New-York tribune., 1906-04-08
NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDA-
TIONS

But this the architects say cannot we'll bs
done you must understand" said John NJ
Carrere, head of the firm. that this scheme oR
inscription on the front of the building was de-
signed and fully worked out seven years ago.
Now that plan has been Incorporated in marble
and cannot be changed. Something has got to
go in those panels and something has got to go
IN the frieze. 1 was not aware of any question
about the wording of the inscriptions As far
as We knew that was settled long ago.
IF such a line as New York Public Library
Astor Lenox and Tilden Foundations, were to
be placed on the front of that building what
would become of the panels? They must be
filled in in some way. They cannot be left
bare"
Dr.. John s. Billings. directos of the library,
whose view of the difficulty does not exactly co,
incide with that of Mr.. Carrere. says it has been
suggested to him that the panel spaces could b(
filled in with some ornamental design. He doel
not regard that feature of the problem as at az
insurmountable. DR.. Billings said the chiet
criticism Of the present scheme of inscription
that he had heard over the line Erected
by the City" The complaint has been" said
Dr. Billings, that the inscription gives the city
practically all the credit and the three donors
very little.
The line Erected by the City was suggested
by the Mayor, I think" said DIT Billings. The
weight Of opinion seems to be against this
and it has been suggested that this line with
other details concerning the erection of the
building. can we'll be included in the inscription
to so on large bronze tablet to be erected in the
main hall of the completed building"
George l. Rives. Of the trustees whC
drafted the inscriptions now appearing in plaster
on the front Of the library. stoutIy defends them
OF the big line. Erected by the City" about
which the criticism seems to centre Mr. Rives
said the other day. I can see nothing wrong
with that line. In fact I think it much prefer
able to New York Public Library Erected by
the City states fact 1t places credit where
it belongs. New York Public Library is too
much like label; it would make the building
look too much like a shop. Such a building
should have character individuality. We have
put sign the Capitol at Washington,
neither have we on the White House and other
important buildings. People are supposed to
know what these buildings are and it should be
so with the New York Public Library. Con-
corning the sub-Ines used. those in the case OF
Mr.. Astor were taken from his will Those used
with the Tilden inscription were taken from the
petition of the TiIden trustees to the Legislature.
In the case of Mr. Lenox who gave the money
during his lifetime, the words used were taken
from the charter of the LenOx Library. a
thing that must be borne in mind in connec-
ton with these inscriptions is that there is only
a certain amount of space that can be used for
inscriptions. The wording Of the inscriptions
must adapt itself to that space"
Mr.. Rives says that while the trustees are not
advertising for suggestions as to suitable in
scriptions, they do not purpose to reject any
sensible suggestions that may come them
from outside.