Not in vain with quaint devices Infants of the age of four Build their mimic edifices All upon the nursery floor;
Neither is the presage missed By the Educationist, When he doth the fact recall How that Balbus built a wall!
Thus I mused on such-like theses, While my errant fancy swam Through the circumambient breezes To the silver streams of Cam,—
There observed with pleased surprise Ancient Universities Still in touch at every stage With the Progress of the Age;
There, released from sloth and coma ( Alma Mater’ s chief defect ), There they grant a new Diploma To the budding Architect,
Take the blighted Builder’ s art To their academic heart, Hope it may in time become Part of their curriculum:
There they tell their College Porters Not to think it strange or odd When a load of bricks and mortar’ s Dumped within the College quad;
No indignant Tutor hauls Him who scales the College walls,— Plying on that airy perch Architectural Research!
Thus I sang: I seemed to see an Epoch made, the Future’ s guide; But my glad exultant pæan Was not wholly justified:
Men whose names we all revere, Stars in Architecture’ s sphere, Phrases used which don’ t imply Any genuine sympathy:
Ch — - mpn — - ys, Bl — - mfield, T. G. J — - cks — - n, Hushed my lyre’ s triumphant string — Said in limpid Anglo-Saxon What they thought about the thing:
“Seats of learning are designed For to Educate the Mind, Not to teach a craft or trade,” That was what these persons said!
What! and must a thwarted Nation Draw the obvious inference? What! a Liberal Education Doesn’ t mean the quest of pence?
( Really, this extremely crude Obscurantist attitude Isn’ t quite what one expects From distinguished Architects! )
Here’ s another dear illusion Reft away and wholly gone: O the spiritual confusion Of the pained progressive Don!
If the facts are quite correct As regards the Architect, Comes the question, plain and clear, How about the Engineer?
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