The sun., 1888-05-13

public will desire that another be appointed,
and that new examination be made. What
is wanted is not the opinion Of an engineer
and an architect, however intelligent and
honorable, but tho opinion OF tho architect
and the engineer who are the best able to
Judge question of this particular sort No
problem In the whole range Of architecture
Is more difficult, and there Ia mono which
moro seldom comes within the range of or
dinary professional practice. Moreover no
examination can be held thoroughly conclu-
sive unless the Capitol architects are allowed
chance to plead their own views, and unless
these views are met point by point with in
controvertible answers.
| 1t Is doubly necessary to proceed carefully
in this matter by reason Of the fact that pub
lie opinion cannot but charge the Legisla-
ture with having shown for many years q
willingness to get rid Of tho vaulted ceiling
at any cost and by means Of any plausible
excuse. The true explanation Of the neglect
full course which tho Legislature has pur-
sued for the past six years with regard to
the ceiling Is to be found In the fact that It
simply has not liked the vault Taste or tho
want Of taste has had much moro to do with
the dislike In which It has been held than
the presence or absence Of any kind Of prac-
tical excellence In the chamber The aver
age Assemblyman has not boon used to
sitting beneath vaulted roof Of stone; he
thinks 1t gloomy and oppressive. and hates
the ecclesiastical atmosphere which, as he
fancies, 1t exhales.
That this Is true no ono who has been
much at Albany during tho past eight years
will deny; and we believe that its truth OK
plains much Of the passiveness with which
the Assembly has seen the ceiling go
from bad to worse. 1t Is very far from
being proved that tho acoustic properties Of
the room have been bad. What may some-
times be meant by such a statement Is
shown by the words OF member who once
told the architect that, although when the
clergyman was making tho opening prayer,
every word could be distinctly heard In all
parts of the room. later. when business be-
gan, there was such buzz that speaker
could hardly be followed" and thereupon he
requested that for this buzz an architectural
remedy should be supplied. Other assem-
blies, which do not buzz so much when lis
tening to discourse, seem to have been
satisfied with the properties Of the room. 1t
has repeatedly been occupied by conven-
tions Of physicians and school teachers, and
they have never complained of It,
1t need hardly be protested that something
moro Is involved in the permanence of the
chamber in its present form than tho pleas
ure and mental comfort Of the average AS
semblyman. If it is fine or even respect
able and moderately creditable work of art,
it is a precious public possession, the integ-
rlty OF which the servants Of the public
should secure. no matter what their personal
tastes in the matter may be. And this it un-
can be shown that its construction was OF
such a sort that no quickness to repair its
defects when they first appeared, could have
made it sound and permanent The feeling
that a vaulted ceiling is inappropriate in a
great legislative hall is an ignorant and mis-
taken feeling. And while there may be a
difference Of opinion even among men OF
learning and taste with regard to
the beauty Of the chamber. there can be
none with regard to Its interest as an
original bold, dignified, and serious piece of
architecture. Whatever it's faults, 1t should
still be preserved. IL preservation Is within
the compass Of human power. II it is not,
then the reasons should be exhibited in re-
ports 80 clear and full that every scientific
builder in the country will be In position
to understand them. And even then the
Legislature will still be under compulsion to
SHOW, If it can, that the loss Of this interest
ing and valuable work of art should not be
attributed to its six years course OF delib-
crate neglect