Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-27
PREDICTS UNRIvALEO CITY
ALBERT KELSEY LECTURES ON
CONVINCING ARCHITECTURE.
Declares That More Sympa-
thetic and Intelligent Pub
lie Is Needed.

Albert Kelsey of Philadelphia gave
illustrated lecture last evening at the
Public Library on Convincing Archi-
lecture. There are some people. Mr..
Kelsey said. who take no interest in archi-
lecture at all, who walk along the streets
without giving heed to the buildings
which they pass and repass daily. There
are others who take an interest. but in
no wise grasp the subject and there are
those who without actual training possess
keen appreciation and display discriminate
ing judgment. To this third class, he
declared, the retiring Secretary of State
belongs. and speaking not only for him
self. but for the men of his profession,
eminent architects of New York and
Philadelphia. he paid high tribute to Mr..
Root. both an architectural critic and
adviser.
Architecture That Convinces.
Convincing architecture according to
Mr.. Kelseys definition, was that which
on account of absolute sincerity and pc
cular appropriateness carried definite
conviction-such, for example, the
pyramids of Egypt the Tai Mahal OF
India, a temple in Japan, yes. even the
SO-called pastry cook architecture of
the exposition buildings in Paris and the
checker-board roof of d German SchlosS.
Mr.. Kelsey drew his examples from all
parts of the world and emphasized re-
peatedly the necessity of individuality.
In many instances he made local appliCa
ton. referring to the unfortunate mis-
placing of the Washington Monument.
the Library of Congress and the Treasury
Department building. which forever OBJ
struct vistas when exhibiting the value
of orderly plan: compa ring the new
Union station with the Garde du Nord of
Paris, contrasting the Washington water
front with that of foreign cities. declar-
ing that instead of putting our best foot
foremost. do the little Dutch towns, we
admit visitors from Norfolk through our
back yard. Mr.. Kelsey spoke. however.
enthusiastically of this city of the plan
of L'Enfant and of it's further develop
ment in the future, insisting that in time
the National capital will be the most
beautiful city in the world. The Union
station. he said, was building up a new
city in a poor locality, as the Pont Alex
ander, has done for Paris. and its plaza
will be no less perfect and complete as
work of outdoor art than the esp!anades
of the Grand and Petit Palais.
Not Typical American Buildings.
Mr.. Kelsey objected that many of the
public buildings in Washington were not
typcally American, as were for example.
those in Mexico typicaly Mexican, and
he urged that in the future more thought
be given to distinctive local needs-to a
manifestation of appropriateness and
that there should be less borrowing of
ideas.
Mr. Kelsey also spoke most favorably of
the training TO be obtained by young
architects in America today. and said
that the school in this city-that of the
George Washington University under the
direction of Prof. Percy Ash-was turn
ing out many excellent designers. what
We need for progress he remarked, in
d more sympathetic and intelligent pub
lie -