The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1884-12-11
aowE's BUSINESS SCHOOL, SIT Seventh ST.
Notes on Decoration.

The chief weakness OF American architectu.
raj decoration is that IL almost inva-
riably falls to achieve the first
ateness. We note this fact on every hand@in
our churches, like st. Paul's, with Its abomin-
able coloring, and Trinity, with Its reredos 30
puny In detail that Its design can scarcely be
seen from the altar rail; in our theatres,
which, from the Metropolitan opera.House
down, present no instance OF congruous In.
terror Establishment; In our hotels and prI.
vate houses. All decoration to be- lust must
BIO In proportion as well as IN keeping with the
structure 1t decorates.
In church of the size OF Trinity, for In
stance, the details should be calculated upon
the same scale throughout. Such an addition
as the reredos is loet, because Its proportions
are dwarfed by Its surroundings. When we
speak OF the sums OK money spent on the dec.
Grafton OF such interiors as that OF the Hoff-
man House, we should rather speak OF them
as being wasted. Indeed, they are worse than
results, but such results as there are tend TO
pervert tho taste and perpetuate in other
spots tho errors which Invest this one with
sumptuous apsurdlty.
Such decoration as that at the HOFFMAN
House is not oven barbarically magnificent,
for barbarous decoration has peryading
symmetry, however unusual or exaggerated Its
composite effect may be. Here, IN house
devoted TO the purpose OF rest and refreshment,
the very portal Is embellished with trophies OF
war. In the cato tho beautiful and the hide
QUE, the extravagantly expensive and the vui-
carly cheap, 1ostle one another on evory hand.
The newly.completed portion OF the building
OF architectural and decorative Mmo. rus.
eaud'e, crowded with variety which tho
thoughtless OF ignorant md curious and In
tereeting, but which is indescribably vulgar
10 all who are capable OF forming an accurate
judgment.
Yet there are In England dozens OF hotels
and public restaurants and resorts like this,
made monuments OF appropriateness and
good taste. can cite the arosvenor Hotel, In
Chester, for one.perhaps the Criterion Res.
taurant, in London, for another. The enor-
nous advertising the Hoffman House has re-
ceiyed has made Its splendors familiar by ro-
port throughout the country. 1t lis place OF call
Tor strangers who have read OF IT, and these
Visitors being, as q rule, OF the sort which
does not discriminate, they carry with them
impressions which are absolutely false.
The perpicious results OF q bad example are
we'll known. Such an example as this Is prob
ably responsible for moro outrages on true
decoration In this country than any other that
we have ever had in this country which came
any way near true symmetry OF decoration
and architecture was Booths. 1t was noble
house. II looked like theatre, without ana
within. IL had the entrances which belong to
a great playhouse, and the massive and not
extravagantly ornate architecture which Its
use called for. The original decorations or
the interior were by an italian painter, and
except for an over conscientious abundance
OF small detail which was wasted on the cell
Ing, they were admirably conceived and exc
The decoration OF the Madison Square Thea
tire ie, In general sense, well carried out as
far ae its interior Is concerned. But the artistic
harmony OF Its decoration Is destroyed by the
contradiction OF the details. That theatre
could be given superb grace aud lightness
by simply gliding the walls from dado OF
velvet. The gold should be applied In one
uniform flat, and variety could be given by
toning II with bitumen from the base up, 80
That inc mass OF light would be concentrated
overhead, The expense OF this decoration
would be an unimportant item, for the gold
once applied would, II the best leaf were
used, last MS long as the wall itself. Any
breaks In the wall could DO patched. Tho
only renewals necessary would be in the dAao
when wear and tear deHAnded it,.salHs-f1'q