A Matter of Scale

I stepped off the desk and made my way toward the lower shelf of the heavy oak bookcase, seeking an elevated perspective. Tucked between two thick cloth-bound volumes, I discovered an antique brass magnifying glass leaning against a wooden bookend. The glass lens offered a remarkably clear curvature. Adjusting my footing so my broad webbed feet balanced firmly across the beveled shelf edge, I peeked through the glass at a printed diagram of old Geneva streets. The sudden magnification stretched the ink lines into massive dark avenues. A most practical optical instrument for precise inspection.