Page:Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal, Volume 1, 1869.djvu/131

 1868.] The Character of an Architect. 103 " a general knowledge of the sciences. " Since, then, by ray parents' care, and " by the instructions of masters, I had " the means afforded me of acquiring " knowledge, and was naturally delighted " with literary and philosophical sub- jects, I laid up those stores in my " mind, from the use of which I enjoy " the advantage of wanting no more ; " and the value of riches consists in " having nothing to wish for. But some, " thinking perhaps lightly of these " things, suppose those only are wise, " who have plenty of money. Hence " many, aiming at that end alone, have, " by the aid of their assurance, acquired " notoriety from their riches. But I, " Caesar, have not sought to amass "wealth by the practice of my art, "having been rather contented- with a " small fortune and i-eputation, than "desirous of abundance accompanied " by a want of reputation. It is true, " that I have acquired but little ; yet I " still hope, by this publication, to be- " come known to posterity Neither is it " wonderful, that I am known but to a " few. Other architects canvass and go " about soliciting emplojonent, but my " preceptors instilled into me a sense of " the propriety of being requested, and " not of requesting, to be entrusted, in- "asmuch as the ingenuous man will " blush and feel shame in asking a " favor ; for the givers of a favor, and "not the receivers, are courted. What " must he suspect, the trust of the ex- " penditure of whose money is person- " ally solicited by another, but that it is " for the sake of gain and emolument ? " Hence the ancients entrusted their "work to those architects only, who " were of good family, and well brought " up ; thinking it better to trust the " modest than the bold and arrogant " man. " These artists only instructed their " own children, or relations, having "regard to their integrity, so that "property might be safely committed "to their charge When, therefoz-e, " I see this noble science in the hands " of the unlearned and unskilful, of " men not only ignorant of architec- " ture, but of every thing relative " to buildings, I cannot blame pro- prietors who, relying on their own in- " telligence, are their own architects ; " since, if the business is to be conducted " by the unskilful, there is at least more " satisfaction in laying out money at " one's own pleasure, rather than at that " of another person'. No one thinks of " practicing at home any art (as that of " a shoemaker, or fuller, for instance, or " others yet easier), except that of an "architect, and that, because many, who " profess the art, are not really skilled in " it, but are falsely called architects." From the introduction to his second book we gather, that Vitruvius was small in person, and lived to some age. " But to me, Emperor, nature hath " denied an ample stature ; my face is "wrinkled with age, and sickness has "impaired my constitution. Deprived " of these natural traits, I hope, how- "ever, to gain some commendation " through the aid of my scientific " acquirements, and the precepts I shall " deliver." In the Roman military service, Vitru- vius must have held a position corre- sponding to the rank of higher officer in the United States Topographical Engi- neers, as, if otherwise, we must construe his remark to signify ordnance-sergeant, which, from facts previously adduced, would be most unlikely. When dedicat- ing his Architecture to the Emperor Augustus, he declares : " My reverence "for the memory of your virtuous father,* " to whom I was well kno vm, and from " whom, now a participator in council "with the gods, the empire descended "to you, has been the cause of your " good will towards me. Hence, together " with M. Aurelius, P. Numisius and " Cn. Cornelius, I have been appointed " to, and received the emoluments arising nephew and adopted sou aud heir Oetavius was.
 * This must be meant for Julias Csesar, whose grand-