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like； strains of aesthetic indoctrination are blended in the
edifices and grounds of a well…advised modern university。
It is not necessary here to offer many speculations on the
enduring artistic merit of these costly stage properties of the
seats of learning； since their permanent value in that respect is
scarcely to be rated as a substantial motive in their
construction。 But there is； e。 g。； no obvious reason why； with
the next change in the tide of mannerism； the disjointed
grotesqueries of an eclectic and modified Gothic should not
presently pass into the same category of apologetic neglect； with
the architectural evils wrought by the mid…Victorian generation。
But there is another side to this architecture of notoriety； that
merits some slight further remark。 It is consistently and
unavoidably meretricious。 Just at present the enjoined vogue is
some form of bastard antique。 The archaic forms which it
ostensibly preserves are structurally out of date； ill adapted to
the modern materials and the modern builder's use of materials。
Modern building； on a large scale and designed for durable
results； is framework building。 The modern requirements of light；
heating； ventilation and access require it to be such； and the
materials used lend themselves to that manner of construction。
The strains involved in modern structures are frame…work strains；
whereas the forms which these edifices are required to simulate
are masonry forms。 The outward conformation and ostensible
structure of the buildings； therefore； are commonly meaningless；
except as an architectural prevarication。 They have to be
adapted； simulated； deranged； because in modern use they are
impracticable in the shape； proportion and combination that of
right belonged to them under the circumstances of materials and
uses under which they were once worked out。 So there results a
meaningless juxtaposition of details； that prove nothing in
detail and contradict one another in assemblage。 All of which may
suggest reflections on the fitness of housing the quest of truth
in an edifice of false pretences。
These architectural vagaries serve no useful end in academic
life。 As an object lesson they conduce； in their measure； to
inculcate in the students a spirit of disingenuousness。 But they
spread abroad the prestige of the university as an ornate and
spendthrift establishment； which is believed to bring increased
enrolment of students and； what is even more to the point； to
conciliate the good…will of the opulent patrons of learning。 That
these edifices are good for this purpose； and that this policy of
architectural mise en scene is wise； appears from the greater
readiness with which funds are procured for such ornate
constructions than for any other academic use。 It appears that
the successful men of affairs to whom the appeal for funds is
directed； find these wasteful； ornate and meretricious edifices a
competent expression of their cultural hopes and ambitions。
NOTES：
1。 A single illustrative instance may serve to show how the land
lies in this respect； even though it may seem to the uninitiated
to be an extreme if not an exaggerated case； while it may perhaps
strike those familiar with these matters as a tedious
commonplace。 A few years ago； in one of the larger； younger and
more enterprising universities； a commodious laboratory； well
appointed and adequately decorated； was dedicated to one of the
branches of biological science。 To meet the needs of scientific
work such a laboratory requires the services of a corps of
experienced and intelligent assistants and caretakers；
particularly where the establishment is equipped with modern
appliances for heating； ventilation and the like； as was the case
in this instance。 In this laboratory the necessary warmth was
supplied by what is sometimes called the method of indirect steam
heat； that is to say； the provision for heat and for ventilation
were combined in one set of appliances； by bringing the needed
air from the open through an outdoor 〃intake；〃 passing it over
steam…heated coils （in the basement of the building）； and so
distributing the air necessary for ventilation； at the proper
temperature； throughout the building by means of a suitable
arrangement of air…shafts。 Such was the design。 But intelligent
service comes high； and ignorant janitors are willing to
undertake what may be asked of them。 And sufficient warmth can be
had in an inclement climate and through a long winter season only
at an appreciable expense。 So； with a view to economy； and
without the knowledge of the scientific staff who made use of the
laboratory； the expedient was hit upon by the academic executive；
in consultation with a suitable janitor； that the outdoor intake
be boarded up tightly。 so that the air which passed over the
heating coils and through the air…shafts to the laboratory rooms
was thenceforth drawn not from the extremely cold atmosphere of
outdoors but from the more temperate supply that filled the
basement and had already had the benefit of circulating over the
steam coils and through the ventilating shafts。 By this means an
obvious saving in fuel would be effected； corresponding to the
heat differential between the outdoor air； at some 0* to …20* and
that already confined in the building； at some 60*。 How long this
fuel…saving expedient was in force can not well be ascertained；
but it is known to have lasted at least for more than one season。
The members of the scientific staff meantime mysteriously but
persistently fell sick after a few weeks of work in the
laboratory； recurrently after each return from enforced
vacations。 Until； in the end； moved by persistent suspicions of
sewer…gas which； by the way； had in the meantime cost some
futile inconvenience and expense occasioned by unnecessary
overhauling of the plumbing one of the staff pried into the
janitor's domain in the basement； where he found near the chamber
of the steam coils a loosely closed man…hole leading into the
sewers； from which apparently such air was drawn as would
necessarily go to offset the current leakage from this closed
system of ventilation。
2。 This is a nearly universal infirmity of American university
policy； but it is doubtless not to be set down solely to the
account of the penchant for a large publicity on the part of the
several academic executives。 It is in all likelihood due as much
to the equally ubiquitous inability of the governing boards to
appreciate or to perceive what the current needs of th