Chutzpah is a Yiddish word denoting audacity, for good or bad; just audacity.

Looking for some biographical material today on the Columbus, Ohio architectural firm of Yost & Packard, I stumbled upon this design for their Toledo & Ohio Central Railway Station in Columbus and was reminded of architectural audacity.Why is it that I enjoy architecture of this sort so much and encounter it less and less frequently. Not only is no one building it, they are also actively tearing down the few remaining bits from a more audacious time.

I offer them here for both offence and enjoyment. Look if you dare. Look away if you can.

Incidentally, our friend Larry Schwartz defines chutzpah thus: after murdering their parents for the inheritance, the children seek lenience from the jury because they’re orphans.