The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1918-04-11
HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE

Paper Read Before the Pierian Chautauqua Circle
Discoursing Ancient and Modern Architecture
Bv Mr.. L. T. J.

as early as $500 B. C.-examples
built from brick may be found in
Egypt. They were also more
elaborate in treating the various
mouldings, often spelling the beau
tiful and graceful lines of the
Greek.
While the principal orders de-
veloped by the Greeks we're the
Doric. Ionic and Corinthian, the
Romans in addition used the Tus-
can, which is a very simple and
clumsy affair, and the composite,
which is the most elaborate of all
architectural orders. The chief
Distinguishing feature lies in the
capital, which is combination of
the Ionic and Corinthian orders.
The earliest use of this example
is found in Asia Minor. dating
about 100 B. c.; while in Rome it
was first employed in the Arch of
Titus, about 80 A. D.; it being
erected in commemoration of the
capture of Jerusalem.
This noble art has gradually
spread throughout the world and
commands an outlay of more mon
ey than any other occupation ex-
cept agriculture. Just try to
imagine the enormous amount of
wealth assembled in the palaces,
monuments, museums, churches.
libraries and homes throughout the
civilized world!
In a new country, such as our
own was when the early pioneers
came to find new freedom, it was
very difficult and slow process to
reach the resources of the land and
obtain building material through
lack of transportation facilities and
for lack of factories to turn out
finished products. Everything was
done by hand. In the New Eng
land states wood was mostly used
because it was cheaper and easier
TO work than stone. The Dutch
colonists used brick, imported from
Europe, for their most important
buildings.
In 1920, architects Wren and
Gibbs we're about the first to bring
any influence to architecture in a
modest way. Their most impor-
tant work was the designing of a
number of churches. From this
time until the Revolutionary War
great advances were made, especi-
ally in churches, and dwellings for
the wealthy. Of public buildings
we find but few having any beauty.
They we're usually inexpensive.
independence Hall at Philadelphia,
one of the best known edifces now
extant, was not of monumental de-
sign. Anything classic was beyond
the means of the colonies.
After the revolution architec-
ture received more monumental
character. State and national struc-
lures sprang up in rapidly increas-
ing numbers, perhaps the most
interesting being the capitol at
Washington, by Thornton, Latrobe
and Bulfnch (1793-183O). There
were colonaided wings added as
the nation grew. and from 1858 to
1873 the dome was added by Wal
ter. thus giving a most pleasing
appearance to the great mass as
we'll as bringing about a style
which has been used as model
for the many state capitol build
ings which have been erected dur
ing the past decades -one of the
most recent is the capitol at Madi-
son, WIS, by Geo. B. Post and
Sons. While these are all original
in design, they still employ the
great Distinguishing feature, the
Walter dome.
The first half of the nineteenth
century was a very promising peri
cd, for federal, state, municipal
and religious buildings, and homes
received more artistic influence
! Continued on page 5. column 81