Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1895-07-18
SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
BEAUTY OF ARCHITECTURE SELDOM
CONSIDERED.
Effect of Environment cn tho Youthful
Mind-1nculcato :. Tss:c I'o- tho Bean
tifnl-Objcct Lessons In Shade and Color.
Influence of Surroundings.

A writer i'll The Atlantic Monthly is
Of the opinion that the modern school
house is altogether too plain and devoid
Of ornament This is Il serious defect,
according TO this authority, and he sup
ports his statement as follows:
Tho boy may not feel that his sur,
roundings are anything more to him
than !; part of the great educational
machine that is forming him for future
action; if so the greater pity for lost
opportunity. He may, on the other
hand, develop an admiration for tho
mechanical perfection of his surround
derestimate and think poorly OF beauty
which is maccompanied by technical
perfection.
Much of tho carping criticism. the dis
satisfaction with simple mc,as, that is
SO characteristic of certain types of citi
Zens can be traced to association With
the complex surroundings of modern
buildings The effect of quiet beauty,
of walls growing old gracefully with
the soft colors that age enhances, of
stretches of sward from which vines
Chamber and cling to projections and
spread lovingly over broad surfaces, 10
gather i'll swayii,g masses from string
courses and label moldinss; the init
mate, affcctionate character of diamond
Iancd windows and OF postern door
ways, which seem to court colnpanion-
ship by the very necessity for close con-
tact imposing through tllem-;ill ;lo alb
sent from the dry for,nalityof the school
house which We build
Perfected methods Of lighting, Of pro-
viding fresh air ard of withdrawing vi
tiated air, of heating and of plumbing,
receive full need of attention, the needs
of association with beauty little OF none
This is we'll enough SO far as it goes,
but is not productive OF pleasant rcmi-
niscence to the pupil He is taught lit
tie by his environment; there are 10
sermons i'll the stones of his school;
there is no subtle influence teaching him
by the best of examples, that Of the OBJ
5ect lesson, to appreciate light and shade
and color, and to grow fond Of them, so
that he looks back upon them With :,f'cc-
tion and demands that they enter into
his life i'll after years 1t is the stimu-
lation Of this desire for good things that
is SO important and so abidinsa IL quality
i'll the education of 1, child. TO have on
ly the best about one means that noth-
ing short Of the best Will satisfy. And
this does not imply e&travagant tastes
Or perpetual disappointment.
The best things are more Il matter of
choice than of cost, and they may be
quite as frequent as the inferior prod
ucts, if we only know how to discrimi-
nate between the two. 10 be educated
to know good architecture foreshadows
tho elimination of bad architecture, and
the education is all the better for hav-
ing been ilnbibed while young There
arc attempts being made to beautify the
interiors of schoolrooms, by hanging
photographs and prints of paintings,
sculpture and architecture upon the
walls, the walls themselves to be tinted
in harmonious and quiet colors Casts
upon pedestals and bas-rcliefs used as
friezes are also suggested. These arc all
of value as object lessons; they instruct
and influence the pupils taste, and
awake an appreciation that would 9TH
ierwise lie dormant. 1t is hardly proba-
blc, however, that the memory of these
will cause strong atfection.for the places
in which they are to be found, certain
" not as strong affection as would be
felt for the incloscd playground, and
tho columncd porch, and the gabled
walls Of an English school. 1t is not
sufficient to crown a wall With pleas
ing cornice or to place windows i'll just
Intervals npon aplnin facade in order to
have that facade remembered with pleas
ure.
IIn Sold III. con.ls.