Page:Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal, Volume 1, 1869.djvu/576

 466 The Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal. [Jan. tainment of our object, we scratch too hard with our critic pen, we have to offer, as apology, the nature of our call- ing, and the absolute necessity for un- trammeled thought in this crusade for truth. As a place of public amusement, Pike's Opera House will, at no distant day, re- linquish its vocation, as it is now sold by Mr. Pike to the Erie Railroad Com- pany, for Eight Hundred and Fifty Thousand (850,000) dollars ; but will not be disturbed, for the present season at least. We trust Mr. Pike will favor the public with yet another temple ; and that we maj T have the pleasure of commending it. Edwin Booth, in the fulness of his love for his art, has gone nobly to work in the erection of a temple, worthy of its most perfect representations of mimic life. This building fronts on Twenty- Third street; and has likewise an en- trance on Sixth avenue. Like its con- temporary, Pike's Opera House, it is of marble ; but, unlike it, Booth's Theatre is very original in design. Mr. Thomas is the Architect; and his treatment of this study is certainly striking, we had almost said, in the extreme. But so sel- dom do our professional brethren ven- ture beyond the strict bounds of tradi- tional rule, that the darings of Mr. Thomas are refreshing, to saj* the least. The two doors, of large proportions, which occupy the flanks, are not alone imposing in appearance, but highly sug- gestive of safety, a very delightful feel- ing for theatregoers, who entertain for a moment the thought of a possible con- flagration and an instant demand for "the liberty of the subject." The ornamentation is unique, and agreeable to taste ; and were the Archi- tect to enliven his design with as many sculptured figures on this front, as he has on his Park Bank, we would look upon this new Theatre, as a very desirable addi- tion to the Public Places of Amusement of New York ; and, at the same time, re- gret the fate of dulness, to which the big Academy of Music has been condemned, in its meaningless exterior We are led to hope, from what is now being done, that Architecture will ulti- mately assert its claims to notice, in designs of theatres ; and that the exter- nal observer will see in the exterior that effect of purpose, which speaks to the eye as perfectly, as the scenic arrange- ment within, which leads the senses I captive. WATER SUPPLY FOR COUNTRY RESIDENCES. Mr. Editor : I HAVE been for twenty-five j^ears a resident in the country. During the greater part of this period, I have been mainly dependent upon my own resources, for my supply of water, for household and farm purposes. For a time, I was the fortunate po- sessor of a farm, with buildings occupj'- ing a very elevated position, yet under a slate hill, from which sprung a stream of pure water, at an elevation of more than one hundred feet above my dwelling- house. At the time I purchased, the water was conducted to the buildings through a two-inch earthen pipe, laid in mortar, for a distance of about eighteen hundred feet. The "water de- scended from the spring above, by force of gravity alone. The earthen pipes were laid through woods, and I had soon to encounter an unexpected difficulty. The roots of the forest trees, which had been cut off in making the trench for the conduit, were, in a short time, attracted by the moisture, and extending them- selves under and over the pipes, in the course of their growth, lifted up, or dis-