Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-12-18

! gravity and dignity of demeanor, and
strong, penetrating and resolute mind.
After remaining quiet for month or
two, to recuperate 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 rudinents 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 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 were few men
in the country who possessed a 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 were 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 pretenslons 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; and it is perhaps pity, now
adays, that it is not a 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. Its 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 arenever COM
PLEASANT. They may be bitter, but 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.
Civilizations.
Godfrey Bellin. diam had not the air
of being susceptible to feminine charms.
His manner, when he 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 a
woman he would express himself in his
usual curt, laconic way, keeping his eyes /
fixed upon her face the while, with sort |
of unsympathetic inquisition. 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 /
not to be the result of an exhaustive or
notifying experience of them in the |
past; it was scientific or temperamental !
rather. He recognized their functional !
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 /
disqualiications did not injure his sue
cess; and when Gen. lingo conceived
the idea of a grand new opera house
Bellingham was among those to whom
he applied for a plan and an estimate,
and it was Belingham who got the con-
tract. The result was building which
many Judges considered to be second to
none of its kind in the world. It was
beautiful, it was luxurious, it was
acoustically a marvel, it was ireproof.
Incidentally number of artists achieved
renown and made money by the decora-
tions which they executed, under Bel
hnghA ms supervision, for its inner and
outer walls. New York boasted of it,
the papers contained descriptions of it,
and the illustrated journals published
pictures of it, and endeavored, but I'M
successfully, to obtain a portrait of the
architect. But, as compensation, there
was engraved dignifed and imposing
of Gen. lingo, and rec
ord Of his brilliant and typically amer
lean career.