Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-09
ITS M|-CENTENN|Al
Celebration of the American
Institute of Architects.
TO BE HELD IN JANUARY
Sir Aston Webb of England Will Be
Guest of Honor.
MEETING IN OCTAGON HOUSE
Memorial to the Late Senator Nc
Millan-Growth of the Chinese
Press-Boycott Ended.
MEETING IN OCTAG0N HOUSE
BY WILLIAM f. CURTIS /.

Special Correspondence of The Star andthe Chicago
Record Herald.
The American Institute of Architects will
celebrate its 1ftieth birthday in Washing
ton on the It'll, Sth and 9th of January, and
has invited delegates from kindred soci-
cites of art, archaeology and science. A
commemoration address will be delivered
by the president, Mr.. Frank Miles Day of
Philadelphia, and on Wednesday afternoon
a bronze tablet in memory of the thirty
founders of the institute will be unveiled
at it's headquarters in the old Octagon
House, designed and built in 1898 by DR..
William Thornton the architect of the Ma
tional Capitol. 1t was at one time the home
of James Madison and the temporary exec
utive mansion after the White House was
burned by the British troops in 1914, and
for many years was considered the finest
private residence in the United States.
Two of the original members of, the insti-
tute still survive alter fifty years of profess
sional life and it is hoped that both of
them will be able to attend the commemora-
broadway, New York. and Mr. --.arles
Babcock, emeritus professor, Cornell Uni
versity.
The Chief Guest.
The principal guest Of the occasion will
y
the Royal Institute of British Architects,
who has designed and is now in charge of
one of the greatest monumental works of
the age, a national memorial to Queen Vic
toria in the city of London. 1t will sur
pass in scope and expense every existing
monument, even that in honor of Victor
Emmanuel at the head of the Corso in
Rome. and the Church of the Resurrection
in honor of the late Alexander II of Russia
in ST. Petersburg The memorial to Queen
Victoria is really a succession of monu-
ments and buildings stretching from Buck
ingham Palace along the Mall to Trafalgar
Square, and many years will be required to
carry it out. Speaking of its progress, Sir
Aston Webb recently said: Owing to the
time this great work necessarily takes to
execute. we have been enabled to proceed
with the work of preparing the sites in
sections at a minimum of pubic incon-
venience. The next step will probably be
three gateways, with groups of sculpture
emblematic of the three great self-govern-
ing colonies. A start will also be made
with the foundations for a building at the
east end of the Mall, through which, under
three archways, will pass the great road
into Charing Cross. The idea has been to
place the buildings so as to make worthy
termination to the Mall and to the Strand"
" Foremost English Architect.
Sir Aston Webb is perhaps the foremost
member of his profession in England and
one of the most eminent of living archi-
tects. He is member of the Royal Acad-
envy, professor of architecture in London
University, chairman of the board of archi-
tectural education in London and has
erected more important public buildings
than any other man in England. Most of
them have been Wol in competition. His
designs for the national memorial to Queen
Victoria We're won in competition; also the
Victoria and Albert Museum, the Royal
Hoo nf Il jra1ty tI,a
office building, the Imperial Institute
in London and other conspicuous works.
He has built many churches also, and has
restored several very Old and historic ones,
among them that of st. Bartholomey the
Great in Smithfield, London. He comes to
the United States expressly to attend the
meeting of the American institute.
reception will be given in honor of Sir
Aston Webb at the Corcoran Art Gallery on
Tuesday evening, January 8, when he will