New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-09-13
Tribute TO +. DIAPER.
Sketch of architects Life and In
fUence on Art.
To the Editor of The Tribune


Sir; l noticed in Your issue of yesterday your
obituary OF Frederic Diaper (he anticipated the
preference of some OF our young men Of to-day.
bearing that prenomen for the omission of the final
X. He was, YOU say, formerly zone OF New
forks leading architects and continued 20 hold
that rank up 10 a much later period than YOU in
dictate As pupil Of his should like TO he per-
mitted 10 offer slight tribute TO the memory OF
man. the recollection OF whose sturdy devotion 10
the professional ideal contributed little 10 In
spre and 10 sustain. under constant inapprecatOn
and frequent msapprehenslop ana disbursement,
my own efforts toward working up from the cha
ouc condition OF the profession late as the Ns
Of the last century that professors official repre-
sentative body, the American Institute Of Archi-
tects-of which Mr.. Diaper Of the founders
and its New York branch that ideal. during
the many years OF my trusteeship and secretary
ship in those organizations.
Ny thoroughly equipped preceptor was for many
years taclle princeps in the higher region of the
domestic field of architecture Upiohn the elder
was in its ecclesiastical output. Born in Devon
shire England q think he told my father. not
Hampshire) he was after receiving a liberal edu-
cation on general lines. "articled'' 10 SIR Robert
snirke, IN London. for term Of years. according
| 10 the thorough English system Of professional
education. which. by the way. then incuded-snd
perhaps stu does-the payment of a considerable
premium 70 the practitioner selected as the medium
for instructionsl opportunities Sir Robert was an
eminent practitioner Of his day and the architect,
among other stately structures. Of Sir Robert Pees
notable seat Of Drayton Manor. The good
| young Diaper had made of his tuition was so ap-
parent when ne became his own master that he was
elected professional member Of the Royal Insti-
tute Of British Architects and began TO practise
| on his native heath" But. being ambitious and
energetic he sought quicker opportunities in
the New World. and his connection with the British
society being changed TO correspondence contunc-
ton, II I remember rightly, with honorary-nem-
| bership, his enterprise was rewarded by quick
recognition and prolonged patronage the part
OF the merchant princes and inanciers then up
perrnost in New York. who speedily appreciated
not only his professional. but his social available
tiles
Nearly all Of his buildings in and around Wall
street and Broadway have been demolished to
make room for ''skyscrapers' Of greater or less
altitude; and the same has been the with
the residences known as 'palatial' in that day
Of small things and as YET un- EurOpeanIzed den
gems gems erected oy him on so many Of the blocks in
Flftn avenue and adjacent streets-some of them
~ the way. far below 18th street. TO which your
street structures were the Bank Of America, the
Union Bank. the city Bank the seamans Bank for
next II in william street directly opposite the
Merchants Exchange at that time now the Gus
tom House, with Us fortunately sIill preserved
was the first. think Of the buildings Specially
devoted to and named after an Insurance company
tinoAgh my memory is hazy as 10 the name In this
bers street; opposite the city Hail Park. Near the
foot Of Broadway stood his Delmonico's Hotel
atterward the Stevens House. Higher up on the
same main artery recall, among other works OF
York Hotel. Further uptown stood until year
or two age. his double house for William Il AsPin-
and 10Th street II was notable for several novel
Ties Gor the time Of erecti0n) In interior construc
ton, e. g., a large window Immediately above the
mantelpiece OF q fireplace; and It's exterior pre-
private thus in svidehcs in New YORK think
S S[Iess one atiached 70 The Broadway SIDE OF
for Mr. Ward the father OF Julia Ward Howe,
Ike go many of Diapers design was supplemented
b Py a smaller on. on the same external lines.
bd5 In sif ba b aySnuS Tsmsm5sr the many
next it NJ. Talbot's both double ones and both
sun standing when was in New York last May.
on The same thoroughfare. 14th street and
also on the west side, he put up houses for August
dSSIIIont ana Mr Lamar, and Just around the
Jones; one TOO, On the southeast corner OF 18TH
member of the Parish family, one on the northeast
corner Of 18th street. st. or very lately extant
ing but the ia ~ fa5 f 'a aItae dls3 SUI staa
uses bev5Dd r5SogT,i'7 dhteted LOT business
on the northeast corner Of 18Th street ne built a
Bought and lived in It FOR ma1t years with si
gle house next il in the avenue having FACADE
aetg 5 sun faThsT sogthwart 10 Union square
when the tide Of residential fashion u overtook IL
Miner rS Of JAY Could G and dnG fTo 81 on The He
south side, one next that on the west corner Of
Phaloh next 10 Btb JS aad bu T FOR for Mr.
American colony in Paris
and Sd streets but above that there were several
examples saT an Of which however have. think
Lteh ieplaced hy skyscTapers. whether for dOmI-
eil-ary or commercial use. tin finds still-or
east corner OF SUI street drerf'y orposite TIT
| ianys new palace. double house. built for Muir
Belmont house is ,rte AS tn go e si t,rns
by an attached single house in the avenue: and
Mr. Diaper hmscIf win his faniIv ''''17'''s %
-AI'-it rom important public buildings small
nor!unity was in those days afforded the architect
but as far as. he found his chaace in domestic
Lf my p5tGeptor showed fun appreciation and
purity. and nearly al OF The examples above
school Witr precision and dignty. without the
slsatest penchant toward the latter-day hamboy-
terror work were free alike rom Ded11-ir over
iayIng ana from baldne-s while mis- planning
tioa uniformly ~ the most thorough. stable and
His 3,,gput was mainiy m urban architecture but
ne bulIj not Few country houses, with their ap-
eas,eated marble residen2e for Mr AEpinS,a
ana an sSlens!'e villa for Mr. Pcksrsgill both on
| toi mansion for PATRON Van Rensselaer, AZ Al
with domestic uses In ne -, H o. oU-n tnle
than Was usual with him in town work lie Der
deed almost incvitabIe-in tlc .sr ~ IN ana, IN
nary reSlael,S.s 39llt Tor summer occupation As
with most @thFT distinsq ishri and much employed
architects Ar. diaper also contributed his share OF
localllts LaH ms EolnaRe nut his style and meth
DDS continued 1 much TIE same. 50 far conforma-
Il is only very few years since nv precep,or was
81, grsS5c5ndren Of his G s tmons The children
quite 20 the satisfaction alike Of his clients ana
himself: and his prolonged usefulness ana IensrL
able longevity-leavng us. YOU Indicate when
only four years III rom me century marN-afTord
another L. tHe many examples OF the fact that
professional partCG!arly artistic and literary Ia
In an appreciative and faithful spirit even ui,b
as not an ~ hicb ~ IeSs seit-sacroe. is