Fig. 86.—Curves.details

There is not only beauty, but there is also power of line. A curve while yet beautiful may be feeble, or it may be full of energy and life; and that line will be found to be most powerful in character which approaches nearest to the right line.

The line of life is worthy of special consideration. Nothing is so pleasing as the manifestation of a strong vital power, and the thought of such can readily be called forth by a certain class of line.

The shooting forth of the buds in spring must be studied in relation to this line, and the direction which every leaf takes when given off by the stem in its activity of energetic growth. But in order that it be fully comprehended, we must have reference to the tropical vegetation, where the leaves are of colossal size and the vitality of plants is at its maximum; but as a tropical forest is not accessible to all, we give a group of young palms, in which the greatest power is manifested in the direction of the members, and in which we truly have the line of life.* (Fig. 86.)

We see, then, that if we desire to invest our ornaments with the beauty of life it is necessary that we have energetic curves, and avoid those which are feeble through being bent about like worms in agony. It is always better to approach the straight line in the curve than to err in an opposite direction.

(p. 98)