LETTER IV.
Reading edition
From John.
PROFESSIONAL FOLLY.
My Dear Architect: I've been trying to learn my "first grand lesson," as laid down in your second epistle to yours truly. About all I can make of it is: Firstly, that my house is for myself to live in,—wife and babies included,—not for my neighbors to look at; and, secondly, that however much I may try to humbug my fellow-sinners in other ways, I'm not to build a lie into my house, where it is sure to be found out, after I'm dead and gone, if not before.
You wonder what my opinion is of architects.
There was my neighbor down the road,—he wanted a commonish kind of a house. Nothing would do but his wife must have it planned by a "professional" man. Result was, she had to put her best bedstead square in the middle of the room, and there was no possible place
That, I expect, is just where the shoe pinches. If an architect can only make a fine show with another man's money, he gets a reputation in
I don't envy you a bit. But don't be discouraged.
Yours,
JOHN.