1869.] Architectural Design Exhibitions. 755 ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN EXHIBITIONS. THERE is a want, a very great want of some general mode of communi- cation between the public and the archi- tectural profession at large. At present there is no means of knowing the rela- tive ability of architects throughout the country, unless each office, in each city, were to be critically visited, and exami- nation freely permitted. Of course this is obviously an absurdity, and only put forth here to show how utterly imprac- tical it is for the public to become ac- quainted with all the architects of the land, as matters are at present situated. That there is much talent circumscribed by locality cannot be doubted. Archi- tects may work out a lifetime in one city, and be, comparatively, unknown beyond its limits, even unknown to their pro- fessional brethren in other cities. Now this is entirely wrong. There is no necessity for a continuance of such sep- aration of minds that ought to be in community for art's sake. But how is the defect to be remedied ? We fancy the simple remedjr lies in the necessity for association in each and every city ; and with such association a well sus- tained inter-communication throughout the country, from north to south, from east to west. Let every city have its established place of meeting, where the stranger architect may go and get ac- quainted with his brother professionals. Where conversazions may give a chance to the amateur or the admirer of archi- tecture to exchange ideas or receive desirable information. Where the pro- fessional man from abroad may easily find himself at home amongst art kin- dred. Annual assemblies to be held in each of our large cities alternately would aid the cause of progress very much, and enable the Northern architect to per- sonally study the practice of the South and the West, and in fact afford to all a most desirable opportunity of becoming fully acquainted with each other. But the great effort towards advancing: the best interest of our profession would be National Exhibitions of Architec- tural Design, either annual or semi- annual to be held at Washington ; that being the centre at which is concen- trated, each 3 r ear, all the mind as well as the monied material of the nation. Each city might also have its local exhibition once a }'ear, and at such might be selected designs worthy of a position in the great National Exhibi- tion at Washington. To every reflecting mind it must be obvious that such efforts as these can- not fail of success in drawing forth the public patronage for an art that is so symbolical of a nation's genius and refinement. The pages of a magazine never can afford the opportunity of exhibiting fully the ideas of an architect. Engraving:, however good, can never show on a diminished scale the beauties of a design. The drawing itself, fresh from the hand of the designer, is what is wanted. But, whatever be the course pursued, let lib- erality and unanimity be the leading characteristics of our profession in the future ; for egotism and envy are the indelible marks of little, mean, ungen- erous minds, who dread the light which must display their innate selfishness, and stolid ignorance. OLD PROVERBS. Consult the stars, and rule the planets well, before you build a wall, or sink a well. A castle wall to be stout, must be filled with mortar and grout. Bricks are never well set, unless they are first well wet. If you would make a wall stand, use good lime and clean sand.
