New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-10-14

tLtulQ DOUBTED III ills CbuulIN' Al - -hcif
| lecture Sculpture is very well, and Painting Is
very fine for he decoration OF those palaces in which
the more fortunate portion of our popular sove-
reigns dwell or in which they create their wealth.
But tie substantial building itself which is TO b.
the repertory Of the upholstery in which well-to-
do America rejoces is what should claim the first
care of the budding millionaire. That is duty be
owes TO all Of US, his felow-soyereigns. We may
not all b. vouchsafed the vision Of his marvellous
table. and chairs. Of his miraculous windOw-cur-
tans and amazing carpets-to say nothing OF his
astonishing pictures and statues and other objects
Of bicofry and rrtue - but. even as cat may look
upon king. we may not be denied to gaze on the
outside of his abode, and derive such edfcation as
the sermon. preached by its stones afford. He
Should see to it, therefore, that the doctrines they
preach are orthodox and their style correct such as
nay best benefit the perpatetlc congregation that
look up to them as models Of sound knowledge and
pure taste
To do them Justice. the rich men of this city and
Of the other principal cities in the Free States
show no deficiency Of zeal in this direction That il
is not always entirely according to knowledge, is
not perhaps their fault fine house is the first
expression Of his wealth newly rich man thinks OF
giving; and, if he have discretion enough to em-
ploy competent architect and nerer to meddl, nih
his DESIGNS the chance is that he may get his
moneys worth for his money. and not make fool
Of himself in brick and mortar. Ii is but too often
the case however that he thinks il essential TO vim
dictate his proprietary rights by requiring some
Aorid addition or some pitiful retrenchment which
makes ridiculous failure of the whole thing. The
same ntermedding spirit it is on the part of Build
ing Committees and State and Municipal Officers
that has made the earth groan under the weight of
churches and public buildings Of the most abandon
ed end uDprincipled character A knowledge of
their own ignorance on the part of these worthy
officials is essential prerequisite to the cure ot
many of the excrescences which deform the face OF
our American cities, and to prevent their breaking
out sgain with fresh yirulence should they ever
meet e any good fortune with temporary check
There is physiognomy in houses as well as i'll
their masters. and the architecture of an age or
country generally tells by its features and their ex
preston the stage Of civilization that demands it.
The Greeks built their temples reyerently, and
sighted none of their work because il would not
be seen Of men-for, as they said, The gods see
everywhere So the ecclesiastical architects OF
the middle ages, when the sacred poems were com
posed by them in stone, which are an establishment
and despair to their successors, wrought in an
elevated and religious spirit, which yet speaks
10 us from the walls of York, of Westminster aud
Of Antwerp. So with the domestic edifces of all
times-they tell of the civilization of the age they
mark. Where nothing but the palace remains, We
NAV be sure that the common rout,
Head. without name remerat cred"
were housed in novels which persisted with them,
and left no vestge behind. The castles Of the
dark ages tell of the uncertainty of life and hayIngs
which they were built to guard against And the
gradual springiDg up of manor houses aud country
seats, at first with moats which have long since
been turned into fower.gardens and with draw
bridges long dropped forever, prove the growing
safety to body and estate which left leisure and
means for the comforts of civilized habltatlOns.
And so of town snd city architecture. Peace and
security made palaces for merchant princes, and
solid dwellings for substantial burghers grow out
Of the land or out Of the sea to tell the story OF
their golden days.
The churches and houses of the American cities
also expressive OF the character of the peo-
pie that worship in the one and live ia the other.
The desire Of making the greatest display possible
of the wealth invested in these constructions leads
to the shallow hypocrsies Of our temples and the
thin professions Of our houses. church, APP
parently Of solid granite or estone, points the
way 10 Heaven with spire of sanded wood and
when you turn the corner you see the coarse brick
substance Of the empty show in front-like priest
wearing rough woIhing dress under the exterior
magnifceLce Of his robes. And the massive stone
fronts of the weather. sort of houses, which would
persuade you that they will endure long a. the
palaces OF Venice show you at the edges that their
glory and their eternity are but of handsbreadth
Now it is uDphilo sophical to complain of all this
for it is the necessary result of natural causes
Still, the causes may be modified by better iustruc
ton and more elevated taste, So that when the
present crop of stone and mortar shall yield to time
and change-as yield il must-it may give place to
a harvest which shall make this city the most
sohdly magnificent, as il is the most specifically
snowy in the world.
An opportunity will soon be afforded for giving
TO this city the pride and the instruction which
attend On a really fine building New-iork has
nj last extorted from the United States Government
the promise Of a Post-Ofice building III some
measure proportioned to her necessities and her
great contributions to he revenues Of the Depart
uent II vii be- shame and disgrace 10 the
Government if tn. be not done Oh scale Of solid
nacpfcence which shall be al honor 10 The Nation
as WE'LL sanor ent 10 its Commercial! Metropolis.