The Architectural Forum Volume 29 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1918 Excerpt: ...that in the eyes of most foreigners coming to our shores we are thought of above all as a nation of spenders and prone to the greatest extravagance, with a few exceptions our churches are mean and unworthy in comparison with those of the poorest of European countries. An English writer of the last century says, "They dwelt in hovels and worshipped in houses exceedingly magnificent; we dwell in cedar and worship in meager or dilapidated churches." Church of Ouilly-le-Vicomte Lisieux, Normandy it for schools and colleges, hospitals and libraries. But do we? Do we spend it to any great extent for worthy architecture of any kind? To some extent, yes. In proportion to our means as compared to those of our ancestors, probably not. And the reason at least throughout that portion of our country still more or less influenced by the customs of our Puritan forefathers is not far to seek. To the Puritan mind the craving for beauty was in itself a sin. Moreover, any departure from those habits of thrift with which we of New England, at least, are to a great extent still credited, was looked upon with the strongest dis-. How many of our towns or villages have a parish church such as may be found, literally by hundreds, throughout the smallest hamlets of rural England and France? Or what city has even one to be compared with the half dozen in each of the larger towns or small cities of Europe? But, we are told, we do not think it best to spend our money in this way. All that was the mistaken zeal of a bygone age. Now we spend approval. Hence our heritage of, bare and uncompromising mieting-houses; and dwell-, ings, of a corresponding period, though not without' a certain charm, scarcely less bare and uncompromising. And these characteristics, physical and moral, ...