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Stanford White passed away, he wrote: “I firmly believe that Edward Bok has more completely influenced American domestic architecture for the better than any man in this generation. When he began, I was short-sighted enough to discourage him, and refused to cooperate with him. If Bok came to me now, I would not only make plans for him, but I would waive any fee for them in retribution for my early mistake.”
Bok then turned to the subject of the garden for the small house, and the development of the grounds around the homes which he had been instrumental in putting on the earth. He encountered no opposition here. The publication of small gardens for small houses finally ran into hundreds of pages, the magazine supplying planting plans and full directions as to when and how to plant—this time without cost.
Next the editor decided to see what he could do for the better and simpler furnishing of the small American home. Here was a field almost limitless in possible improvement, but he wanted to approach it in a new way. The best method baffled him until one day he met a woman friend who told him that she was on her way to a funeral at a friend’s home.
“I didn’t know you were so well acquainted with Mrs. S——,” said Bok.
“I wasn’t, as a matter of fact,” replied the woman. “I’ll be perfectly frank; I am going to the funeral just to see how Mrs. S——’s house is furnished. She was always thought to have great taste, you know, and, whether you know it or not, a woman is always keen to look into another woman’s home.”
Bok realized that he had found the method of presentation |
