New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-12

the modest elegance of the two flank
ing buildings. All the details are
oleverly accounted for-the architect
ural and sculptural ornament, the gar
dening, and even the fagstaffs. Ad-
mirable. finally. are the big lunettes
painted by Mr.. Trumbull. No douot
they very wildly recall the color and
style of Brangwyn. under whom. ] be-
lieve, he has studied. but they are so
splendidly done that one thinks only
OF the genuine talent they proclaim.
Altogether Pennsylvania has reason to
preen herself. Not so our own dear
state. The New York building. an
overwrought academic design, is bulky,
and to that extent is legitlmately to
be described. | dare say, as "impos-
ing" But inside and out. despite its
gorCeousness. it is a commonplace per-
Torrance. The little pavilion which
represents New York City is certainly
not commonplace in its simple. even
archaic mass. its severe lines and its
restrained sculptural decorations: but
the promising idea on which * is based
does not quite come off. In passing ]
ought to note that the exhibits here.
photographs and other records OF mu-
nicipal progress. have unusual interest.
They more than demonstrate the right
of the citv TO speak for itself at the
fair.
The oldest of all the state build
ings is the one erected by Oregon. II
is a Parthenon OF fir logs, brown as
bark. and immense into the bargain.
Nothing could we'll have been more
audacious. At first the beholder is as
tonished, a little scandalized, and, per-
haps, little resentful. Then he
washes his mind clean of convention
and begins to like the paralyzing oo-
ject. 1t may be incredible, but IN d
kind of primitive, heroic way 1t Justi-
fes itself. At least, Il has the courage
of its convictions. The trouble with
so many Of the state buildings is that
they haven't even that, but rest them
selves with a stodgy confidence on
stereotyped ideas. The classical style
crops out, of course, but it is handled
in feeble fashion and the result is a
number of nondescript buildings, not
good enough TO command respect, not
bad enough to be amusing. This disap--
pointment might have been avoided, !
think, If the states in question nad
not been quite so ambitious. They
have all wanted to go in for the I'm
pressiye monument" and 1t takes an
architect of rare ability TO make that
kind of building worth while. They
have made, in their different ways, the
mistake Massachusetts, made when she
copied the State House instead OF some
such building as the one cited above
from the Chicago fair. More OF per,
sonal character, more OF local color
would have secured, in all probability,
more interesting results.
The point of reserve. of good Judg-
ment, is well brought out in the Philip
pine building. The long. low faeades
with their tiled roofs and certain de-
tails in the woodwork. hint without too
much emphasis both at the special note
of tho islands and at elements due 10
American influence. The broad effect
is precisely what it ought to be, In
keeping with the transitional stage OF
affairs in the Philippines, with the
spirit Of a people whose achievement
AZ the present time are largely ground
ed in the ideas Of their friends from
the United States. Speaking from q