Consideringour present advanced state of culture, and how the Torch of Science has now been brandished and borne about, with more or less effect, for five thousand years and upwards; how, in these times especially, not only the Torch still burns, and perhaps more fiercely than ever, but innumerable Rushlights, and Sulphur-matches, kindled thereat, are also glancing in every direction, so that not the smallest cranny or dog-hole in Nature or Art can remain unilluminated,—it might strike the reflective mind with some surprise thathitherto little or nothing of a fundamental character, whether in the way of Philosophy or History, has been writtenon the subject of Clothes.
「Torch of Science」「Rushlights」「Sulphur-matches」など、
Considering [how,(in these times) (especially),not onlythe Torch (still) burns,(and perhaps more fiercely than ever), but<innumerable>Rushlights, and Sulphur-matches,<kindled (thereat)>, are (also) glancing(in every direction),(so thatnot the smallest cranny or dog-hole <in Nature or Art>can remainunilluminated)],
[it]might strikethe reflective mind (with some surprise) [that (hitherto) little or nothing of a fundamental character, (whether in the way of Philosophy or History), has been written(on the subject of Clothes)].