New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-11-21
PRACTICAL ARCHITECTURE.

VIEWS OF MEMBERS OF TIE INSTITUTE.
CLOSING sfssIONs-wHAr rHE COLLEGES ARE Do
IAG FOR his ART--pAPEEs Ky ". A. POTTER,
T. 81 CLARK, WILLIAM WATSON AND OTHERS.
The convention Of the American Institute
Of Architects reassenbtd yesterday morning III the
building of the Equitable Ile Assurance Society The
first hoars devoted TO the reports Of committees
Professor William II. Ware. ~ Boston, OF the Committee
EIucliicu, gave gu account of whist is doing the
various COZ. ses throughout the county which include
the study Of architecture their Of instruction.
Professor BaJcOck. Of Cornell University. reports
decrease In the number Of students which he
attributes TO the rule making the course OF four
years. Professor Kicker. of the Illinois Industrial Uni
vorsy, reports encouraging progress. and Professor
Lindsey OF Princeton College, also reports the organ
izati0n OF an undergraduate OF architectural
study. Washington University, at ST. Louis, is about
establishing such a course also.
WI T. Longiellow. secretary of foreign correspon-
dence read letter addressed to the Institute by $
Betomofi Secretary Foreign Relations the port OF
Bltou IL Russia. Nil Beionon said he had visited the
United States and adnIrcd the styles oil building here
he desired TO engage the services Of an American are
teot and American builders for public service. Mr.
LongielloW reported that Mr.. Bcomo letter had been
answered in way properly TO meet all Ifs points, and
his action was approved. The officers of the institute
were reelected and various standing committees ap-
pointed
W. A. Potter Of New.YOrk, read a paper on Some
Causes of Failures Ia American Architectural Designs"
First d!sclaming the possible inference tnc of
his paper that lie Intended imply that an American
architecture failure lie made distinction IN the
causes of failure by dividing them into TWO classes
those over which the architect has and those over
which he has not control.
First aud foremost he continued, OF those causes of
failure which the architect has the want
of Oper aud thorough preparation To practise the art
which he nas chosen his life work Hali dyed with
meagre preparation In some architects Office picking
what crumbs chance 10 fall from The masters
bands-crumbs often enough stale and mOuliy, without
taste uOurlsbmcut-learning, and learning inner
frctly lOo the technique oi ari, ne plulg,s
practice 10 commit blEnder after Dundcr aid TO
perpcfraie things 10 would be "a Hacrilsgc 10 call
architectural works He originality to awaken snr-
prise, Dut originality without beauty
THE DIGNITY OF THE Profession.
A second reason why many architects fa lies I'm the
fact that they do not realize the dignity and Importance
Of their profession From the dim days OF Egypt down
the present day other has been clear an x
ponent OF Nations Intelligence and culture as urchi
lecture 10 much 40 that might almost read the
history Of the human what remain OF its build
ngs.
The third canse OF failure Is that very many architects
practise the art often than a. n art but
trade. These drag down TO their low level nm
art whose proper business glOrify beauty or
lives, aud they make 10 ignObc mcaus To an end
gn0ble, Tor any means be ignOhle which deals
with prostitution. One Of the OF failure over
which the architect has direct control the nbsrure
OF distinctive American style aud the preva of AN
RdnNturc OF all sorta and xmas growing out OF the
mixed population and the preferences shown by Tho
English, French, German and Italian Tor the styles OF