The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-04-15
lfok THE INpErESDEST rREsS.
MODERN ARCHITECTrJRn


AS there is II" style of architecture, peculiar
I" the Nineteenth Century. but those of all
time" ar countries are practised with more or
les, success. we pnrpose~ avoid the un,,lra-
'ant task Of crticising o., .tely the works of
others. to whom perhaps unntentionallv we
might be unj'st in consequence Of being not
fully acquainted with the difficulty attendant
on their dies ignS. Besides many Of the must
H'ar'ng faults which are observable in the
buildings Of the present day. are to be attrihu.
ted MS much to the wur.in Of y bad
system as to bad architects the one has pro
duc"h the other. The noble art j. degraded anl
crushed hy the combined action of COMPETITIONS
contracts and pnchng calculations which are
most unfnv"rable +" the scientific man whose
s"e aim is 10 produce harmonious. artistic or
original compositions which would reflect
honor on himself nnl the country.
Tie selection of designs is often influ-
! cnc"d 10y the greater amount uf ornamental
features and not hy the superior conpo.itio ion
at the design it matters little if the ornaments
are inappropriate, mcrrtric i"us or nncqua lly
distributed or I" what extent, three side. of
the bnihlins are impoverished or .tarval go
that the principal farn.l. looks rich. In short
the quantity Of enri:hn.nt seems to he the
III i" sokj'ct without con si'leration a. to it.
""nsistenc! for the purpose or situation of the
building.
THIS dishonesty in the expression of a blii.l.
ing an'l the ignorant introduction, or hn.l exc
cntioE "f useless ornament seems to b- san.
toned by custom and is very Frequently
rerr'tra'ei. Success stimulates the en-
i'r'c' To proceed in his career and the public
taste her"mrs in fe"trd hy his productions.
Or must We blame tn" fatality wiiie, too fr..
qhrn'lF permits s"'ll- iutlt .Iial member of a
c"in'n'ir" I" prnpayu'. his own mist AIKEN
views "f architecture. or all TN. l,ilJ;nrs
thus erected how few ARE satisfactory pv.uto
'he Se''it"rs "i ih" designs, who. As they have
II" iun'is t" lose. have ,"c c"nsnla,ion tina, their
participation III the work in time that eou,l
Iz.- nl things. is f"rgo,tcn.
From the c,l"rs Of this system another has
arisen. which i'll "cclrsaS, cai huiiln - seems To
hinder al! advance in art. Pr,..c len, i. now
IN" only rule. AMI from which It is hprrsv To lie
i'nrt :-"That which ha. been shall b. with
out consideration as 10 whether it may or NAV
not b" p.rf.c.
u
work of his fame. CONSISTS in servile cop.s of
plates nnl eminent examples. and too ire
In"ntIy III the Introduction of feature. for
which. hv the change of our relyou. ceremo-
nin's and f"r'ns, there is II OF the least Use.
lhe only requirements Of an arch il-ct Of the
present day Is" far u. the ere,.tinn Of churches
= c"nc"rncd} seems to be. that Gothic church
e'i"u'I have Pinnaclcs like tooth picks anI
hattlements in any quantity which he is al.
lowed t." ru together in any way he likes for
"cc"r'nE To tn" views Of certn in sorietics they
"'iSt "f themselves l'r "ducc n good huillnr
W hat can hr worse tl.an to SEE tn. body a,,l
interior OF church sh"rn of nll inonllny to
lavish M unnecessary amount Of enrichment ON
f"wrr} 1t conveys tn. idea til It tn. latter
is 'h" most im!"rInn, sa:rel part of The build
ing. OF verify it is rs inconsistent "a TO +.
H'vc hn'l orthosraphy or to follow tn. cx-
hnI'l" OF the Chinese tailor who on having a
patched cont sent him for pattern for new
one, copied it correctly even to the color of
the pa'ches.
Having directed attention to the most p,or
ing errors IN hhildings of the present DAY we
cannot conclude without doing Justice to the
great advances which are visible in the ort, :, E
| "rnamentnti"n in the interim anil exterior of
dwellings lately and now erecting in Abh.vil,e
Aud in all the details of mecbanica architec-
ture, the Eherality of the proprietors is high.
~ connendabl-. exhibiting a refinement of
tas'" TINT they may we'll be proud Of: and
with the advantages that other Villages and
many citiee are deficient in. namely able and
accomplished artists. n corresponding advance
IL taking place IN architecture.
lhe next article will treat of the quaifica-
tons and requirements and duties Of a archi-
tect.
(ro be coSrrSuED.)