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AMERICAN AECHITECTUEE. 171 



the root of every healthy idea of reform now at work in the world, but is nevertheless 

 true. The genius of American art may with justice say of the genius of American 

 education — 



" If she be not fair to rae, 

 What care I how fair she be. 



Education must be liberal and comprehensive as well as universal and cheap, or 

 the result will remain incomplete. In the matter of architecture, to secure anything 

 permanently satisfactory there are necessary professors of ability, woi'kmen of ability, 

 and an appreciative able public. It would seem that architects in America are not 

 at present, in the majority of cases, born and bred Americans ; they have consequently 

 serious difficulties to contend against. They have to learn much and to unlearn much 

 more, ere the spirit instilled into their designs can be truly and genuinely American. 

 There is no good reason now why this state of affairs should continue. Architecture 

 is a profession likely to be in considerable demand in the United States for several 

 hundred years at least, and the demand is steadily increasing. Why then should not 

 parents speculate for their sons in this line ? Why should not the article, as it is for 

 home consumption, be raised at home ? It is an honorable calling, not certainly 

 offering such splendid fortunes as the merchant may realize, but it is a fair opening, 

 and the only capital that it requires beyond brains and industry, is the expense for 

 books and an education. When a fair share of young America enters upon this 

 study heart and soul, as a means of earning an independent position, we may expect 

 a rapid natural development of the architectural resources of the country, and the 

 present meagre facilities for artistic education must be gradually increased, and the 

 schools and colleges will probably after a time be induced to include in their course 

 of study, subjects calculated to discover and foster in the rising generation such natu- 

 ral gifts as have a bearing on these matters. 



To ensure workmen of ability, a reasonable chance to improve is alone wanted. 

 So long as the general demand is for monotonous, common-place, stereotyped work, 

 the average of ability will necessarily be low ; but with opportunity — good, cheap, 

 illustrated standard works, and a spirited weekly paper devoted to the special discus- 

 sion of the subjects interesting to architects, engineers, carpenters, masons, and all 

 the other trades connected with building, a paper that should diffuse sound theoretical 

 and practical information on the art in general and in detail throughout the whole 

 country — the advance would be rapidly felt; for wherever there is an American, there 

 at least, be he rich or poor, is a reader, a thinker, and an actor. Self-supporting 

 schools of design for painters, decorators, modellers, carvers, paper-stainers, &c,, must 

 follow in due course ; for the positiveness of the need would soon become evident, and 

 the object would then be almost gained. 



With reference to the appreciative and able public, the press is the improving power 

 that is to be looked to. Cheap popular works on architecture, in all its bearings, 

 popular essays, popular articles, popular engravings, and hundreds of them, and yet 

 all good — these are the simple, truthful and effective means that are to influence the 

 , by supplying a medium through which it may see clearly and thus be led to 



