San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-09-09
THE ORIGIN OF CITIES.
THEY ALL, 1T APPEARS, CAME FROM
A VERY SIMPLE BEGINNING.
In the Olden Times They Grew Very Slowly,
but Now They Spring Up I'm Short Order.
Some of the Many Causes That Result in
Congregating People.

Congregating People.
Cities, the centers of the moral and intel
lectual activity of modern civilization, came
from very simple and humble beginnings.
When the primeval mu began first to feel
the need of association with his fellows for
the purpose of self defense, commerce or car
ryihg on various branches of primitive manu-
facture he formed with them village for the
more convenient execution of his projects.
If the trade were carried ON by sea this vii
lage became a seaport. If it was the head
quarters of chief it became the capital of a
tribe or nation, and other villages paid trib-
ute to it, If it was placed under the protec-
ton of Deity it was called a holy city. The
word Babylon means the "City of the God"
The name Heliopolis, literally translated, is
"Holy City" Troy was a sacred city in the
truest sense, having, according to the legend,
been built by Neptune. Mecca has been a
sacred city since the time of the patriarchs.
IN THE DAYS OF THE CoNQUERER.
If city was the central seat of authority,
like Nineveh, Babylon, the capital of the
Pharaohs, Athens or Rome, population flowed
to it, and it became the home of learning, the
arts, of civilization in all its forms. If it was
Ostia or Marseilles, it became in time great
by its commerce, while it might also some
times be the residence of the sovereign. If
there were mineral waters they became the
resort of those in pursuit of health, and vii
lagos were formed about them, as by the
Romans at Aix-la-Chapelle and at various
points in Italy, Germany and France The
habit of visiting medicinal springs is by no
means of modern origin. If a station or stop
ping place on one of the lines of trade and
travel between Asia and Europe in ancient
times was of considerable importance it be-
came a powerful center of commerce and
civilization, like the Arab city of Palmyra,
whose queen, Zenobia, is a conspicuous per-
sonage of history.
The origin and growth of modern cities is
more interesting. After the fall of Rome
and the chaos that succeeded the world had,
so to speak, to be recreated During the dark
ages there was hardly place in Europe
worth the name of city, except Rome, Byzan-
tium, Marseilles, Paris, London and few
Others. This was the state of things after the
Franks and other German tribes had overrun
France, or at the moment when the feudal
system was about to be evolved. What are
now called France, Germany and Austria had
returned to their condition of virgin forest,
with clearings here and there which repre-
sented small cities, castles with villages at
tached, or monasteries with farms inclosed
by wall. When the conquerer divided the
subjugated country among his subordinates
the building of castles began on a scale hith-
erto unknown.
The castle was located on hillside, as
near the top of a hill as possible, if water
could be obtained for the moat about it or for
the cattle. Wells were generally sunk with
in the walls to supply the lord and his gar
rison. A large number of retainers were
needed to perform the work, to care for the
dogs and horses, to cultivate the fields, to
make armor and clothing. These could not
always be accommodated within the walls
and were obliged to build their huts outside,
but as near as possible, that they might escape
within in time of danger. Others who ex-
ercised trades or who titled the soil, without
being more intimately connected with the
castles occupants than by the obligation to
render military service from time to time,
helped to increase the population of this vas
sal village, which, if the situation was of suf
ticient commercial Importance, became in
time city.
THE FRENCH PLAN IN AMERICA.
There was another way in which villages
were formed at the same epoch 1t was often
desirable that in some wild forest region the
trees should be cut down and plantation
made in the clearing Then a number of
vasSals or serfS were sent to the locality desig-
mated and temporary shelter prepared Tor
them OH the edge of the forest A tract of
land considerably longer than wide was as
Sir RI ole M,
end of each of these tracts house was built
for each of these vassals, in front Of which
ran the village street. The houses were suf-
ficiently near together for the protection of
the inhabitants from brigands or wild ami
mails or for the carrying on conveniently of
individual trades. On the seashore the vii
lagos, in most cases similar appendages of
castles, were aggrandized by fishing or COM
merce with other countries. As the monas-
teries of the middle ages were in reality feudal
fortresses they might in the same manner be
the germ of villages that afterward became
cities.
From these different beginnings came most
Of the towns and cities of modern Europe.
In time the castles disappeared or became,
perhaps, mass of ruins, but the city re-
manned. All over France and Italy are still
seen villages or small cities perched on hill
sides, some of which, having no special rea-
son for being, have fallen into decay, while
others may have lived and fiourished by force
of some special industry. The French ear
ried the manner of clearing a forest and
founding village to America. 1t is notable
in Detroit which was laid out in long, mar
row strips of land, one end Of which was on
the river and the other end a mile or more
back in the country. The houses Were built