the ways of men(人们的手段)-第7章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
modern city。
〃But；〃 as John Drew used to say in THE MASKED BALL； 〃what a
difference in the morning！〃 when a visit to his banker takes the new arrival
down to Wall Street； and our uncompromising American daylight dispels
his illusions。
Years ago SPIRITUAL Arthur Gilman mourned over the decay of
architecture in New York and pointed out that Stewart's shop； at Tenth
Street； bore about the same relation to Ictinus' noble art as an iron cooking
stove！ It is well death removed the Boston critic before our city entered
into its present Brobdingnagian phase。 If he considered that Stewart's and
the Fifth Avenue Hotel failed in artistic beauty； what would have been his
opinion of the graceless piles that crowd our island to…day； beside which
those older buildings seem almost classical in their simplicity？
One hardly dares to think what impression a student familiar with the
symmetry of Old World structures must receive on arriving for the first
time； let us say； at the Bowling Green； for the truth would then dawn upon
him that what appeared from a distance to be the ground level of the island
was in reality the roof line of average four…story buildings； from among
which the keeps and campaniles that had so pleased him （when viewed
from the Narrows） rise like gigantic weeds gone to seed in a field of grass。
It is the heterogeneous character of the buildings down town that
renders our streets so hideous。 Far from seeking harmony； builders seem to
be trying to 〃go〃 each other 〃one story better〃； if they can belittle a
neighbor in the process it is clear gain； and so much advertisement。
28
… Page 29…
THE WAYS OF MEN
Certain blocks on lower Broadway are gems in this way！ Any one who has
glanced at an auctioneer's shelves when a 〃job lot〃 of books is being sold；
will doubtless have noticed their resemblance to the sidewalks of our
down town streets。 Dainty little duodecimo buildings are squeezed in
between towering in… folios； and richly bound and tooled octavos chum
with cheap editions。 Our careless City Fathers have not even given
themselves the trouble of pushing their stone and brick volumes into the
same line； but allow them to straggle along the shelf … I beg pardon； the
sidewalk … according to their own sweet will。
The resemblance of most new business buildings to flashy books
increases the more one studies them； they have the proportions of school
atlases； and； like them； are adorned only on their backs （read fronts）。 The
modern builder； like the frugal binder； leaves the sides of his creations
unadorned； and expends his ingenuity in decorating the narrow strip which
he naively imagines will be the only part seen； calmly ignoring the fact
that on glancing up or down a street the sides of houses are what we see
first。 It is almost impossible to get mathematically opposite a building； yet
that is the only point from which these new constructions are not
grotesque。
It seems as though the rudiments of common sense would suggest that
under existing circumstances the less decoration put on a facade the
greater would be the harmony of the whole。 But trifles like harmony and
fitness are splendidly ignored by the architects of to…day； who； be it
remarked in passing； have slipped into another curious habit for which I
should greatly like to see an explanation offered。 As long as the ground
floors and the tops of their creations are elaborate； the designer evidently
thinks the intervening twelve or fifteen stories can shift for themselves。
One clumsy mass on the Bowling Green is an excellent example of this
weakness。 Its ground floor is a playful reproduction of the tombs of Egypt。
About the second story the architect must have become discouraged … or
perhaps the owner's funds gave out … for the next dozen floors are treated
in the severest 〃tenement house〃 manner； then； as his building terminates
well up in the sky； a top floor or two are； for no apparent reason；
elaborately adorned。 Indeed； this desire for a brilliant finish pervades the
29
… Page 30…
THE WAYS OF MEN
neighborhood。 The Johnson Building on Broad Street （to choose one out
of the many） is sober and discreet in design for a dozen stories； but bursts
at its top into a Byzantine colonnade。 Why？ one asks in wonder。
Another new…comer； corner of Wall and Nassau Streets； is a
commonplace structure； with a fairly good cornice； on top of which … an
afterthought； probably … a miniature State Capitol has been added； with
dome and colonnade complete。 The result recalls dear； absent…minded
Miss Matty （in Mrs。 Gaskell's charming story）； when she put her best cap
on top of an old one and sat smiling at her visitors from under the double
headdress！
Nowhere in the world … not even in Moscow； that city of domes … can
one see such a collection of pagodas； cupolas； kiosks； and turrets as grace
the roofs of our office buildings！ Architects evidently look upon such
adornments as compensations！ The more hideous the structure； the finer
its dome！ Having perpetrated a blot upon the city that cries to heaven in its
enormity； the repentant owner adds a pagoda or two； much in the same
spirit； doubtless； as prompts an Italian peasant to hang a votive heart on
some friendly shrine when a crime lies heavy on his conscience。
What would be thought of a book…collector who took to standing
inkstands or pepperboxes on the tops of his tallest volumes by way of
adornment？ Yet domes on business buildings are every bit as appropriate。
A choice collection of those monstrosities graces Park Row； one much…
gilded offender varying the monotony by looking like a yellow stopper in
a high…shouldered bottle！ How modern architects with the exquisite City
Hall before them could have wandered so far afield in their search for the
original must always remain a mystery。
When a tall； thin building happens to stand on a corner； the likeness to
an atlas is replaced by a grotesque resemblance to a waffle iron； of which
one structure just finished on Rector Street skilfully reproduces' the lines。
The rows of little windows were evidently arranged to imitate the
indentations on that humble utensil； and the elevated road at the back
seems in this case to do duty as the handle。 Mrs。 Van Rensselaer tells us in
her delightful GOEDE VROUW OF MANA…HA…TA that waffle irons
used to be a favorite wedding present among the Dutch settlers of this
30
… Page 31…
THE WAYS OF MEN
island； and were adorned with monograms and other devices； so perhaps it
is atavism that makes us so fond of this form in building！ As； however； no
careful HAUSFRAU would have stood her iron on its edge； architects
should hesitate before placing their buildings in that position； as the
impression of instability is the same in each case。
After leaving the vicinity of the City Hall； the tall slabs that like
magnified milestones mark the progress of Architecture up Broadway
become a shade less objectionable； although one meets some strange
freaks in so…called decoration by the way。 Why； for instance； were those
Titan columns grouped around the entrance to the American Surety
Company's building？ They do not support anything （the 〃business〃 of
columns in architecture） except some rather feeble statuary； and do
seriously block the entrance。 Were they added with the idea of fitness？
That can hardly be； for a portico is as inappropriate to such a building as it
would be to a parlor car； and almost as inconvenient。
Farther up town our attention is arrested by another misplaced
adornment。 What purpose can that tomb with a railing round it serve on
top of the New York Life Insurance building？ It looks like a monument in
Greenwood； surmounted by a rat…trap； but no one is interred there； and
vermin can hardly be troublesome at that altitude。
How did this craze for decoration originate？ The inhabitants of
Florence and Athens did not consider it necessary。 There must； I feel sure；
be a reason for its use in this city； American land…lords rarely spend
money without a purpose； perhaps they find that rococo detail draws
business and inspires confidence！
I should like to ask the architects of New York one question： Have
they not been taught that in their art； as in every other； pretences are vulgar；
that things should be what they seem？ Then why do they continue to hide
steel and fire…brick cages under a veneer of granite six inches thick；
causing them to pose as solid stone buildings？ If there is a demand for tall；
light structures； why not build them simply （as bridges are constructed）；
and not add a poultice of bogus columns and zinc cornices that serve no
purpose and deceive no one？
Union Square possesses blocks out of which the Jackson and Decker
31
… Page 32…
THE WAYS OF MEN
buildings spring with a noble disregard of all rules and a delicious
incongruity that reminds one of Falstaff's corps of ill…drilled soldiers。
Madison Square； however； is FACILE PRINCEPS； with its annex to the
Hoffman House； a building which would make the fortune of any dime
museum that could fence it in and show it for a fee！ Long contemplation
of this structure from my study window has printed every comic detail on
my brain。 It starts
