76 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



disorder, and even some of the wares may be pinned on loosely, 

 for the hours of preparation have been few and short. 



In the United States almost everything is done on the voluntary 

 plan. It has produced splendid results, but results wanting, of 

 course, in system. When New Eerlin was built, whole streets of 

 buildings upon the same general plan arose, and the palace was 

 set off by the plainer dwelling, the effects of massive uniformity 

 and the more pleasing ones of variety being all studied according 

 to a general design. The materials of the individual buildings 

 were not of a costly sort. With us brown stone, granite and 

 marble, and costly pressed bricks, and highly ornamented iron, 

 are gathered together, and, without order or method, each one 

 builds one, two or more structures as he lists, and the effect of 

 the whole is poor, and even sometimes repulsive. Many of our 

 separate institutions are admirable in their way, but what a hete- 

 rogeneous mass they form. Each of them expresses a want of 

 the community, for unless they are wanted they die out — but 

 there is no more method in them than in the grouping of the 

 Broadway houses. I know that it is supposed by some that, as a 

 crowd in which each one attends to his own business, is for many 

 purposes of society as effective as one directed by police officers, 

 so these self-directed institutions, separately organized, may be as 

 good as a systematic arrangement of establishments. No one, 

 however, who reflects deeply upon this proposition, divested of 

 the figure, will, I think, come to such a conclusion. Figures are 

 sometimes admirable as illustrations, but they are not arguments. 



I was present at a keen encounter of wits between an officer 

 connected with one of the executive departments of the govern- 

 ment, who had prepared a report which was to be printed, and a 

 gentleman connected with the public printing. The officer who 

 had prepared the report desired to superintend its printing. The 

 other desired that it should take its place with other matter for 

 public printing. Why, said the latter, it is like the contrast 

 between carrying on a wholesale and retail business; it stands to 

 reason that the wholesale way is cheapest, and from the division 

 of labor, the best. I regard it, rather (said the other) as like the 

 difference between rearing a child born to one, under the parent's 



