The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-10

BUILDING, but had neglected con-
sulting their architect until they were near
ly ready to break ground. This is hard on
the architect. He was sitting in his easy
chair, with the evening paper on the floor,
where he had dropped it with the remark
that he guessed he would send it back;
there was nothing in it. His companion
told him he ought to know, because he had
been an hour finding out.
The days experiences had made him talk
ative. His clients had all contemplated the
building of homes and his mind still ran
along the line of his days work. He said:
1.-The struggle to build a house is too
often unnecessarily great. Many people
build houses which are both larger and
more elaborate than their pocketbooks war
rant. They cost too much when they are
built, and they cost too much to maintain
every day of every year. The initial eX-
penditure of erecting a house is small COM
pared with the expense in labor and money
of it's daily care. We of America have yet
to learn the charm and dignity of living
easily within our means; of having simple
things about us. In the past we have built
thoughtlessly and hastily. This was one
phase of our development, made necessary
to the settlement of new country. But
even after this stage had passed in the old
communities, the spirit of haste and lack
of careful thought remained
From my experience | believe the most
waSteful expenditures in house building
come from the desire to have house larger
than the family really needs. 1t is charm
ing matter to have many rooms for even
small families. 1t gives a certain variety
TO life TO spend part of the day in one sit
ting room and the afternoon and evening In
another. There is unqueStionably a spirit
of repose about house OF large rooms and
many of them. which is not easily attainable
in smaller quarters. But this is luxury
which ought TO be attempted only by a
family whose income is large.
HARD ON THE WOMAN.
when / see a tired man and haggard
woman often wonder If much OF il is not
the result of trying TO maintain a home
which is larger than the family purse ad-
mits. Such effort Is hard enough on the
man. but il is harder far on the woman, who
knows the hourly struggle OF keeping clean
rooms which are seldom used,-of planning
for furnishingsAtherefor which get shabby
and soiled. even when the room is rarely
entered. 1t is a heart-breaking matter, be-
cause it is one which cannot be neglected
when the house is once built.
This is why / dislike 70 see my clients
building beyond their needs and their
purses, even though such expenditure is
seemingly TO my advantage. / have wasted
much time and lost not a few clients
through trying TO persuade them TO build
more modestly. Yes, / have now seen the
error of my ways, and am building for
clients just what they ask. but / am none
the less convinced that houses larger than
the owners purse form one OF the chief
burdens of our American life.
But there Is one thing l cannot yet see
a client do. Neither self-interest nor case
in doing business will permit me 10 see over
elaborated houses erected without strong
protest The Americans have strong sense
of the picturesque-too strong sense for
present needs II has led TO wildness in
exterior planning and tawdriness and over
crOwding in interior decorations which one
cannot contemplate without a shudder.
There Is no need 10 point out concrete eX-
amples. Just go OJt on the street and see
verify what say i'm regard TO
interiors make a call or two on your
friends The truth is self-evident. And IL
is not alone our sense OF the picturesque
which has led To these horrors. but as well
a desire for display which is unhappily
characteristic OF this Nation. We need TO
go abroad and see the comfort and dignity
Of simple living. We need TO learn that
artistic. that it will cost less in the begin
ming and be more satisfying thereafter If
the vulgar education is abandoned. Ii is
not wise for me TO say much on this sub
ject because l feel so strongly.
NOT VERY ENCOURAGING.
''Do I not think we are beginning 10 see
the error of our ways? Yes. in a few
places. But the movement TO a simpler,
more artistic and more comfortable living
seems 10 be sporadic. as yet. We find il in
isolated places 1t may spread. / most
sincerely hope so. II were younger. had
had less experience with clients. / should
be more optimistic. Yes. the craftsmen are