The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-05-17
THE JUNE MAGAZINES.
ILppINcnTT,a.


Of attention in his article on Expression in
Architecture" We call attention to the follow
ing;- s'
'1f we would succeed in forming an architecture Of
our own-One adapted to our wants ana eNpICss.lhso
Of our feelings-we must forget the moue.sI 81 " thc
past we must erase, as did the monks OF old, i we
words written on the vellun, thaJ we nIdy i, ,tn
feelings and aspirations in a.;new and modern
tongue; and perhaps IN thle ue ,,o
equal or surpass in value the Original lanusCIipG m M
othc Architecture seems to lend itself TO the wants
Of modern life more httngly tnan any VI Uoei @ aii
we apply its principles without serylleIy copying
either its forms or ornamentatton, we may pro
duce something worthy OF our age puS az 't uiUoC
cssc 70 ms the greater part OF its ornament, with
its monsters grotesque images its rude and often
Indecent sculpture, its covert satire and mystical
illusions are meaningless, or II at all understood,
only 10y those whose tastes lead them to antiquarian
or professional research. If we desire to ornament
our architecture in the same spirit which is evident
in the MEDIEVAL work, ana Wnlch contributes so
much to- its value in our day, we must derive our
imagery not from times past, but from the living
present. What interest would Gothic building,
apart from the beauty of its construction, have
for us, or what light would it throw upon the
age OF its erection, had the architect gone to
the temples of Egypt or Greece or Rome for
his details? what interest has now for us u
perfect copy of Parthenon, or temple of
Bacchus, or Theban gate? Architecture,
and utility must express the living spirit of the age
OF it's construction; and hence our steamboats,
and our locomotives our printing presses and our
mules sewng-machines and our monitors, our
mowers and cur cameras, must furnish their quota
ii
his edihce with the records OF the present, which
pOsterity will read with interest and instruction in
the future. Our early history the struggle for indie
pendence, the war oi the Rebellion, the
emancipation of the slave the clash of
politics.. all should furnish themes for the
architect and sculptor; and thus II our architecture
should seem to us prosaic every year would add to
Its quaintness and it would cease to be practical
and stupendOus anachrOnsm If not beautiful inOu
eyes, it would possess nestimable value i'm the
future to a certain degree honest and character
istic Of a great age and people. STILL such orna-
tion of a mode of expression adopted and neces-
known or denied to the people: it is unneces-
sary for us TO say in stone what we can print
IN words. Inc newspaper, the magazine
the lecture, the public assembly, natural and
sufficient outlets Of expression and hets of nstruc
ton; and therefore recourse to Gothic architecture,
with its attendant sculpture and stained glass; for
either necessity seems a TetrOgrade rather than q
progressive movement. At present we have no arch-
and commOdious dwellings,, costly and elaborate
churches, solid-loOlng banks, plain and useful pub
hc schools gorgeous hotels and warehouses OF every
style; Dnt we look in vain Tor the expression
OF an original idea-for the successful working out
OF a distinct purpose. We have buildings in every
imaginable eXaggeraton of bad taste and with every
possible confusion of rule order, and stye-aggra-
Vatingy pretenLl0us and provokngiy destitute OF
archltectura fitness. Greek temple stands Tor
custom house, college, or bank; prison Is repre-
sented by Norman Keep or an Egyptian temple;
court mousse resembles u barn or a factory; ana so
most Of our public buildings might be interchanged
without sacrifice of or detrment to any rule OF
architectural proprlety or aesthetic feeling. Ihe
nearest approach to ecclesiastical style to be
found in the oId-fashioned New England meeting
house. Original, built on no Old World
model, the exhibition Of the feeling of people
SE gGyerned by PnrGsnca , and economical ther
tastes, earnest in their piey, restless in their habits
and unstable in their local attachments, it was truth
ful and characteristic in expression; but it almost
justified the reproachful criticism Of being "a porta-
ble sentryboX OF Zion by the pershable material of
which it was built and the nmsiness of its construc
uon. 1t, however, has been OF late superseded by
limitations in wood Of Grecian temples and Gothic
cathedrals, which il is to be hoped will again
give way to something more worthy of the age
and people. 1t is a question of great import
ance, in seeking to adapt any ancient style
not only how far ii be made useful but how its
expression win be affected by its forced vicinity to
other and incongruous styles. A good instance Of
this may be found in the Academy of Design in New
York, one of the most perfectly-eXecuted buildings
IN the country. In Venice or Palermo 1t would he
entirely in keeping, but the general effect is injured
and much of the beauty and purity OF the design and
detail lost by the obtruslvc incongruity of its sur
T0undings
although we have no architecture proper, great
strides have been made OF late years in the taste
hibed in the erection of our buildings especially in
our churches and country houses. The former are,
II is true mostly copies OF European types, more or
less debased from the purity of the originals or
modelled upon the later and orid styles of the
sixteenth century; but in the latter there is not only
originality but often beauty of design The heat OF
summers and the cold and SHOWS OF our winters
render deep porch and spreading yeranda not only
useful, but ornamental; and in this department we
see better opening for style original and express
sve unfettered and progressive than in any other.
1t seems impossible that we, so full of inventive
have architecture of our own, particu-
larly as in this art, utility, the leading
motive, is one which has great charms for the spirit
OF the people The diversity of climate, soil, races
and occupations which marks America initiates
strongly against the promotion OF style universal
or common to the whole country; but there is no
doubt that, as our wealth is increased and our
tastes developed, there will arise what will be known
and recognized American architecture, having
common principle, but varying in detail with the
special requirements OF each portion OF our extended
and increasing territory. What is needed is thought
and study on the part Of our architects and knoWl
edge and appreciation on the part of our people.
tional Characteristic must be abandoned or modified
so far as architecture is concerned. We must give
the time necessary to complete design, and think
out the detail for ourselves instead OF copying both
from the works OF other ages ana other countries.
All shams must be abandoned all efforts
TO produce effect without honesty OF con-
stTctiOn exposed and decred, all shifts
and contrvances to diminish necessary eX-
pense avoided, and the work begun, carried on, and
ent and future and of It's fitness both in purpose and
expression before we can ca IN either to have an
architecture OF our own, or even to present TO the
world single good specimen OF that of other lands"
From the paper on 'The Prospects of Trade"
by Hon. Amasa Walker, we make this eXtract:-
"There is and must be general scarcity Of cur
rency throughout the country, because that article
so superabundant. This statement Is doubtless
paradox the unrenecting; nevertheless nothing is
more certain. The history OF the country for the
most scarce, and the rates OF Interest most advanced,
when there was the largest absolute amount in cir
culation The reason for this is Obvious. As cur
rency IS expanded speculation is excited prices are
greatly raised, and it takes much larger amount Of
money to transfer an equal amount Of merchandise,
while the operations of those who engaged in iu-
nuencing and controlling the immense amount OF
transferable property of all kinds held for specula-
tive purposes absorb all the surplus, and leave the
money market in stringent condition
Money we must reCOlleCt rs ScGTccnOt I'm prOpor-
tOn TO its actual quantity but TO the relative demand