ARCHITECT V. BUILDER.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1308, 12 April 1883, Page 4

ARCHITECT V. BUILDER.

The late Mr Alexander, the eminent architect, was under cross-examination at Maidstone by Sergeant (afterwards Baron) Garrow, who wished to detract from the weight of his testimony, and after asking him what was his name, proceeded : “ You are p builder, I believe ?” “ No, sir, lam not a builder ; I am an architect.’' "They are much the same, 1 suppose ? "I beg your pardon, sir, I cannot permit that ; I consider them to be totally different. "Oh, indeed, perhaps r you will state wherein this difference exists ?” "An architect, sir," replied Mr Alexander, "conceives the design, prepares the plans, draws all the specifications—in short, supplies the mind ; the builder is merely the bricklayer or carpenter. The builder, in fast, is the machine ; the architect the power that puts the machine together and sets it going." " Oh, very well, Mr Architect, that will do. Ana now, after your ingenious distinction without a difference, perhaps you can inform the Court who was the architect of the Tower of Babel T" The reply, for promptness and wit, is not to be revemed in the whole history of rejoinder, "There was no architect, sir, and hence the confusion."