The New York herald., 1866-09-07

fnm MONUMENT.
The design o. The monumental tomb OF Stephen A.
Douglas coathmplates structure worthy the character
OF the statesman, and credtsbe to American Art. In
describing its character and what appearance will bo
when completed, We will begin at tho foundation and
trace ts proportions they havo already bocn
will be, erected by the builiers On a deep and firm
foundation prepared with the utmost care there has
been placed circular platform base fifty feet and
SIX inches in diameter, and four and half feet in
height the outer circle Of which OF four stops
Upon this has been placed another platform of less
diameter, but OF the height with sides
ahu asccnaed by hghts OF three steps IL Is on this
broad platform nine feet from the surrounding level or
the land that the sepulchre containing sarcophagns
sto rest The sepulchre when completed will be nine
teen ieet square and eleven feet high having its walls
Tour and half feet thick. Projected om the -four
ncrs are four pedesials connected by srchways
the chamber within will be ten feet square and
archcd roof The floor, which is level with tho top Of
the platform, win bo laid Mosaic tile work. In
the centre OF this chamber visible TO ALL vet
from vandalism by grated bronze doors viii stand The
white marble sacophagIs which TO the dust OF
the good knight who, living did valiant battle In
behaf OF the people no loved Close fitting
doors designed to protect the spot the incleen
ces OF the winter On the four pedeais already
to he syrnhocli statues in sitting posture and Of
iife a1e. These ara 10 be from htcoored marble,
and viii symbolic the following Illinois, holding
m her manu- medallion OF her son, llnstrious though
dead while b. her side rests sear of wheat emblem
ac oi ner agrcui'arai wealth, and the State arms,
benailc or hcs sovereignty, America, with shiea;
History, with her recording tablet, and Fame with her
trumpet and wreath Above The tomb and sup
ported by lis walls is the pedestal OF the
column. Tho four sides Of the psdcstal
viii lie adorned with has tscfs symbolzing
the advance of civilization in the West Fl-f n repre
senaton OF the Wilderness with a wgwan and nd ans
INNING neNt, tho pioneer cabin men telling trees
and poughiug the soil: then shin represent lrp com
merce, aud locomotive and telegraph representing
science, with figure standing by piled up bales and
boxes and holding the caduceus, emblem OF peace and
prosperity Last, a schoonlser with group child
fen, sym bolizmg education, with a church tho capt.
toi buildings in the distances. The pedestal win also
be- ornamented with books, scrolls nanbeeu wrcaths
ana iesoona Of lowers. From his pedestal VIII rsn the
tall and graceful shaft OF the column, feet long
six feet square at the base and three ana hair
SQUARE al the top. he shat Is in 6ve sections and
between tho scctona stars in rcliof viii Indicate the
States Of tho Union cap and speartogether ak feet
hgh-"ll FORM ne canai II the column and aso sorye
as the base for the colossal bronze Douglas
twelve feet high which CROWNS lho whole, at an elova
ton Of ono hundred feet from the Ground The patriot
statesman Is 70 he Represented Ia POSTURE his
rso, hand resting on the fasces Illustration of his
urn reliance N the 1ni9n or the Staes, and hold
his left hand scroll copy Of The coHstu,ion, which
the guide Of his public fc.
The foundation the platforms, about half The
work on the segulehre completed, ana " n exported
that the remains Of Docglas viii be deposited tie
oophaeus OF the nongrnen, some time in October Tho
estimated cost of the entire structure - $50 900.
Tho material used Tor the scIackrc IL what
10 known in Chicago Athens marble line light hun.
eoored limestone quarTiod at Athens in he vicinity
THs An, VrnrATgsEss riir pnsiGN
OF this monumental tomb 20 the topoer ply OF tho sur-
rounding country IS worthy OF remark. The exquisite
adaptation Of AIT 10 nature is one OF he charms of what
We al afro in the ansients aud essential feaare Of
every work WHICH wecan with justice, claS-i-
cal On low, level lands ike our Western prairlos those
who have earned tho right 60 be deemed all
who come after them, wore accustomed erect lofty
struct res that could no be easily obseureh but would
tower aot as landmarks Attracting from afar tho travel
lers attention TO famous and oonsecraiod localities
The Egyptian pyramid and obeiisE ,ro exampes az
this In Greece. the other hand, where was possible
TO dx upon situation In itself commanding the srchi-
aor was not to attain lofty holght ~ structure
but solid and cndurns building marx the spot Honco
the egaicnce Of low but broad and spac os 10 r1pss
built in the most substantial Tho arch,cct of
fha uFf no ant Ha1l Sxg .sM
d"sgn ht host examples of IA tits particular 10 -
hut ~ that tbs sketch OF tie Douglas Monument should
hc afcompanied with sketch of
rs"SiRD W voLK, TIC
Mr. vols was born in Weis;own, Hamilton county,
n Y. November = 1922 and X descended from sDrle of
th" arliest se ~ OF tha State. His father 10y
trade marble cutter and several brothers have foogd
one Of tho ton marble corn,hian capitals snp-
porting the dome Of the Now York r.ty Hall
Until tusntyone years old, Mr. volk passed
mos of his time among the marble qlarrcs and works
in Western Massachusetts and New York In 1919 or
1880 he first attempted modelling at s. ouis and copied
IN marble, butt Of Henry Clay supposed - br the rsi
work the kind execuied west Of tho Mississippi gut
fhis branch Of his art did no meci with much encourage
thst new country so that his trado was his chic
reliance FOR support. 40 married a cousin u Judge
Dpug's and ou occasion OF a cogslnlv visit hv tho
Judge when he fsfr yolkl wa. lvpg AZ 1,aoua Illinois
IN 1852. le strongly urged bv Mr. Douglas re-
move 70 Chicago THE advice ha did not heed brl
turned 'o Loais aerwa't. removing % hoek island
panv With brother Again, IN 1885, ho Sas visited by
his Distinguished cousin, who aftor tho irs grectinV,
req1 sted yonr brother 10 mSka for no year since
THAT II you desire TO italy and sqdy The art of
sculpture, shall D. happy 10 Furnish you tao
means 10 do 50 don't ask you to tax as gCt hut
nj loan, 10 be pad when you able; bat give
youraef auv concern abo1t Il"
This kindness ocrasioned tha gm0st Joy Tho srg
CLING az is', aad In tne autumn OF that year
arrived In Rome. Aiter two years ~ study
that city and IN Florence ho returned o. hts native
land and settled 10 Chicago .his nrst wor. was !
the modelling OF a hrst Of HE patron, :or
which Douglas gave ho attnsy and N
Douglas