The Washington times., 1904-09-11


sistant In this most important work,
having the sole responsibility Of plan.
ming and supervising the FIVE granite
and brick buildings. ordered by tho Unit
ed State Government. and with only
coolies 70 do the work for him The
French architect engaged on new quar-
tiers for his country has five assistants.
As Mr.. Nealy has. thus far. modestly
RETAINED from giving any published ac-
count Of the progress OF hts work, which
would naturally interest all Americans.
and particularly the residents OF Wash
ington, TO whom the architect IS well
known. II viii doubtless entertain the
readers Of The Times 70 learn some
thing OF the life and labors OF Mr.
Nealy. as CLEANED from his private let
tiers 10 friends in this city
Energetic "Sid.D
Everybody who knows ''Sid''-and their
name Is legion-will recall the almost
feverish energy and enthusiasm with
which that gentleman carried on any
project or entered into any ambitious
work he had on hand. whether IL was a
moose hunt in the woods OF Maine, a
picture he was painting. a book he was
writing. or a building he was designing.
Some Of the largest and handsomest
public buildings IN the country attest his
ability as an architect, innumerable pic
lures IN water-color and black and white
/ proclaim his artistic skill. while sundry
magazine articles. and a clever book
/ Gin the Trail Of the Pack Mule''), show
his graphic cleverness as an author.
I He IS esseStIally a self-made man,
I having reached his present responsible
| position by his own talents. backed by
genuine hard work and study.
! As page in the House OF Representa-
| tives, when a boy, his cartoons were on
/ demand by the gray-haired statesmen
whom he caricatured; and. later on. his
| newspaper work made him widely ard
popularity known. His versatility and
/ adaptability bring him many friends
everywhere. whether he IS snow-shoeing
| in Maine, fishing In Virginia, or camel
/ riding IN the environs Of Picking.
Chosen for the Work.
Now. when this typical. wide-awak,
American - alert and strenuous was
chosen from among eighty Of his con.
freres. in the supervising architects Of
fee Of the Treasury. to 40 to Pekinl
and build good legation structures II
! the American compound. he entered int
mis- labors with all the ardor Of an en-
thusiast. There were many obstacles 4
be overcome. many drawbacks 70 tn
successful carryir Z out of his own plans
not the latest OF these being the fac
that he was practically alone in tn
work before him. with only cOOlie labor
ers to do his bidding. These coolies
were, OF course, but indif'erently trained
from the American standpoint, and di'
their work in a manner so entirely for
eign 20 the architects preconceived idea
Of good work. that at times he almos
dcspaired Of teaching them how 20 worl
according 10 his ideas. Their patien
dociity, however. disarmed him an,
gave him the courage to persevere.
In letter written while they wer
excavating, he says:
IL / were TO tell them TO dig a hol
with their fngernails, they would uD
questioningly obey me-"
Slowly, but surely. the foundation
were dug and laid. and the five build
ings are now so we'll under way tina
Mr.. Nealy hopes to have them unde
roof. and an artesian well dug also, in
side Of six months. IL all goes wen. TIT
artesian well is very essential to TIL
comfort and health of the American
contingent, as the water OF Picking 4