As the plan of the Brochure series is unique in architectural journalism, much of the work to be done during its first year will necessarily be, to a certain extent, experimental.  Although the publishers have for a number of years tried to keep as closely as possible in touch with the profession throughout the country, the diversity of tastes to which the new magazine is intended to appeal, and the practical requirements which it is intended to meet, make even the simple matter of selecting proper material for publication a difficult task.  Consequently suggestions or criticisms which may lead to its improvement in any particular will be welcome.

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The design used for the cover of the Brochure series is the result of a competition in which twenty-three drawings were submitted, and is the work of Charles Edward Hooper of 250 West 14th Street, New York.  The other competitors, whose designs were all of a high order of excellence, were:  J. Mills Platt, Charles S. King, Francis S. Swales, Edwin S. Gordon, Fred A. Miller, J.F.  Strobel, Jr., George E. Roberts, of Rochester, N.Y.; G.H.  Ingraham, E.P.  Dana, F.H.  Hutchins, C.E.  Patch, of Boston; J.W.  Cinder, W.B.  Papin, H.G.  Helmerichs, of St. Louis; Louis E. La Baume, H.H.  Braun, of New York City; and Stephen W. Dodge, of Brooklyn.

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Following out the general plan adopted in the first two issues, which, contrary to the expectation of the publishers, has proved even so soon an important feature of the magazine, the illustrations in the next two numbers will be made up of related subjects.  The March number will have a collection of capitals (Byzantine and Romanesque) from Ravenna and Palermo, and the April number eight windows from Apulia, of the same general character as the doorways in the present number.

#Hints to Draughtsmen.#

Architectural students and draughtsmen will find the series of papers begun in the Feb. 16 number of the American Architect, entitled “Hints to Art Students on Travelling Abroad,” filled with valuable suggestions.  The writer of these papers is Mr. J.W.  Case, the latest of the Rotch scholars returned.  In the first paper Mr. Case points out the desirability of preparatory training in academic design, drawing, modelling, etc., and a knowledge of architectural history and of the French language in order that the student may make the best use of the opportunities open to him.  He continues with a number of useful hints upon the best methods to pursue in gaining this preparatory training.

[Illustration:  XIII.  The Principal Doorway to the Basilica at Altamura, Italy.]

The second paper is devoted to practical suggestions of such immediate value that it is worth while to quote a portion of them in full:—­

“To get the most good out of a trip, one should be prepared to work in all sorts of ways,—­to make measured drawings, sketches, color notes, squeezes, rubbings, sections with the lead; to study from plates and make T-square sketches, scratch-book notes, photographic notes, and memory sketches.