It must be apparent to the reader from what has preceded this that no student should under take the practice of architecture without facing the fact that he has before him a long road, and a life of arduous efforts. Evidently a large part of the information just referred to can be gained through textbooks and illustrated lec tures given in the schools. But as clearly is it important for the architect to study the art products themselves, and this can only be done satisfactorily by travel in the Old World, where the great architectural monuments of the past exist. Where such travel is impossible, he may gain something approximating to it by studying such models of masterpieces of the past as are available in museums, and by the thoughtful use of photographs of existing masterpieces.
Conclusions.— The conclusions reached may now be summarized in a few words. Be yond such general culture as he may be able to gain, the most desirable special training for an architectural student will be given by certain studies which can best be taken in established architectural schools, supplemented by careful observations of monuments of architecture in the course of travel in Europe, and by work in the studio and business office of a skilled practitioner who is a masterful artist.
It were well if life were so ordered that the acquisition of technical facility, and the study of design under a master, could begin in early youth, and continuing could fill the leisure hours of the student while gathering the store of general information which tends to broaden his life; but under existing conditions such an order of work is difficult to arrange.
If choice is to he made among the archi tectural schools, the one chosen should if pos sible be one situated in a city where building operations are proceeding on a large scale, and especially one in which design is taught by masters of architecture who are in active practice.
Finally the student would do well who could manage to obtain a position in the draughting room and business office of some architect in active practice during a large proportion of the long school vacations so gen erally given during the summer season. See PAINTING, EDUCATION IN; SCULPTURE, EDUCA TION IN.