New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-09-23
COLLEGE ARCHITECTURE.

PROF HUXLEY's LATE ADVICE TO THE JOHNS HOP
K1Ns UNIvERsrrY-s SUPPLYING NEW FACADEs 10
OLD BUILDTNGs-AN ARCHITECTS REPLY.
70 the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: Your report makes Prof Huxley say
that he has seen great educational funds osszed into
mere bricks and mortar just if architecture is kind
OF petrlying sreaV and advises the Trustees of the
Johns Hopkins University not to "think OF building by
any hands higher than those Of brickayer who VIII
DO for them exactly as they want and nothing else"
The Professor h reported to have added speaking OF the
appliances of thoroughly organized university and
stil addressing himself to the trustees that when
there Is nothing you want or would want then
there are few hundred thousand dollars left send for
an architect and let him put facade on it. II you do
anything else you win get building which will contrib
ute very much his fame but not to your need" The
previous remarks Of Prof Huxley on the same OCCASION
as 70 the primary educational foundation neces-
sary FOR the proper development Of man
Of ability into ga great writer or speaker,
statesman lawyer, Of science painter sculptor ar
chitect OF musician" and 10 the vital Importance to
the welfare OF a community that those who are stirred
by the divine impulse Of intellectual thirst or artistic
genius should be enabled to devote themselves to the
higher service of their kind centers Of intelligence In
terpreers of nature or creators Of forms Of beauty
are entirely In consoDanee with what is known OF this
most eminent man. Yet venture in the interest Of my
speciality (arcbitecture) and beyond That OF tne com
mnisterod benefcently serves TO call attention to
made Ivy the PrOfcSsOr thiuk every lDcIaly-
trained architect who is not nero prOyinciaist by
nature viii agree with him that Ia an Outrage 20
community convert funds required oT the tcnacc
OF tho pest attanabc collegiate faculty and the pes at
Attanabe educational appliances into Drick ana mortar
which are Of course WOrthlessthc mere shell without
the kerne-nuess that Which they arc 10 shelter ~ ts
and amply provided for. But think many experienced
architects have known instances OF then suggestions
toward simplicity and economy being highly resontedOy
building committees --.
20 be reminded that the best grounded and best
rounded philosopher in tho world for even such one
cannot sustain every link in all the chains that make up
the worlds speeiaes-s apt 10 give bad or ineOunen
surate advice II Inc too hastily, under the Impulse Ot
some passing enthusiasm, applies the results OF ABSTRACT
generalization TO concrete eNgencies. But the FACADE
h only the skin that the muscles and nerves. Tie
skeleton and yscera; yet cannot be tackled up IKE
curtain az they havo discovered IN FOfeuce after nye
or ak hundred years endeavor 10 supply one 70 the
DuOmO there aud IL Is by means certain that every
human being however aforementioned his or her SUD
outeular arTau geIncts be, would not vastly prefer
beautiful skiu well-ted TO the carcass, TO rough
bargy ntegument II his her option had anything TO
DO with the matter II Prof Huxley were an ordinary
teacher whose words would be left behind the lecture
room door average hearers there would be no need 10
notice the implied aspcrsOns whole profession COW
cred by his observations But his address has been or
will be read every where by cultivated people OH whom
the profession largely depends for subsistence And II
seems 10 nc not unreasOnableand think Prof. Huxley
will be the first to allow histhat OF that profession
should be allowed parry tho blow that his influential
utterance L. liable TO infict on 1t. SHS Ri1erDQni
Reto- York, Sept. Is, 1876. A. J. BLooR.