The Architecture of Georgetown. 83 
sufficiency pushed themselves forward to the front or 
who have been thrust by others, into positions they 
cannot hold and should not occupy — then we shall have 
to acknowledge in bitterness of heart the truth of an 
ancient saying — " a little learning is a dangerous thing;" 
or again, if men of the last named unenviable stamp alter 
to suit their own views and fancies what their betters 
have with so much care thought out and worked at, then 
shall we have injury on insult in full perfection, for our 
buildings will suffer loss, and our architects will be more 
than a little offended. 
Now, if we are to have architectural buildings in our 
midst, or other structures of real design and art, character 
whether great or small — from a town hall to a gas stan- 
dard box — or from a clock tower to a red letter box — let 
us have in the first place both competent men to conceive 
the designs, and fit men to see them properly carried out 
— men of artistic minds and trained tastes, and with as 
much practical knowledge as possible to back them, or, 
in other words professional gentlemen ; and of these 
good men let us secure the very best we can afford to 
bring into our public service — or the most worthy we can 
induce to come out and take up their abode amongst us. 
Furthermore, if in carrying out our public and private 
buildings we are called upon at times to diminish our 
expenses or reduce the estimate, or as the saying 
is, are forced to cut our coat according to our cloth, let 
us be especially on our guard not to spoil the coat in the 
cutting thereof, by cutting down our expenses at the 
expense of the architect, i.e., by doing away with his 
services in order to save his small per-centage or com- 
mission, or in less polite language let us not " spoil 
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