The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-10-16

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we have not yet passed the SHas lap
ham stage in our civilization. The ar
chitect must still consent 70 see his care
fully constructed plans ruthlessIy changed
10 allow for the excresence Of a porte
cOchere or a sleeping balcony that was
not originally considered IN tie scheme,
and that must now he added without
reference 10 their fitness What we
want is a house for comfort, not for
looks; and the American householder
feels a certain glow Of satisfaction when
his ineptitude.
Architects Lot Hard.
Artist though he be- and a Beaux Arts
man into the bargain, the architect must
bow 20 the business eXigencies Of his
situation. His lot IS ard, and the alter
native with which he IS confronted Is
humiliaung 10 his self-respect Either he
must reject a commission when he finds
that his ideas do not coincide with those
Of his prospective employer. or he must
consent 20 violate the dictates Of his
artistic conscience. Nor does the evil
end here. For II, in pursuing the latter
course. he could conceal his identity. and
consider his Job purely In the light q
piece Of hack-work II would not be so
bad But this he cannot do. The writer
may publish hts moved under another
name, and the painter may refuse 10 sign
his picture But the architect works in
complete publicity. and Is known BE- the
building which he erects and which
rightly or wrongly, IS taken as the ex-
preston OF hts personal taste. Thus a
bad house or two built under duress may
seriously compromise his artistic acreer
The minority OF wealthy patrons with
sound taste will pass him by. Nor can he
expect his employer 10 shoulder the re-
spOns.bility. As soon as he has discover
ei the extent OF his Own mistake. be
Will blame everything upon the architect
with a perfectly easy conscience, since he
viii have paid that functionary, and, be-
fore. remains under no more obligation
10 him than 10 the stonemason or the
carpenter.
on the other hand. let the house be
the architects own conception in every
Z
then the proud owner VIII modes-ly
admit that so-and-s0 is clever young
chap and that he supervised The work
with considerable taste and intelligence,
but that. OF course, the whole idea u
the thing was his own On d par with
this Is the ordinary method of chOos-
ing an architect. one always selects his
clergyman. his doctor. his banker. On
the basis Of recognized ability He does
not have his appendix removed by Y
because he was q ciassmaJe, or deposit
his funds with Y because they live in
the same street. But this Is precisely
the order Of reasons that determine many
in their choice OF some one 10 build the
house in which they are TO live. It IS
some consolation TO reflect that such ar
rangements not infrequently break
friendships.
Il Is no wonder, In view o. the OK
isting situation. that so much OF the
domestic architecture in this country.
however We'll adapted 10 domestic con
yenience. is, from an artistic point Of
view. beneath contempt, and that many
a small city. pretty hill town. or seaside
resort is ruined as an abode OF taste
Individual Responsible.
To put the responsibility for This state
Of affairs squarely up 10 the individual
IS impossible What" cries the sue
cessful business man. shall not be al
lowed 10 build the kind OF house 7 like
since ! made the money 10 build il
with. and since 7 own the land on which
IL ;s 10 stand? Besides, you are mis-
taken. I have employed the best archi-
tect in the country-a fine fellow. I
knew him at couege-to carry out my
ideas Ny ideas, Perhaps you have
happened 10 see him reconsrUcting the
blue prints with a pencil. or. surround
ed by his whole family. engaged in lay
ing out the plan OF each floor on tho
lawn with tennis tape. so as TO deter
mine WHETHER the kitchen will CO-Ordi-
nate With the dining-room through the
buffers pantry. or whether Mary James
bathroom viii be large enough 10 ac-
commodate a six-foot tub.
II not, in either case merely bulge out
the tape 20 indicate a bay-window, or an
ell, or move a partition. obliterating a
problem. But If the Individual is not 20
be reached, public opinion has not Yet
arrived al q point where II can impose
restrictions and assume authority 10 pass
upon all plans before the builders are per
mitted to proceed. Perhaps in democratic
America we shall never come 70 II. and
shall have 10 wait until each individual
is imbued with a sense OF his own re-
sponsibility. and until a little difidence
and 3 dawning self-criucism begin 20
undermine the foundations Of his shallow
self-cOmplacency. There are signs here
and there that a humber state OF mind
is slowly gaining ground. Too many.
building in the transition stage OF their
rise, are now obliged 10 live sadly for
ever after. IN the shadow % their mag
niicent failures or sordid little mistakes,
for the country. as whole, not 20 have
benefited by their shame and peniteuce.
Still, it will doubtless be long before any
profound impression is made upon the
boundless optimism Of those who are
ready 10 build in haste and rerent AZ
leisure
Tie British cotton mills bought 800
bales less raw cotton In August 1910
than in the same month last year. but
what they did buy cost them 100000
more.
An Old Home Week has been arranged