped on the axle。
Every portion of the wagon became a prey of its special accident；
except that most fragile looking of all its parts； the wheel。 Who
can help admiring the exact distribution of the power of resistance
at the least possible expenditure of material which is manifested in
this wondrous triumph of human genius and skill？ The spokes are
planted in the solid hub as strongly as the jaw…teeth of a lion in
their deep…sunken sockets。 Each spoke has its own territory in the
circumference； for which it is responsible。 According to the load
the vehicle is expected to carry； they are few or many； stout or
slender； but they share their joint labor with absolute justice；not
one does more； not one does less； than its just proportion。 The
outer end of the spokes is received into the deep mortise of the
wooden fellies； and the structure appears to be complete。 But how
long would it take to turn that circle into a polygon； unless some
mighty counteracting force should prevent it？ See the iron tire
brought hot from the furnace and laid around the smoking
circumference。 Once in place； the workman cools the hot iron； and as
it shrinks with a force that seems like a hand…grasp of the
Omnipotent； it clasps the fitted fragments of the structure； and
compresses them into a single inseparable whole。
〃Was it not worth our while to stop a moment before passing that old
broken wagon； and see whether we could not find as much in it as
Swift found in his 'Meditations on a Broomstick'？ I have been
laughed at for making so much of such a common thing as a wheel。
Idiots！ Solomon's court fool would have scoffed at the thought of
the young Galilean who dared compare the lilies of the field to his
august master。 Nil admirari is very well for a North American Indian
and his degenerate successor； who has grown too grand to admire
anything but himself； and takes a cynical pride in his stolid
indifference to everything worth reverencing or honoring。〃
After calling my companion's attention to the wheel； and discoursing
upon it until I thought he was getting sleepy； we jogged along until
we came to a running stream。 It was crossed by a stone bridge of a
single arch。 There are very few stone arches over the streams in New
England country towns； and I always delighted in this one。 It was
built in the last century； amidst the doubting predictions of staring
rustics； and stands to…day as strong as ever； and seemingly good for
centuries to come。
〃See there！〃 said I；〃there is another of my 'Eyes and No Eyes'
subjects to meditate upon。 Next to the wheel； the arch is the
noblest of those elementary mechanical composites； corresponding to
the proximate principles of chemistry。 The beauty of the arch
consists first in its curve； commonly a part of the circle； of the
perfection of which I have spoken。 But the mind derives another
distinct pleasure from the admirable manner in which the several
parts； each different from all the others； contribute to a single
harmonious effect。 It is a typical example of the piu nel uno。 An
arch cut out or a single stone would not be so beautiful as one of
which each individual stone was shaped for its exact position。 Its
completion by the locking of the keystone is a delight to witness and
to contemplate。 And how the arch endures； when its lateral thrust is
met by solid masses of resistance！ In one of the great temples of
Baalbec a keystone has slipped； but how rare is that occurrence！ One
will hardly find another such example among all the ruins of
antiquity。 Yes； I never get tired of arches。 They are noble when
shaped of solid marble blocks； each carefully beveled for its
position。 They are beautiful when constructed with the large thin
tiles the Romans were so fond of using。 I noticed some arches built
in this way in the wall of one of the grand houses just going up on
the bank of the river。 They were over the capstones of the windows；…
…to take off the pressure from them； no doubt； for now and then a
capstone will crack under the weight of the superincumbent mass。 How
close they fit； and how str