The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-05-05

not all equally regardfu Of the source OF vital
lty-equay solieilous OF lis peIpetuity OF life
Such monument should be built at The nations central
home and thirteen Sides columns, or stars, should
be permitted 10 intimate proud excluslveness, so sure
10 meet the displeasure OF postery.
It's rotund form should manifest lis all receiving unity.
On It's spacious ezes should be scupured process
sions OF all the States, bearing their several insignia,
passing before the signers of the Declaration and all the
heroic who sustained IT, and presenting offerings OF
gratitude they pass in the order OF Their and even
youth representatives OF States yet uniformed should
eagerly hasten forward TO join the triumpha thfong
From The vaulted dome should shine nnumeabe stars,
none less radiant than those OF the lesser galaxy they
attend.
On the floor of the hall should stand the form of the
Father Chief sheathing his sword and placing on The
shield OF The Union the coronal OF peace. Abound him
should cluster his generals, placing their swords on
The inches of the encrcling walls should hold the
statues OF all the wcithes of heroic age Ga the
pedimen, OF the temple, TO indicate the 10 be made
OF the possession OF Freedom the groups already alluded
10 should slandhe torch bearers, Freedom, Knowl-
edge, and Christianity with their attendants, Hope JUS
tice, and Charity.
There is another application OF sculptural to which
we may give moments attention II cannot be long
before the city will be supplied with water from the
Potomac, and then many fountains will be erected 10
adorn the squares and parks and would be we'll for the
government 10 set example that ought 10 be Initiated
IN every part of the country OF applying 10 Ar, for org
nal designs, instead OF adopting from the manufacturers
shop the ihousandil times repealed copies and limitations
OF old designs is the prevalent custom also in procur
ing monuments for the cemeteries; and here must make
DEPRESSION, 10 offer passing remark sepucbTa mon
uments One after another have cities and villages pre-
pared and adorned the most beautiful tracts in their ycn
tiles, to lake the place OF the narrow, baren and I'M
slightly graveyafds places OF burial. Humane senh
ments refined tastes and pecuniay beraliy justly
attributed to those who moved and directed this desirable
reformation. But ought not 10 stop here. The adj
vanages 10 be derived from this development of
humane affections are not bounded thus. Let US now
entertain just appreciation Of the Influences which may
and ought TO be exeed by the with which these pla
ces adorned for, after ALL that which will make
them either places OF mere recreation, or holy sancuares
OF spiritual ie according they either repositories
OF arts manufacture arts creation Search where
may in cemeteries, very little significant Christian
monumental art can be found. May graceful forms OF
glowing marble may be seem dottng the hills and gades
and sunny slopes, inviting the cemetery tourist thread
all the labyrinhs OF the place. and he passes them with
glance, failing TO imbibe one thought or emotion that
true work oil art would plant IN his soul 10 live and glow
forever
We seem have forgotten or overlooked the best les
sons OF antiquity this subj jet in the imitation OF their
monumental structures have shown SO little recogn-
ton OF their purpose to support significant sculpured
symbols the unchanglng language OF art We seem 10
have forgotten, Also that purer and more exat
ed religion than theirs for of the few instances
where aTlanguage is used IL is often borrowed from
heather mythology as appropriately applied from Chris
uanlty whose records present innumerable events incl
dents, situations, and ideas for illustrative use
In the application OF art memorial OF the departed
should be made 10 speak with It's cleares possible in
telllgence OF the revelation OF God 10 manof the
relations II unolded between this and the future life.
All who have the ability or disposition to erect CON-
memorave mar bles of large size or cost should feel il
10 be duty as well as the grateful exercise of an ex
allied sentiment 10 make them thus expressive rather
than gitter!ng with uRneanng decoration.
Most oil the large monumental structures have
seen the cemeteries rather indicative of the higher
cost than oil The higher taste significance they express
above the unpreending tablets they overlook. The
perior wealth oil those who erected the former is the
predominant idea suggested passing them for most OF
them entirely barren oil any special design The FREE
quent copies Of the same forms will show and without
the evidence oil design, OF mind and feeling having been
ererted in the production of such works, neither the
mind nor feelings oil the observer can be Interested IN
moved and cold, pass the ieess though destinations
monuments, while we pause and nger with chas,eRed
emotion before the small tablet which is sculpured
lesson OF immortality, or even rudey carved the broken
bloom.
The cemeteries furnish 10 grea, majority OF our PEG
pie almost the emily facility OF seeing the higher work
OF illustrative art By exercising ability for superior
expenditure in direction that will increase the number
OF such works. we shall at once elevate their tastes and
sentiments and advance In every structure,
whether OF great or small cost let the spirit OF design and
the soul OF sentiment manifest themselves and then our
cemeteries will be requened not for The recreation OF
the drive" only, but for the divine lessons they incul.
cate. and The sacred aspirations they inspire
Whatever may be the national estimation OF the fine
arts, The sciences, especially those which some OF our
great aIiss minds have developed for quick and wide
application TO the wants and material interests OF man
kind, require pleading for their encouragement-they
already constitute very large proportion OF the capital
OF the world. Besides their value aids in The material
advancement OF men and nations, and in their TO this
end, they are exciting nehcent influence upon their
moral and political relations
II Steam and electricity not only facilitate the CONNER
cia operations OF the world but become missionaries Of
reconciliation OF nation 10 nation, and man 10 man !:
through them, "mounlsins that made enemies of ma
toms" are removed, and oceans bridged across
In these applications OF science country has borne
worthy part Ii is one way in which the national mind
makes OF the safe abode OF freedom and seeks 10
pand and illustrate it's powers and let IL be remembered
by the national authorities when they have occasion 10
consider The claims OF the commemorative arts, when
They would imbody in beautiful forms all that is worthy
in those powers, glorious in the nations experiences and
purposes let il be remembered f there shall be objection
10 expenditure for such works. that TO the spirit OF we
are indebted for countless millions added TO individual
and public wealth,
To one OF our artlsts-Falton-the nation may credit
who say how great the sum- for the vsst wilder
nesses OF the continent and the world changed 10 golden
haves-helds opened 10 lmtess expansions OF com
merce 10 mtess and resistless advances OF ciyliza
ton, TO pauseless marches Of freedom.
To another artist-thc inventor OF the electric teIe
graph-we indebted for benefits commerce and hu
manly whose value we know not how 10 estimate
The after generations only can justly estimate the gift
Ten millions, that should be placed in charge OF a
standing commission Tor the requirements OF national art
would be bot drop from the OF wealth which
those two artists alone have caused and will cause to
flow into the national possession.
Let It also he considered BY those who are ambiiious
Of national and personal greatness and enown that how
much soever they may depend upon national wealth and
power Tor that renOwn, 10 art they be indebted a
lac, for living fame The pen. the pencil or The chisel
must place their names in the halls Of memory or they
will fade away with those OF the ondsngushed throne
The number OF works in monumental art already done
and in progress and contemplation in many OF The States
OF the Union, indicates quite much sentiment on the
subject among the peore has Cd for