New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-09

color which painter might envy. Tn" archlt"oi
IN Washington Is encouraged 10 try for ELECTS 81
color by the presence of abundant turf. many
trees and 4 sky that can b Italian even at this
time Of year The environment provided by ma
ture for his architecture "a constant invitation
to him to range far aiield as he can for new
methods Of Increasing the beauty Of his work
His answer TO that invitation where brick is con
cerned has been pointed out Not satisfied TO use
brick TO the exclusion Of all other materials ne
has gone T. copper for some Of his most pleasing
achievements Architects elsewhere have done
the same thing. but never 70 the same extent
There is only house in New-NorH, That
built in Madson-ave. for Dr Thomas. by
Bruce Price. which relies upon copper for
considerable part Of the architectural effect. In
Washington there are Ray windows past count
ing, built Of copper, and they make a feature
which never fails to give pleasure to the strolle"
through the city. one # these bays Is shown In
an accompanying illustration. 1t is the window
over the front entrance to the Whittemore
house The form IS simple The copper swells
out in graceful lines from the face OF the house
and Is lightly ornamentcd, the tiny rivet-heads
being the most cons picuous details In the dccora-
ton. But let the reader imagine this mass Of
rich, dark metal cleaning sombrely like bronze,
and set gracefully against a wall Of tawny
bricks. with roof Of slate overhanging the
whole. 1t will be at once that an APP
parently triiling member Of the architects de-
sign is Of considerable importance In creating
the beauty OF In. latter There are many such
trhes in Washington. Sometimes. in fact. very
often. they appear in the shape OF copper
bay thrown out from the first second story OF
a house that may be red or light brown in its
other portions. but is always made more In
teresting by the metal addition Sometimes the
trihe will be just such little lantern as Is indl-
Gated the side Of the Whittemore entrance. This
wrought cast iron decoration. adjoining the
house and serving useful purpose Is n ire
quently recurring feature. II Is usual for Wash
ington houses to be entered from the street
level. and the hospiabe entrance with its two or
three steps, IS made the more homelike whenever
a place has been given to the dainty lamp
holder Of iron and glass
When the Washington entrance is reached 1t
is tempting 10 turn from tribes for moment
and glance at some OF Tho striking pecuiiarites
Of structure which have been introduced in the
city Richardson was responsible for some Of
them. and by-the-way, 1t is impossible to avoid
apropos of his entrances a most Negotiating
trine When a carriage drives down the court
yard of the Warder house. the occupant alights
ut the edge Of a sodded terrace. and has TO
walk up d path of some ten or twelve feet
in length before the porch Is gained Richard
son did not want to spoil the appearance Of this
terrace by a strip OF Tagging - he set in It's
place a row Of large square tiles. some inches
apart from one another. though they were
stepping stones They are lovely old rose now.
and the grass growing between serves to mini
nize still further the assertiveness Of the path.