The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-08-03
THE SOUL OF A SkYSCRAPER.

he CIcdllOu VI d great UuilulHS 10 d.
fascinating spectacle; still, that IS
only a thing of the moment and of no
really great significance in the larger
aspects of OTIS existence. The romance
of a skyscraper is by no means con-
fined to the melodramatic staginess
of it's erection. At that time the
structure is merely being prepared for
it's future career. 1t is receiving its
first breath of life
The soul Of a new building lies dor
mant until the warmth of human ten
ancy awakens it. First it acquires in
dividuality, then it attains character
and grows to express it's soul. Sky
scrapers differ in individuality and
character to the same extent that peo-
ple differ. If it has a great glorious
soul, a pleasing, warm personality
it will attract to itself people who
have the same characteristics. Sue
cess IS assured the edifce Of high char
acter because it will house tenants OF
standing and worth.
A. building is known by the tenants
it keeps. In a skyscraper with sou.,
substantial banking Institution on the
ground floor, and fine large. lls"'
generous office rooms above, is 1'
sonifed the prosperity of the hour.
Activity permeates the atmosphere OF
the entire structure; it is reflected
in the briskness of the men who hurry
in and out of its doors. and even III
the smart wide-awake appearance OF
the elevator runners. The building
is playing it's part in the game of life.
The air is vibrant. tense and exciting;
! the very moment means much, and
the full value of each of the sixty
seconds is being realized.
Some skyscrapers. however, are as
grouchy and touchy as an old man
kith the gout; others are pathetic II
their senility and seem to call for
the hand of fate to remove them from
the ranks They insist querulously
flat thev have served their time ana
demand release. In these structures
tHat have outlived their usefulness,
one finds tenatnts also OF the passing
order. themselves falling as the build
ing. There is a musty caor and a
spirit Of decay; It is 8 repressed
gloomy atmosphere. WhaS wonders
could be worked by liberal flooding
of fresh air and sunshine into the
dark corners!
A rubber tired world is found III
the skyscraper specialized to physi-
clans. One is constrained to walk on
tip-toes and speak in low tones. The
elevators sem to be equipped with
Maxim Silencers. 1t is building
that is a haven of peaceful refuge IN
sphere of terrific noises. 1t has a
mission to perform, and is calm ana
sure in its own mastery.
Many great buildings being erected
now-a-davs are monuments; monu-
ments to great commercial institn-
TONS. monuments to individuals
whose ideals Of civic and persona!
pride find realization and a full ex-
nression in the erection Of skyscrapers.
Too often, however, these buildings
are monuments only, because 1hes
are 1ackins in soul, and lacking IN
soul they are failures. They are 1ali-
ures from both utilitarian and aesthe-
tic standopints. Lacking in soul they
really never live and they never ar
tract tenants to their doors.
\ successful sllyscraper is triumph
of art because the restrictions imposed
cal limitations, force the will to great
er creative power. More often than
not. however these restrictions are
igno.&s! altogether or are hEF0leo'
with he excuse that the artistic NINA
cannot be burdened with onerous oe-
tails.
The soul of building Goes not lie
in its o,-.~.te features Of architecture
nor yet in : cost A structure, how
ever impo: ~ @'ay be lacking in soul
and thereby e q mere monument IN
fact as wei, 5 IN name.
The creation OF a successful SKY
scraper calls for minds Of the highest
order. Welded into the structure must
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