The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-10-28
An ola Architect on " cdern Architecture.

10 he Myor N,e Ini ueihs Psblc msoogh NE Prs.
Ny position in New York rs the oldest
architect, and the designer OF moro buildings
than seem to have fallen to the lot Of any other
architect in America. compels me, as moral
duty. to protest against the work now In pro-
grcss upon the New Court House. as at variance
with the harmony Of tho structure and dis
graceful to the honor Of every citizen. The
faults are sufIlcicntiy. Obvious in The Norman
later architects, and wish to record this pro-
test I'm order to show that ut least one ~ its
native citizens has no part in the abuses ~ the
time, pcrpctrated in the later public buildings
" the city and its vicinity. Those who mold the
purse strings ara accountable Tor the misnppll-
cation OF the public money expended ~ uh-
meaning irrelevant ornament; nnd 'onlnlttee-
men should exercise their sacred trust without
ostentatious waste. and With simplicity AMI
truth Of purpose. Thus moral ana true beauty
would ensuc while n diseased thirst for novelty
and the picturesque is spro TO result in
pitfalls. Female College. LenoN Library. Pres-
bytcrian Church, corner OF Lexington ave
nue and Scventy-third street. and tho
Park Observatory. These nike disgrace tho
city and every resident and tend, by their III
coriant colors. string courses and lintrls, capri;
cious. fantastic. broken heaps Of littlrncss and
whimSi al designs. costly nnd deiormed puer-
le wasietul, md 9iien incendinry, 10 d"graue
the art and show that the principles N architec-
turo are unknown. without model nmong us
sufficiently chaste 10 give an idea ~ them and
critics. Witness the now Post Onice-is i not
broken pile 'of costly yulgnrty 1.-The Tribune
building the new Jefferson Market Court
House; tho courtesun style OF our banks. not
inappropriate in n founding hospital, club
house or hotel; stores indicating high prices
for shoddy hybrid churches Of uncertain doc
trine. whore merelriciOus. irrelevant Ornamon-
tation IL no uncertain symbol u ways that are
not my ways" the Lenox Library. and neigh
boring hospitals losing all sight In audience
halls NJ fitness phonics. and sight; in stores
and dwellings, security against fire Il nj hostile
elements in churches. simplicity md dignity
These dctormities ARE again and again repeated
Oh that the PEE de would with their eyes and IN
drr-tani with their hearts This Ud0riainei language
at truth shown In the works of mems hands and ia the
fruits Of their duinss but frank corruption naming all
within iuiects unseen and the character ut tile axe -
prone unscttle an the established rule. of right reason
and fitness, aud 10 pu into pcrrctual qu. tinu all TIE
foundations OF artlstcal excellence. ~ ~ puliuc the
drcgs and the roth the cadruu hutd u into one
impure aud poisonous compound nui ndmt> red TO the
body politic Tor healirs mcdcinc.J y adams, ~ hi'
| Dlnfv
" All architecture il symbolionl." says Schle-
| gel. and wa look upon n building II harbar-
| Gus character. an academy Of design. people,
| college. church or theatre. broken in form and
| redundant ot misplaced ornament. a. ostcnta-
| tlOus and vain.
Nopa.scr nv can doubt
It. srirtuHl kiu.
for CO.. ittolls tut truth without
90 what it's within -hifs4 Co..
Ncry respectfully yours,
| SEPT AWER. 1871 ALIEN j. DAVIS.