The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-09-12

puDHc places efe ALMOST eutifeiy ucVoiu vi enooC
testimonials which art ssd munifcence raise as
testimonials of respect to the great men Of the
nation-those monuments alike honors to the glo-
rious dead and proofs Of the taste, the refinement
and the generosity of the living. This is in part
caused by our youth as nation. The fine arts
are slow of growth, and are expensive exotics.
We have, however, got the money, which is the
great point, after all, and taste for the refined
and beautiful is almost a necessary consequence
of our exceeding prosperity. Therefore we find
monuments in process of erection all over the
country-from Kings Mountain to Cape Cod
from Bunker Hill to the battle ground Of New
Orleans. Our Massachusetts, fellow citizens have
done good work in this way, and have another
under consideration. About three years since a
grand celebration of the departure of the May
flower from Delft Haven, on the first of August,
sixteen hundred and twenty was holden at Ply
mouth, and the steps intiatory to the erection of
q monument to the Pilgrim Fathers were taken
at that time. We are now informed that the
trustees of the fund raised for this noble purpose
have accepted design by Mr.. Harnmatt Bill
lings, Boston architect. The design is thus des-
cribed:--
The design for the national monument to the FORE
fathers be erected Plymouth consists Of an octagon
pedestal, which stands statue OF Faith From the
four smaller faces OF the pedestal project buttresses
upon which seated figures embematic Of morality.
Alto reies Of "the Departure nom DELHI Havenn the
Signing Of the Social Compact In the Cabin OF the May
landing sss four ana
the main pedestal large pares TO contain records OF
the principal events in the history Of the Pilgrims with
nF xHrao uhn in Tho Nav. HnVa
and below smaller panels for records connected with
the society and the building Of the monument Within
the pedestal is chamber with stairway leading TO the
platform upon which stands the figure Of Faith from
which may all the places Of interest connected
with the history Of the foreiathers The whole monn
will be about $50 feet high and so feet at the base
The statue Of Faith viii be 20 feet high and the sitting
dgures So feet high, thus making in magnitude the
greatest work Of the kind In the world, while as work
OF will be subject Of pride TO every American
citizen.
The New England merchants will doubtless
come down literally for this affair, which pro-
misses well for art 1t will, however, we fear, be
q slow work. The Bunker Hill Monument
which, though it cost a great deal Of money, is
not miracle of good taste or beauty, dragged
along through sixteen years. The Washington
Monument Association at the capital, have been
collecting funds for twenty years or more, and
six years since the foundation stone was laid.
The monument is now only commenced, and the
work is suspended for an indefinite period. A
Washington Monument Society was organized in
this city some twelve years ago. The agents col
lected some money-how much we cannot say;
but we never heard Of the first stone being laid
for the monument, or what became of the funds.
The Washington affair and several others failed
because the management of them fell into the
hands of politicians, whose creed is entirely des-
titute of patriotism or love of art. Our New
England friends must be very careful OF this
rock. So far, they have done well.
In other places we are glad to see monuments
rising. Our Washington statue in Union square
has received great deal of praise, but no more
than it deserves. That affair was properly
managed. A number Of liberal citizens paid the
money quietly, the statue was placed on its pedes
tai, and on the anniversary Of our national birth
day the subscribers gracefully donated il to the
people Of the United States, the Empire City
holding il in trIst-and noble trust Il is The
STATE OF Virginia has ordered from Crawford
statue Of the Patr Pdtrie, which is finished, and
which will lie brought to Norfolk by one of our
Haii0haf tAirt. Inc ErOuudS III 'front.' OF tue fft-
sident's house are ornamented with an equestrian
statue Of Jackson, and the battlefield of New
Orleans has been similarly decorated. Kings
Mountain the Thermopyla of the Revolution,
has its monument-the captors Of Major Andre
have q suitable memorial on the heights Of
Tarry town--a pillar commentaries the gallant
deeds OF the Minute Men on the plains o.
Lexington--a monument marks the spot in Con-
cord where the first British soldier fell the
Revolution, and the city of New York
has appropriated twenty-three thousand dol
lars for monument 10 one of her bravest
sons, Major General Worth. These and many
more are recent works, and give bright promise
for the future. Only keep them out Of the hands
OF the politicians, and their success is certain.
Let our Plymouth Rock patriots remember this
particularly, aud let the sons OF New England
wherever dispersed come down literally with the
dust. They are very fond of making long
speeches and stupid toasts about the Puritans-
now LET us see how much they veneraie their
memory.
THE MAINE EIEcToN.-Everybody is talking