Smyrna times., 1883-04-04
For the Smyrna Times.
Our New School House.

Many years ago an architect was
commissioned by the Government to
design and build a lighthouse on the
sea-swept rock of Eddystone off the
coast of England. All previous at
tempts to maintain light on the rock
only resulted in every vestige of the
structure being carried away by the
shocks of the sea during the prevalence
of great storms. All that the ingenuity
of man could devise in the way of
massive masonry and iron bolts, rising
square and straight far above the reach
of the highest waves had been done,
and still the sea in its wild fury would
strike against these solid squares and
sweep them from their base. Upon
going to the scene of his operations,
and while waiting for the boat that
was to convey him to the rock, the en-.
gineer lay beneath a tree, revolving
in his mind the plans for a structure
that would stand, when suddenly, as il
by an inspiration, the formation of the
the trunk of the tree under which he lay,
occurred to him, was of all others the
best to adopt as plan. At first the
swelling circular base, and then the
gradual taper until it reached certain
height, and again the curved expansion
OF what avail, from the nature of these
lines, would it be for the sea to rush up the
curved circular base to meet another
curve only to fall back harmless, and
SO for one hundred and fifty years ha'
the tree-like structure of the Eddy
stone lighthouse, not only sends out it
warning light to the mariner, but ha
, attested the wisdom of Him" who's
: work is scharacterized by Fitness for tn
: end and proportion to effect the Objec
; desired" and whether we will or vii
not, it is eventually the test aroun'
which for good or bad revolves the bes
laid plans men make. This one inex
orable law admits of no excuse ifignol
ance is plead in violation of it.
governs the proportions of the boy
cob house as we'll as the dome of tn
capitol at Washington. And here i
our town we have two striking illustrs
t tions, of, in the one case, an adherenC
to this law. of, in the other, a depar
ure from it. No one can look upo
| the graceful lines of the NJ. E. Churc
on Methodist street without being /;
once convinced that here, the lay
: fitness for the end has been obser'
ed. Suppose, we will say, that Il
Oetagon of the steeple base had bee
carried half way up the pyramid con
/. where would have been the strength
beauty, and it may be added whe
\ would have been the safetyP 1t wou
! no doubt before this have gone dow
because ofits unfitness in gales of wine
and, in the departure, can it be trut
fully said that our "Town Hal" has al
of the elements in its design of fitne
for the end?"
We cannot and must not try to ave
, using that uncertain quality call
foresight" when we plan and buil
but most certainly if the above law
IF not adhered to, it avails nothing to o
credit, no matter how good the intC
tions. The work shows for itsC
Now we have an opportunity to ex
else ourselves on the merits of this la
/ We propose to build new sch'
Ds house, and it is safe to say all want
see building projected that will
fleet credit ON the town. But WI
would reflect credit on the town N
IT not be the correct thing for sch
J., house. Why so? If, say, we sho
.le take the lines of the NJ. +. Church, 6
the lines of the Town Hall and draw
-- mean, how or what proof would
iIs, ,y. have, if we decided on an octagon, I
will this line would not rise to rebuke
the The And when we lay the octagon to
Ir Ionr test of FITNESS for the end" of W
u to fitness do we have reference to ther
fast. building of this kindP There can
eI;; ~ be no other than the comfort and sai
--- of the teachers and pupils. There I
and. and. not be no mistakes either in strenI
,STsi o%ni beauty or proportions, If this one
damental law is observed, nei
3, need there be any regrets if 1t she