1869.] Descriptions. 681 will give, to the future architect, a proud testimonial of the sound knowledge he has acquired ; whilst the nation gener- ally will endorse the value of a perfect system of educated taste, which cannot fail to raise the standard of American Architecture to an eminence we must all, as patriots, feel a pride in its attaining. But first, let the great initiatoiy step by the Institute be cordially sustained, in the establishment of the Architec- tural Library, at New York. Let there be no local feelings, on the part of the profession. The beginning is worthy of undivided attention ; and, that point once secured, the local libra- ries will follow. Every architect, that has a spark of the true fire of professional pride iu him, will trample private feel- ings, or local aspirations, to lend a help, ing hand to the national work, of which New York thus lays the foundation. The American Institute of Archi- tects asks for subscriptions to its en- dowment fund ; and has founded two grades of honorary membership, the one " For Life " and the other " In Perpet- uity," to be conferred on subscribers — to the amounts of One Hundred, and of Five Hundred Dollars, respectively. The Architectural Library will be free to all students and draughtsmen. Doubt- less every effort will be made to render it a valuable acquisition to the educa- tional institutions of our country, and, in due course of time, a worthy compeer of those of London and other European cities. Again we call on our professional brethren, and indeed on all friends of Art, throughout the entire country, to help on the enterprise, to the attainment of full and assured success. IRON FRONTS. No. 2. THE design which illustrates the sub- ject of Iron Fronts this month, by Mr. W. J. Fryer, of New York, is one in which mere ornamentation is not so much the object of the composition as clearness of effect, and solidity of char- acter. That iron has much in its favor as an appliance to Architecture no one can doubt. But, few will fail to perceive that in the very facility which it offers the designer to wander into the regions of forgetfulness, and down the steeps of absurdity, or to produce compositions worthy of art, lies the great danger of its use in Design as connected with Building. The difficulty of Stone Cut- ting is a safeguard against any very flighty efforts of ornamentation ; com- pelling the architect to study his sub- ject well, and forcing his erratic thoughts to keep within desirable restraint. This fear of libertinism in design applies no less to iron than to wood, and is a nec- essary consequence of the facility of manipulation in both cases. We have frequently seen as' great monstrosities as could be put forth by the wildest imagination forcing the attention of the observer in many a city of our country, carved out in wood, or run out in metal, with a recklessness that would be positively alarming in any community where sanit} r is esteemed a blessing and the want of it a curse. If our great architectural iron works throughout the land, would positively refuse to execute any designs that must of necessity bring art into disgrace, they would not alone do a service to the whole community, benefit themselves eventually, but they would confer a lasting favor upon the great art they claim to illustrate. To do this they must either have within themselves the necessary qualification to enable them to form a decided judgment, or they must apply where they can obtain it. But, to employ uneducated draughtsmen to get up designs wherewith to stultify our street architecture, and drive sense and order out of sight, is to ensure the unpopularity of the very work they are too blindly urgent to promote. Of course, we would not be understood as finding fault with all those gentlemen
