The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-09-12
AMERICAN ARCHITECTURE.
Growth of American Schools and De-
velonment of Taste.

The following extracts from the adj
dress delivered by Charles Follen Nc
Kim when he was honored with the
royal gold medal by the Royal Institute
of British Architects are taken from the
British Architect:
las a bearer of many messages from
across the seassI cannot let such an
occasion sas this pass by without at
least briefly adverting to the ties which
have united us in the past and which
must render the development OF our fu-
ture of something more than passing in
terest to you. / will add also q word
concerning recent events on our side OF
the water. The early buildings OF the
New England coast, dating back to the
eighteenth century, and more rarely TO
the seventeenth, from the once vice
regal town of Portsmouth to Charleston,
5. c., have happily descended to- US, de-
spite political revolutions. Notwith-
standing their simpler forms, both OF
construction and design, made neces-
stances of transportation, they still re-
fleet the mother country in their excel
lence of construction. as well as SOUND
and correct taste. Precisely the most
interesting, and in their sphere the
most admirable architectural monu-
ments of my native land, private dwell
lings and public buildings alike, are
those that most strongly recall their
for instance, to Sir Christoper Wren are
very imperfectly understood even at
home, yet the cities of the Atlantic sea-
board, especially in New England,
abound in examples showing the lnfiuz
ence of his school. The struggle of
these landmarks for existence in the adj
vancing tide of commercial prosperity
before which they are gradually being
swept away is a melancholy daily spec
tacle. Not alone deplorable in the loss
of historic monuments. but for the les
sons they invariably teach of sound
proportion, simplicity and good man
ners.
Happily some of the best examples
remain to US. At the seat of govern
ment, for instance, our capitol and the
home of the president. the White
House, are both singularly animated
by pure taste and devoted love of
beauty, not to mention the city hall
and the old department buildings of
the city of Washington. OF these, for
our information at home as well as
yours, let us gratefully acknowledge
changed since. was originally designed
by one William Thornton. the White
House by a certain JanaRs Hoban, while
the city hall and old department build
ings were the creation of a man of the
name of Hadfield-all Englishmen!
can we'll remember the thrill of sur
prise and pleasure which I experienced
on my first visit to England, more than
thirty years ago. in the discovery of a
strange familiarity in the appearance
after all so far from home. Though I
did not understand it then, the reason.
as has been shown, was not far to seek.
II will venture to refer to one more
building, of the era which we call early
and you ingloriouSly late, albeit of the
period of Adam-the Octagon. Our in
stitute. which has urged upon govern
ments-nationaI state and municipal
the duty of preserving historic monu-
ments. has itself recently secured DOS
session of one of the historic houses of
America. known from its shane as the
Octagon, and designed by the same
William Thornton. architect of the cap
itol. Here in the early days was dis
pensed a liberal hospitality by Presi-
dent Madison, whose home it was. I'M
der its roof. too. the treaty OF Ghent
was signed. The house was finished in
manner betting its Importance. and
today is in an excellent state of preser-
vation- Thus the expressed desire and
often recurring efforts of the institute
to secure for itself a permanent home
has been accomplished after nearly half
century of existence. May ii tvpify
to those who assemble in it, as well as
to the people of the city of Washing
ton, the spirit of public service.-New
York Post