New Britain herald., 1929-07-20

rounded by Victorian banalities, turned to the Concelleria and the Farnese as epitomes of studied de- sign, had set himself standard which he upheld. The result is most manifest in two buildings in New York, the Willard house on Madison Avenue and the Century Association on 43rd strectd, both or which are largely due 10 Wells and both of which are in their way masterpiece es-and by no means plagiarisms
 The huge masses of skyscrapers are of such a compelling ensemble, that the delicacies Of detail to be found :n 1auranas Palace for Federigo d'Urbino and in Amadeos work at Bergano and Pavia are lost in the size of the structures. But Wells was dealing with buildings of the same character as those of the Renais- sance and was a worthy follower of the masters of that fine art.
 In "A Chronicle of Friendships" by Will Low, in SGribner's, 1908, the following appreciation appears:
 Played the Cynic
 hOdSi " ctlS 1du IOl d QfOD Ot bitterness in his nature, it pleased his humor to play the cync, as it pleased his friends to humor him and to accentuate their asseverations of belief in his profound and deep seated contempt for mankind. This he took in good part, and returned the compliment by a ready and all- En)brarinp dor k; mates, aiming his barbed wit with shrewd strain of intelligence that more than once hit the mark.
 save in physical appearance he had much of Thackeray's Warning ton in Pendennis and the gentler side of his character was shown by his love for music. Through Wells activity the concerts of chamber music, by four musicians selected from the orchestra conducted by Theodore Thomas. were given in the large studio in Thirty-sixth street. which Saint -Gaudens had built for his work.
 some forty men-painters. scu]p- i tors. and architects for the most part-Were Joined in this enterprise, and for two years every Sunday aft | crroon from October to May, we sat or reclined at our ease on the diNans which ran along the walls of the studlo, listening with the pleas- ant accompaniment of tobacco, to l the two violins. the viola, and the cello; and Bach. Mozart, and Bee thoven were of the company"
 And Saint Caudens himself. who was very fond of Wells, made the following remark:
 And then Wells, the sptfire will come on the scene, leave all his off as he enters the house, as a turtle would it's shell, and become ono of the most compan- lonable of men,
 Occasionally l had the good for tune 10 attend these concerts when 1t was delightful to see the blossom Ing out of Wells nature and his pleasure. He Was responsible fer many of the programmes and his choice of music was noble in char acter, like his architectural designs
 Worked to the End
 One cold rainy morning I went nto Mckim's $ office and asked for Joe. l was told he had been ill with pneumonia but was coming in for he first time since his illness Soon 1e appeared, looking very frail Nothing would do but that he must ake me over the Century Club just being completed and later to the arge dining room Of the Plaza. reei- ns with wet plaster He was enthu- lastlC bcNond his strength, and got linn away as soon as possible to his .oom, parting with him at station ,f the Elevated. Next morning, near ny residence in Boston, met his brother and mentioned that had 'eeu with Joe yesterday T have lst received d telegram of his leath,' he said. Thus l was one Of he last to be with him. the man fho only lived into his thirties, and Nho did as much 10 keep the torch fl fine architecture glowing as any nan of his time.