New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-11-14
A WOMAN ARCHITECT.
MISS ELISE MERCUR. OF PITTSBURG
PAYS VISIT TO NETWORK.
.r,r-R' DELIVERING LECTURE on SANITARY
AND ECONOMIC CONSTRUCTION OF DWELL
1NGs. SHE 1NsPECTs NEW YORKs
NEW BUILDINGS.


NEW BUILDINGS.
Miss Elise Mercur of P1ttsburg. architect OF the
Woman's Building at the Atlanta Exposition. is now
n, the Holland House. having come to the city on
"wednesday 10 fill a lecture engagement at Packer
Institute She will remain in New-fork till sun
dav night. when she expects to so TO fhiladeIphia
and after q day spent there inspecting buildings
will return % Pitts5urg. Miss Mcrcur. when seen
Yesterday by a reporter OF The Tribune toId now
she came 10 go into the profession OF architecture
and how she attained success in It,
~ attempted various things she said before
went into architecture. tried TO learn TO sing ana
I studied three years in the Academy Of Fine Arts
IN Philadelphia Then tried teaching. but soon
found II was killing me- and moreover. disliked
I, At the end Of a year | gave II up and went TO
Pit;sburg TO keep house for my brother WINE
there studied and did great deal OF pen-and-inK
work had always been fond of drawing particu-
,a-lv with pe& and ink. and wanted 10 be engaged IN
artistic work But knew | couldn't AFFORD real fine
art, and after a lot of thinking decided that
would take up architecture If could prevail upon
any architect to take me into his once. so OBJ
tainod the names and addresses of the principal
architectural firms in the city and visited them ALL
although the bare idea of doing 1t frightened me
nearly 10 death. left Mr. Thomas Boyd till the
last because | so afraid of him. but ne proved
nv salvation. He was out when called out as ne
was my last chance waited for him. and IN inc
mean time got into conversation with the fore
man and learned that he wanted a perspective
drawing of the City Hall The minute he came IN
said had heard he wanted a drawing OF the Cl'!
Hall and asked him If he wouldn't please let me
do it, He asked how knew that could do 1t. and
said didn't know. but wanted TO try ana II
didn't do 1t right wouldn't charge him anything
He let me do IT, and has said since that 1t WASH
AT all bad He paid $50 for ii. and says ne is 60
Ing leave it to me in his Will
II remained in the office after that. ana II was
not long before | began to learn stenography and
typewriting so as to be able to take down specii-
cations was soon put in steady place previous
10 this Mr. Boyd had given me every opportuhlt!
that he would have given 10 man, ana owe an
INV architectural success to him. l am still with
him. but have Office OF my own ADJOINING MS
where I work separately. At the present time
bold contracts for two residences. tenement and
church. and expect also to put up Mg e'uo
house for the women OF ,nT Guy 10 e,nsrntend the
erection of buildings? asked the rePotsttl' ho,o
to climb ladders and rather enjoy doing i, while
the workmen take me quite as matter Q,
woman experimenting them They are APP 10
think first that they are hey9nd my b
they soon find that can go anywhere they can
meyer nay So few architects get along with
them Is that they take for granted they aom
know. anything. whereas they do Know great
Miss Mercurs hobby is vsntia tiSn and she was as
he Civ very deficient in this respect. When she
Wss %c srprnei and assured that they
lad hot air evidently thinking that that was ven
tilation Speaking Of the subject In her lecture IN
Brooklyn. Miss Mercur said; , ,,. ... ,i
OF roper ventilation in houses Is one OF me chie
Ss,isas of Illness The nearer we can reproduce
within doors the conditions out OF doors tne
Stronger and healthier will humanity be; Every
room in our houses should be provided with proper
irlets and outlets and this requires only SINAI
outlay and proper planning in the beglhnnlhs III
80 1, Is really more economical in the lonS run
10 make provision for ventilation. Tor II reiunt re-,
,.,ch Lose fuel to heat given space wnen me ~
a; .re ,han W ,ud be necessary II II were vitiated
Miss Mercur is little woman. very pretl!, WI. VIII
ard Is extremely feminine in manner ana apIe.i-
aoce notwithstanding some statements 'ha' haNe
been made to the contrary.