San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-12-27

old, but as tall and robust (l:arrlng Tne
temporary effects of his wound) as
much older man; with premature
gravity and dignity of deneanor, and
a strong, penetrating and resolute mind.
After remaining quiet for a month or
two, to temperate his physical powers
and to think over his position, he deter
mined to be an architect. He set to
work at once, with his usual energy and
persistence; and after having familiarized
himself with the rudiments of the pro-
fession at the best scientific school in the
country he entered an architects Office
in New York, and worked there from
twelve to fifteen hours a day for seven
years. Unremitting application such as
this, rendered physically possible as it
was by an invincible constitution, and
turned to the best advantage by a pow
erful and comprehensive intellect. could
not fail to have its effect.
When Bellingham, at the end of his
apprenticeship period, set up in business
on his own account there We're few men
in the country who possessed broader
and sounder knowledge of architecture
than this young man of %, or who had
so much taste and originality in matters
of design. The remainder of his pro-
fessional history, being mainly record
of well deserved and increasing success,
has little interest. At the epoch of his
entrance into this story he had had
hand in many of the best buildings of
our large cities, both private and public,
and Incidentally he had been brought in
contact with a great number of people
whom it might be deemed socially ex-
pedient TO know. But Bellingham
scarcely seemed to have the ordinary
social instinct. His manners We're abrupt
and reserved, and he had very discon-
certing glance for those who seemed dis
posed to attempt to be familiar with
him. He seemed to have tempera-
mental antipathy against aristocratical
or exclusive pretensIons of any kind,
though in certain sense no one was
more exclusive and aristocratic than he
The type is no uncommon one, as the
critics say; audit is perhaps pity, now
adays, that it is not great deal COM
moner. Though repellent in several
ways, it has some qualities of almost in
finite redemption. 1t includes. every
thing that we call masculine. It's ex-
emplars are often deficient in humor;
but they have sternness and simplicity
that are to the other parts of human
nature what sea salt is to water. They
are often unjust, but they are never COM
PLEASANT. They may be bitter, bH they
are never sweet; or hard, but. never soft.
And yet there is another side to them
but only very few-perhaps. only one
ever comes to know it, Enough of gen.
ordinations.
Godfrey Bellingham had not the air
of being susceptible to feminine charms.
His manner, wheE Re was brought in
contact with the gentler sex, underwent
no gentle and illuminating change. The
elements of his nature seemed averse
from harmonizing with those of women.
When he happened to speak with
woman he would express himself in his
usual curt, laconic way, keeping his eyes
fixed upon her face the while, with sort
of unsympathetic tnquisition. The i'm
preston conveyed was that he consid-
cred women insufficient and untrust-
worthy. On the other hand he never
rallied against them, as self conscious
misogynists do; his Indifference seemed
not to be the result of an exhaustive or
Notifying experience of them in the
past; it was scientific or temperamental
IL,
uses to the race and to society, but did
not care to be personally concerned with
them more than was necessary,
But his professional reputation was so
high and so well attested that his social
disqualihcations did not injure his sue
cess; and when Gen. lingo conceived
the idea of grand new opera house
Bellingham was among those to whom
he applied for a plan and an estimate,
and it'was Bellingham VINO got the con-
tract. The result was "A building which
many judges considered to be second to
none of its kind in the world. 1t was
beautiful, it was luxurious, it was
acoustically marvel, it was fireproof.
Incidentally number of artists achieved
renown and made money by the decora-
tons which they executed, under Bel
ingham's supervision, for its inner and
outer walls. New York boosted of it,
the papers contained descriptions of it,
and the illustrated journals published
pictures of it, and endeavored, but I'M
successfully. to obtain portrait of the
architect. But, as compensation, there
was engraved dignified and imposing