Arizona republican., 1906-02-25
Tne Architect


work, the architect originating the ideas, which are worked out by these assistants, Or draftsman, as they are commonly called.
 The embryo architect often displays at an early age artistic and creative capacity. He is at least original. and his spare moments are often spent in building or planning something to make. Perhaps he erects a hen house toy-house, or something else within his limited range Of opportunity. His method of accomplishment indicates natural though crude respect for harmony. He is not likely to do awk- wardly anything that he attempts to do. If he makes a box, he gives some character 10 1t. and his method of put ting it together shows more than ordi- nary attention. If he starts a garden the arrangement of the beds follow some we'll conceived plan, and there is harmonious grouping of the plants. If he arranges the furniture in a room, he does it to the furniture's advantage.
 The architect is born. He cannot be made. If the boy ooes not show some creative skill, even while In his teens there is not one chance in a thousand that he will ever become a successful architect. The copier is not an archi- i tect. The architect may copy, but he does something besides copying. He mixes his own ideas with those of oth- CTS and nothing that he does is devoid of his personality. The boy who can draw a plan geometrically correct may be entirely without the artistic tenn perament necessary for success in ar- chitecture.
 I am well aware that there are thous- ands of mere builders who label them selves architects. and who, with the help of ready-made plans, are able to give satisfaction. But these men are not architects; they are simply expert builders. It is also true that these builders and so-called architects at times give as good service as does the true architect, and they certainly en- joy better incomes than the mediocre architects who confine themselves to the practice of the profession and ar tistic side of architecture. As a rule architects are not developed from builders, although some of the best of this profession were at one time builders and even carpenters. Gener- ally the tendencies which show that the boy is fitted to become a carpen- ter or builder are not in the same class with those which foretell the architect. The carpenter or builder is a mechanic, and occasionally a business man also, but he is not a professionalism; while the work of the architect is in every sense professional, requiring a different capacity from that which makes a sue cess of business, mechanics, or trade.
 Because the great architect often receives both fame and fortune. and because the profession is honorable and recognized as one of the highest of human attainment. an over-ambi- tious parent may attempt to force his l boy into architecture, without the slightest excuse for so doing. If the boy at an early age shows construct i've ability, and is able to plan some thing on paper or in his mind and afterwards makes it with his hands. the parent imagines that his son pos sesses the abilities necessary for the practice of architecture. It is true that tn boy who cannot construct "In ad- vance" plans either in his mind or on paper, has not the foundation uuali- ties necessary to the architect, but urI- less these creations in their earliest or crudest state give evidence of more than ordinary ability. the chances are the boy is better fitted to the building trade than to architecture.
 Mere mechanical ingenuity and abiI- ity to construct properly in them selves do not furnish more than an indication of architectural quality Ger tainly the parent should not urge the boy to study architecture unless the boy gives reasonable evidence of much more than mechanical capacity.
 Not only the ability to construct, but also that quality of ability which creates in advance the plans of con- struction, is essential to the proper practice of architecture. The success full architect is both a nature-made and a self-made man. Naturally in that he possesses the natural ability necessary to success; and self-made because he has thoroughly trained his natural ability. The most pronounced natural capacity without special train ing is likely to fall short of the goal; while all the education that all the world can give will not make more than mechanical architect out of the man who does not possess natural apt itude for this work. A classical col lege course can hardly be considered essential, although it is to be recom- mended to those who can afford the time and money for it's accomplishment.
 thorough training in an architec- tural school, or in the architectural department of technical school, is generally considered indispensable for the proper making of an architect.
 I would not advise any boy, even though he gives many evidences of ar chitecturaf powers, to consider archi- lecture as a profession, unless he is able to obtain the proper special edu- caticn necessary to his ripest develop ment, or unless he can study directly under some thoroughly competent ar chitect. To attempt to branch out into architecture without this special train ing is likely to result in failure or to materially retard one's progress.
 The architect school at the start is much to be preferred to actual exper- fence in an architects office, because the school will teach the broad prin- ciples, while. working experience g likely to be limited to one class, or to few classes of work.
 While IOuo for fba YorofaSeior, arpnro-