Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-02-10
RICHMOND, FEBRUARY 10. 1921


c'Nif OE b{UGlNfI.
third objection arises, from the extrava-
gaDce Of the piim, npon which they proceed
| III The erection OF the buildings. II is objected
that they are TOO elegant, too commodicns too
| comfortable. These objections deserve 10 be
treated cavalieiiy. i suppose they are too
e.egdnt, because too great stun of money
VIII be spent IN lis completion And une her
rs urged by some men, viz. that il u in,rrorer
ioi students 10 have elegant III ldeis Nv vii il u
thcy may form their taste lest they mia hi
oe,ohs 700 :ehned IN their notions, aud apps.
taiiLe ffoE the good old example, set t!ipn, by
thsi Fathers, IN The Architectural lie They
are Too coni'nodious, because the studies 10
TIE students ale not huddIed iogether, Xix e
nasstechs In Dntchmans meadow, OF one
room bait over another In several stories
where they might he eternaly ,hnaiping aad
stamping over each others keads that
they may more .hectua.ly hat9e esery al
tempt towards compOsure iUr stu,!Y...
100 comfortable, because they are NOT eADus-
pd To the damp aud culu which will ine VII ably
ruin Tie Constitution OF any persons Nliatsoe.
vc,, who lead The sedeu,aiy lives of students.
Ana mareover, The dust, filth, and The igintiny
OF the atmosphere by repeated ibiiaiailous Is
avoided by Tie plan projected.
Bnt IS me extravaganza Ut Ife plan il likely
to pio,e !dtaiio it, VII tiev otva few niunrents
10 an enquiry inio The s0ld,iy OF The ob,ec-
stoh. III Is tue, that houses might have been
erected tor The accommuda.iOs OF professors
aud students ior much less money ihau \, m
be expended III tie Completion OF those on
hand. Bat the question for decision is Tins :;
die ibe Objects 10 be effected BY the plan pIu
pGseu, such as viii justify the visitors III
charging Tue state with the additional ex.
pehse presume that The obi sct they had IN
view was 10 raise d building for The use OF
the yOunS men Of tue Irsi respectsbilyt>-at
which Tue hinus OF Our iniBie politicians
philosophers and poets are 10 be cultivated
10 establish d University winch Shall Stand
a. monument 10 The honor aud glory of Vir-
g'hia-an ins titntion whose fatie ,niii increase
a. III an=mente the humbef III It's yroIs-a me-
nehiO, WHICH VIII cndeaI lie name and cha
dtter al IT. patrons 10 thousands Vet unborn.
he VISITORS yiPwed II as a duty 10 Intensely es
10 incur lie eNpeBse necessary 10 render tttem
elegant 10 such d degree ~ womb dtlIy er
them iiem ,le shame aud IIdicuie Wiiici, would
inevitably tai upOa them few years hence
when The circumstances under which they
were built shalt have been forgotten a due
de.res OF elegance was necessary, TO place il
III the power OF The Virginia yomin TO receive
the siudeuis from the nei.hbouriug states
without d blush f0T thriT cJies C. aud welcome
them To the distinction OF the professors =
that IL may vie with The ~ eat literary insiiiu
tinhs ct The world, not only in promoting the
attainment OF scientific acQuireIneEts bun also
IN It's external appearance. Another object
tile directors had III view, was The CORRECTION
OF The Taste OF the fIrsinIans III architecture.
For tiis purpose. they thought II desirable 10
have display of the different orders of that
an, as model Ivy which the STYLE of our
bu idiugs ni.Dt be regulated. saonid think
that Object alone mole than Sufficient 10 Ius-
lIiy them /" fixing upon the plan which has
been adopted. Are there not loud calls made
upon " to improve our style of building? In
Inc moss wealthy parts of ihe state, we rarely
see any thug else hui the most uniformed
masses OF mattel ais, which afford kind OF
shelter, oulS fiji iuI the beasts of The forest
single stored houses, smoky cabins aud stone
Heaps, without Hight or air, abonni ia every
quarter. Aud in the building or rather heap-
Ing UP OF these, there is often more abour
bestowed & money expended. than would have
heen SUFFICIENT 10 have iinilt pPat, cOmnlodluus
d dwellings, wi ch would be C nioftaUie 10 them,
selves WHO are the owners, u ornaments TO Tie
STATE. You will sometimes see houses falling
down for want OF props. whichlhave at the S ,me
time four or i've pillars where there Is no need
OF any-spaclous houses, which nave 30 rooms
in them large enough for The social circle of
fieuds- and these rooms are irsoueutiy so cut
10 pieces by doors that you cannot fad a
vacant place against the side OF the wall for a
table or side board
There is noihng which adds so much 10 the
valHe OF country aud increases The pleasure
aud comforts OF It's Inhabitants, as elegance in
architecture. 10 he sheltered nom cold aud
rain in winter, aud projected tiom the heat in
SIMMER, renders men cheerful, in tenious ac
tive aud euierpriSlDg. Good buildings adorn
and heautily a country, improve its whole APP
peaTauce-ihe inhabitants derive mncll plea
sure from viewing the many bTantiial pros
poets, and they also afford au iudncemeat TO
enlightened Foreigners 10 tdVeI through Onr
country, to mingle with our citizens, who will
cause them 10 cultivate feelings OF CHARITY and
benevoience towards other nations aud in many
in ,taDcesconveyMncb insttnC ton to them. Beau
tiiul aud durable specimens OF this art are en-
belishme nts 1T once tie most permanent, the
most fui & NEST delightful. Fine dress, fac
furniture and fine eqnipage are bur secondary
ornaments They die sOOu worn. spoiled and
oui OF fashion. Although heap OF stone or
bfIck, exhibits nothing elegant or nseful
yet when placed ia lie hands of skilinl arr
iis, they may he converted into Buildings OF
great eleg ance aud utility. Like The common
words aud expressions Of the vulgar, which
have nothing ~ them entertaining or impress
siys, set when placed iu the hands OF an able
master, he can array them is such manner,
aud place them ~ sucl. form, that they are
Instruments which will convey 10 our minds
much instruction aud amusement, IN the most
Impressive aud loicibs manner improve
ments OF THIS character are generally attended
by many very useful aud ornamental arts
sUrb az painting, sculpture, the fBbricaIion OF
elegant turDiinfe, &c. which greatly multiply
the sources OF pleasure, temd 10 elevate tie
character OF naiiOa, aud give enpioymeu
u many OF It's inhabitants. There aTe existing
at this day many elegant buildings OF Greece
aud Rome, which a'e the most dun able mOuU-
monts vi Tive high Stale Of perfection, to which,
tse arts and sgiences had attained ~ these
counIIies-and lhey have furmed an inex-
bausiible fund ct The greatest curiosities.
Nothing has raised our notions of those noble
cities so much as the testimony of travellers,
who have visited them aud gwen US nara
tives OF them. susstantlated by the specimens
winch they have transported from thence aud
exhibited 10 our view. Lei Virginia aspire to
distinction ~ the decorative arts ia will in.
crease tie enjoymeuts OF our country, afford
employ meri 10 many Of her Inhabitants .sn