New-York tribune., 1905-01-02
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
WORK OF T.. Il. POTTER.
Friend Tells About His Building
InUentions.
To the Editor Of TSe Tribune.


reared to the acquisition Of many Accomplishments
you specially refer to his achievements IN the
field OF music and also draw attentio" -
example of his work as an ecceslaseiOai 49, ~
tect. The Church OF the Heavenly Rest' h"Ne'0''
was among his earliest output and the msasIs
space allowed for its single facade-a mere s"1s-
way surmounted by a tower-affordeo H'uo W
portunity for that combination Of hnPreSSi'S -
and very delicate detail which disuhs uiSh I.9
later work e. G. his ST. Johns Church IN AonAei''
and still more his Colt Memorial Bulloinss-
church and parish house-in Hartford. Inc 'a''ei
example is besides almost. If not quite SUI gehei
at least IN this eOuntry-in its mastery oi eO'0i
harmony produced by stone OF various nues-
Here and there may find rot pau ehe1's "
facade work from the juxtapostion OF seVeral
kinds of stone OF different colors. put seheiaHS
otherwise good architecture is impaired Oy 'no ~
trasts being too violent. Mr.. Potter hoWeNeI' %
iected stone Of subdued tints, and the oinelsn'
rieties are so effectively and harmonousy oienoeo
that the general result is most grateful 10 the
artistic eve 1t reminds OF some OF La FaFses
stained glass output or of some rare te&'no i9O
from the Orient with its coors toned oo"n -
time. rather than of a material so haIo anu ''
tractible as stone.
But in a third field Of the aesthetic faculty MI
Potter has likewise distinguished himself. though
in much esoteric fashion than In arehitec's
and music The few who have been favoreo W. W
the full collection OF his versihcatons. prINa'S4s
printed but never published. cannot but "oserVa
that many of his numbers indicate plainly ehoueA
the haste Of one much preoccupied both Win pio-
fessional research and family and soeiaI ciS14iiS
Marks Of that indifference to public anu eSpe-
cislIy to expert opinion and that feelihs VI 4-0
sponslbility characteristic Of the clever aI14' .
are sufficiently apparent but the glow Oh genuine
inspiration everywhere shines through the at
mosphere of dilettanteism, and here ana there 'ho
form has been handled so faithfully as 70 HlC tn7
rendering to a place on the platform OF sehuliS
and distinguished poetry.
throp,c work and refer to his connection with the
improvement OF tenement houses. He onered' IN
fact. a example Of genius permeateo oy d
spirit Of benevolence, and. so endowed. ne clearly
realized that the more less submerged masses
cannot be lifted up to higher mental and moral
conditions till they are housed with more than
the prevalent regard for sanitation and with better
opportunities for joint privacy and decency anu
moreover, for much greater share in the delecta-
ton and refinement afforded by the fine arts 1t
is perhaps nine or ten years since you gave place
in your columns to a letter of mine expressing in
terest m an anonymous contribution to "Ihe AT
Isntic Monthly" In which the writer suggested the
introduction in this country OF open-air schools
including music in their curriculum-in the even
ings OF the summer seasoh- 1 commended the
proposition as which. il realized, would be
help to civilization. And well recall the satlsfac-
ton with which he told me he was the writer or
the article and the appreciation he evinced at my
&C occurrence in his views on the subject.
But. as too often happens. Mr.. Potters chief
claim to remembrance is that which is least
known and. where superhcially known (and even
that to very few, Is least appreciated AS STOOD
yesterday morning among those who listened at
his funeral the solemn burial rite Of the Anglican
Communion wondered If more than the veriest few
there thought OF him anything more than a man
OF charming personality. OF ingratiating manners.
accomplished in many directions, especially In tonal
and plastic art-!ndeed. retired architect" and
g. composer OF carols and other music which had
afforded them pleasure and amusement-L even
@ rzed al nd @ ey Wr ng at the obe
quies of 4 great inventor, who had devoted most
ing him opportunities to crafty his and talent
for the production Of fine architecture eccieSiast-
cal, domestic (and best payng) the financial sky
scrapng veriety. but for the solution or tne mo. mo-
meni9us preoIem OF now 70 [enae[ 4h 5orifv
of all communities. those not rich. the poor. the
rural, by which everything possible under the un-
avoidable restrictions Of expenditure local ords
nance, site. environment. ETC.. for the supply or
sunlight thorough draught. heating. cooling and
thought and planned.
tee has tried to do but with only scane success.
aPsey large 9Hfause ot5e wt5 The dens nora5ee
and lack of appreciation OF the very classes most
cause the problem has been handled. in a more or
less perfunctory way. by parties qualified IN some
intent but handicapped by necessary attention 10
i'm The geaegs tec6ne knwedge and broionged
specialistic study and research which our friend
Later on his rare Inventveness devised a system
Of what may almost be called instantaneous build,
building materials. The very simplicity of this
m 0rgn p 1 ree6z S SO m tb
theorist practitioner trained in the ruts of build
Germs itself not with the aesthetics, but simply
with the cOnstructional elements Of the building
the programme Of the processes involved in the
merged by his long illness, and now by his death.
will yet be taken up as a practical issue by some
ton and foresight, as well as capital
This was the view taken by our model citizen. An
Interested in Mr. Potters designs for the relief Of
new concoction for rapid building Of consTructionaI
units. He was unable to do so himself, the early
cident with his closing labOrs thereon The Father
explanations and with the potentialtieS of the
project that he wrote a letter indorsng it, which
cal and wretchediy incongruous taking on not long
after by an insane mans miserable mistake. he
those selected in his later days for encOuragement
hereht be1eficcnes for mankind anu IN
When the system is developed in practice. the
springing up in the night like Aladdin's palace for
the health and comfort Of the multitudes who do
tiersman, who blazes his way through the prineval
barren sands o the worlds ancient T Deserts s nto to
for countless new gardens OF Eden: for the miner
metals needed BY the housewife th fsreT q
manufacturer. the seaman. the jeweler and by
redhanded still harries the earth. for the soil
der who. till the greater OF universal interna-
tional arbitration dawnS the stricken earth must
needs be led to slaughter, rapine and the destruc-
tion of all the blessings wrought by peace
In trying TO keep this great inventors benehcent
projects from being laid out of sight with him
self discharge a promise made long ago to him.
But made him yet another. and that was, II
should survive him and opportunity should offer
give his widow equal credit with himself for their
development, If not for their inception. He recog
nized with myself that many a man, ambitious TO
advance his own or others good, has really been
mainly made" by his wife-and has received the
worlds rewards and applause. unshared by her.