Page:Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal, Volume 1, 1869.djvu/346

 286 Sloan's Architectural Review and Builders' Journal. [October, be passed over unthought of in our studies, is something inexplicable. We pore over astronomy, geology, chemis- try — in fact, every science but the one which we see looking upon us daily, as we pass through our streets, ready to admit its claims to admiration, yet wholly ignorant of what constitutes those claims. Our citizens are fond of travel; and they go over to Europe and saunter up and down, viewing the architectural monuments of that great old world, and feel alternate awe and admiration take possession of their senses ; but of the details of that wonderful art, which so enchains their attention, they know nothing. Of the history of its numerous styles, they could have read ; but they thought the subject must be dry ; and, therefore, they did not desire an ac- quaintance with it. Or, mayhap, pride had something to say in the matter ; and hinted, that the subject was only fitted for mere mechanics. Be it as it may, certain it is, that a deplorable want of knowledge of this Mother of Arts exists even amongst our most learned men. In England the Government fosters it, sustains it, and legislates for its ad- vancement and protection. Professor- ships to teach it are established in the universities. There are manuals of its outlines in use in the schools. And no gentleman's education can be said to be complete, without at least a partial knowledge of it. How is it with us? Our teachers, professors, and LL.D..'s are as utterly ignorant of it, as though it were a virtue to be so. No primer, no book, no chart, no guide whatever is to be found, that may tend to open a passage through which one solitary ray of light may penetrate the mental darkness. If we really mean to make this nation what it ought to be, it is time that we should examine into the merits of tins matter. It is impossible properly to patronize architecture, if we do not do so understaiidingly. Tor blind patron- age is dangerous at best : and ma}' lead to the establishment of many faulty constructions, whose defects are too permanent to be easily corrected. Let us hope to see, not alone classes of design established by our State governments, but teachers and hand- books in every common school, and sound professorships in every college, so that the advantage of this neglected branch of learning may not be confined to those who wish to make a livelihood out of it ; but be laid open to all, as a science to which man owes his first shelter and his present grandeur. Then, indeed, may we expect to see genuine Architects take the place of those puny peddlers of European genius, whose shrewd business tact enables them to assume the name, that Nature never intended to endow, them with. There are public buildings, now being erected in our largest cities, so dis- figured with faults of stjde, that it is painful to the discerning eye to look upon them. But they have cost mil- lions ; and will continue to cost, until they are finished. Were a knowledge of architecture more general among our citizens, such a criminal outlay of the public money, for such a barbarous pile of blunders, would be sure to raise a cry for justice to be denounced upon the heads of those whose fault it is. But the press is silent ; and the peo- ple do not understand. Why should the press be silent ? Why is not archi- tecture, that is permanent, as worthy of close criticism as music, which is, at best, but evanescent? The answer is — that there are few, if any, of the " gen- tlemen of the press" who are able to venture a criticism on the subject. This should not be so ; and yet so it is. If a building is about to be erected, and a newspaper desires to give a description of the intended structure, the architect's office is the place where the affair is concocted ; and, most generally, the article goes into type, just as it comes from the architect's pen. But whether