New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-10-26

of mon still on the sunny side of forty that
these tastoless and unsuitable structures were
at one time, considered in tho very highest
taste we may not have gone far IN our art
education, but VIC nave At least got beyond
the bcnighted condition Of that time, and there
is good reason 10 believe that il tho nation
could have waited ten years longer for a new
capitol, and our city the same time for p
new post-ofiico we should by that time run
far less risk than we do to-day in employ
ing IN architect to design these build
ings But it ID idle to regret the pas and
its shortcomings or mistakes. The architects
of that time were no way IN advance OF the
community; and even to-day those who are
capable of serving the educated part of the
public, much less Of teaching it anything, are
to be counted on the fingers OF single hand.
The Institute OF Architects has set itself two
tasks one TO aid in educating those who enter
the profession of architecture to higher stand
ard of theory and practice the other more
arluous undertaking-tO do something Ior the
education of the whole public, that they may
know the value of good architect, and
not commit important works to unfit hands.
In our country dis education of the pub
lie is hardly as yotbegun. A great deal OF build
ing is done every year, but it is the rarcst OF
events to see q really good Westinghouse, a
beautiful or convenient church, or even private
store erected anywhere; and if men as individ-
uals fail to satisfy even q moderate criticism IN
building for themselves, how is any better re-
result to be looked for when they unite
their money and taste to erect buildings
for their collective public use Everybody
knows what happens when an average town de-
cides to build q town-hall or when an average
board of trustees has resolved on new church or
q new bank The cultivated man examines with
mute despair the roll OF drawings which the one
trustee OF the board who Unites in his own per
son the factotum and the man of taste shows
him with i'll disscmbled pride, and calmly awaits
the day that is TO SEQ the native beauty of his
village ilrcparably damaged by the new struc-
ture. Against the general ignorance of our
men of wealth in all matters connected
with art; against the universal ign0r-
ance Of our mechanic, IN the same field; and
against the concclt and dissatisfaction, born
of this ignorance, in both classes, it may be
feared that the labors of our few accomplished,
we-traned architects will for q long time be
in vain But il is to be always remembered
lllil lHtlt ~ III bii p'VPiN an "'''"''N '"'''
dation to build upon in national susceptibility
TO beauty, natural leaning to Art, which
only need to be properly and steadily
educated to produce result whose value
is at present quite incalcuable. And
although the American is slow to admit the
claims of a superior-a defect OF national
youtll--hc is by no means slow to learn, though
it may be that he prefers to learn from exam
pie rather than from prcccpt. There IL, OF
course, more hope here. as everywhere, i'll edu-
eating the mechanic and the working class III
Art, than the wealthy, whether working or
idle, for these last always have false stand
ard, and cherish THEN whims with perinacity
proportional to their absurdity. What is now
most needed in America in the educa-
ton of our working masses Is cheap,
amply illustrated periodical (and "amply Illus
"tratcdn is no longer necessarily " dear , de
voted 10 architecture, and building generally,
and to all the arts that make home life attract
i've II the Institute could once make mp its
mind to establish and support such journal
for year OF two we have no doubt it would
soon he sef-supportng, aud that we should
see the visible results of its teaching in houses
better proportional and more conveniently
planned than those which are built to-day. and
in general public awakening to the interest
and Importance of the whole subject.