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seriously to impair their serviceability。 But the exigencies of
prestige will easily make it seem more to the point； in the eyes
of a businesslike executive； to project a new extension of the
plant； which will then be half…employed； on a scanty allowance；
in work which lies on the outer fringe or beyond the university's
legitimate province。（2*）
In so discriminating against the working capacity of the
university； and in favour of its real…estate； this pursuit of
reputable publicity further decides that the exterior of the
buildings and the grounds should have the first and largest
attention。 It is true； the initial purpose of this material
equipment； it is ostensibly believed； is to serve as housing and
appliances for the work of inquiry and instruction。 Such； of
course； continues to be avowed its main purpose； in a
perfunctorily ostensible way。 This means a provision of
libraries； laboratories； and lecture rooms。 The last of these is
the least exacting； and it is the one most commonly well
supplied。 It is also； on the whole； the more conspicuous in
proportion to the outlay。 But all these are matters chiefly of
interior arrangement； appliances and materials； and they are all
of a relatively inconspicuous character。 Except as detailed in
printed statistics they do not ordinarily lend themselves with
appreciable effect to the art of advertising。 In meeting all
these material requirements of the work in hand a very large
expenditure of funds might advantageously be made
advantageously to the academic use which they are to serve
without much visible effect as seen in perspective from the
outside。 And so far as bears on this academic use； the exterior
of the buildings is a matter of altogether minor consequence； as
are also the decorative appointments of the interior。
In practice； under compulsion of the business principles of
publicity； it will be found； however； that the exterior and the
decorative appointments are the chief object of the designer's
attention； the interior arrangement and working appointments will
not infrequently become a matter of rude approximation to the
requirements of the work； care being first taken that these
arrangements shall not interfere with the decorative or
spectacular intent of the outside。 But even with the best…advised
management of its publicity value； it is always appreciably more
difficult to secure appropriations for the material equipment of
a laboratory or library than for the shell of the edifice； and
still more so for the maintenance of an adequate corps of
caretakers and attendants。
As will be found true of other lines of this university
enterprise in publicity； so also as to this presentation of a
reputable exterior； it is designed to impress not the academic
personnel； or the scholarly element at large； but the laity。 The
academic folk and scholars are commonly less susceptible to the
appeal of curious facades and perplexing feats of architecture；
and then； such an appeal would have no particular motive in their
case； it is not necessary to impress them。 It is in the eyes of
the unlettered； particularly the business community； that it is
desirable for the university to present an imposing front； that
being the feature of academic installation which they will
readily appreciate。 To carry instant conviction of a high
academic worth to this large element of the populace； the
university buildings should bulk large in the landscape； should
be wastefully expensive； and should conform to the architectural
mannerisms in present vogue。 In a few years the style of
architectural affectations will change； of course； as fashions
necessarily change in any community whose tastes are governed by
pecuniary standards； and any particular architectural contrivance
will therefore presently lose much of its prestige value； but by
the time it so is overtaken by obsolescence； the structures which
embody the particular affectation in question will have made the
appeal for which they were designed； and so will have served
their purpose of publicity。 And then； too； edifices created with
a thrifty view to a large spectacular effect at a low cost are
also liable to so rapid a physical decay as to be ready for
removal and replacement before they have greatly outlived their
usefulness in this respect。
In recent scholastic edifices one is not surprised to find
lecture rooms acoustically ill designed； and with an annoying
distribution of light； due to the requirements of exterior
symmetry and the decorative distribution of windows； and the like
holds true even in a higher degree for libraries and
laboratories； since for these uses the demands in these respects
are even more exacting。 Nor is it unusual to find waste of space
and weakness of structure； due； e。g。； to a fictitious winding
stair； thrown into the design to permit such a facade as will
simulate the defensive details of a mediaeval keep； to be
surmounted with embrasured battlements and a （make…believe）
loopholed turret。 So； again； space will； on the same ground； be
wasted in heavy…ceiled； ill…lighted lobbies； which might once
have served as a mustering place for a body of unruly
men…at…arms； but which mean nothing more to the point today； and
in these premises； than so many inconvenient flagstones to be
crossed in coming and going。
These principles of spectacular publicity demand a nice
adjustment of the conspicuous features of the plant to the
current vagaries in decorative art and magnificence；that is to
say； conformity to the sophistications current on that level of
culture on which these unlettered men of substance live and move
and have their being。 As touches the case of the seats of
learning； these current lay sophistications draw on several more
or less diverse； and not altogether congruous； lines of
conventionally approved manifestation of the ability to pay。 Out
of the past comes the conventional preconception that these
scholastic edifices should show something of the revered traits
of ecclesiastical and monastic real…estate； while out of the
present comes an ingrained predilection for the more sprightly
and exuberant effects of decoration and magnificence to which the
modern concert…hall； the more expensive cafes and clubrooms； and
the Pullman coaches have given a degree of authentication。 Any
one given to curious inquiry might find congenial employment in
tracing out the manner and proportion in which these； and the
like； strains of aesthetic indoctrination are blended in the
edifices and