874 - PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION J. 



layman to carefully avoid any form of architectural observa- 

 tion or artistic criticism. He is generally content to observe 

 of a building that it is large, surprising, crowded with orna- 

 ment, or common-place ; and he invariably shirks anything 

 like the exercise of reasonable intelHgence when called upon 

 to express an opinion. 



So much has been said by laymen concerning the various 

 edifices that from time to time spring up in our larger cities, 

 and upon all such occasions such remarks liave been so 

 ready, and so evidently bear the stamp of thoughtlessness, 

 that they at once suggest the idea of having been made with 

 carelessness and contempt, as if such a subject (to their minds) 

 were utterly divorced from anything artistic. 



To criticise any reasonably good example of an art, all will 

 admit that much thought, care, and common sense must be 

 expended. In music we frequently redemand a number (if 

 disposed to praise) before expressing an opinion. In viewing 

 a good painting we stand long before it, examine it in various 

 lights, and return to it again and again before we dare to 

 express the effect it produces upon us. In neither case do 

 we offer the artist so deep an insult, or to such an extent 

 forget our own self-respect, as to dehver an unconsidered 

 judgment. But in architecture it is not infrequent to base 

 our opinion upon the thoughtless remark of a friend, and 

 frequently to adopt the first expressed judgment that may 

 occur to us. 



That this should be so is all the more suiprising, because 

 all that is requisite for a fairly correct criticism of the archi- 

 tectural value of a building is the exercise of but very httle 

 common sense and the observance of but few methods of 

 reasoning. 



On the other hand, amateurs can only acquire a sound 

 taste, which in architecture especially is identical with sound 

 reasoning, by contact with artists, and it is here that the 

 architect can do so much to form the tastes and guide the 

 understanding of the amateur, by permitting himself no 

 latitude in the direction of unexplained effect or treatment of 

 questionable taste ; for it is one of the most important duties 

 of the architect to urge clear views and sound reasonings in 

 explanation of every part of his design, and thus check the 

 varying whims and fancies of the irresponsible observer. 



Now, with but very slight assistance the architectural layman 

 can constitute himself a reliable critic by the observance of 

 the following common- sense rules. Firstly, let him examine 



