It is created for the express purpose of dividing the water in front
of it, of gliding over the water beneath it, of leaving the water
behind it--and all with the least possible wastage of stress and
friction. It is not created for the purpose of filling the eye with
beauty. It is created for the purpose of moving through the sea and
over the sea with the smallest resistance and the greatest stability;
yet, somehow, it does fill the eye with its beauty. And in so far as
a boat fails in its purpose, by that much does it diminish in beauty.
I am still a long way from the house I have in my mind some day to
build, yet I have arrived somewhere. I have discovered, to my own
satisfaction at any rate, that beauty and utility should be one. In
applying this general idea to the building of a house, it may be
stated, in another and better way; namely, construction and
decoration must be one. This idea is more important than the
building of the house, for without the idea the house so built is
certain to be an insult to intelligence and beauty-love.
Pages:
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174