48 
DWELLINGS, OUTBUILDINGS, 
ecuting their designs than what proves to be the actual cost, may be 
true ; but we have found that such complaints are apt to come from 
those who had not given the architect a full and frank statement of 
their wants and their limitations ; and oftener still from those who 
have merely consulted with an architect, obtained a few sketches, 
and his rough guess of the cost of what the proprietor says he wants, 
and endeavored to save the further cost of full sets of drawings 
and specifications, from which alone an architect can make a true 
estimate. Then, after working up their plans with builders to 
whom the work is intrusted or contracted, and altering and adding 
as the work progresses, if they find the total cost to be much greater 
than the cost suggested by the architect, the latter is charged with 
the fault. The fact is, that when a man fancies he can be his 
own architect, his imagination is excited by the possibility of 
achieving a great many pleasant results by his own peculiarly 
fortunate talents ; and in endeavoring to realize one after another 
of his desires, the building enthusiasm draws him so gradually, and 
by so many unseen currents into the maelstrom of expense, that he 
rarely realizes, until too late, the quality of his conceit and extrava¬ 
gance. We believe that the employment of an honest and qualified 
architect will always be an economy to the employer, and that to 
dictate to him the adoption of any particular style because just then 
it happens to be the rage, is a pretty sure way to secure his poorest, 
instead of his best designing. 
Another matter that we would most earnestly impress on all per¬ 
sons about to build is this : that, when it is the intention to employ 
an architect, he should be given months, instead of days, to mature 
his designs. We would always doubt the competence of that 
architect who prides himself on throwing off designs in a hurry. 
Long practice, and plethoric portfolios, may greatly facilitate the 
rapidity with which good designs can be matured, but it is never¬ 
theless true that all designs which are at all original in character, 
and at the same time tasteful and harmonious, are the result of 
many sketches, and careful comparisons, corrections and elimina¬ 
tions, which can only be made when ample time is given. Dwel¬ 
ling-houses of moderate cost are the most difficult, in proportion to 
their cost, of all forms of architectural designing ; and specifications 
