Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-02-09
Our Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. "a, 1877

have beheld standing in the centre of the
Rotunda, structure of rough boards, re-
sembling nothing in the world so much
as lumbermans shanty, Vermont
sugar house, or an old farmers sheep pen
With it's temporary utility, and the future
use of the material in some other capacity
the rules of retrepchment were
vigorously applied il its construction
and the ends of boards left protruding in
every direction, describing the four points
of the compass. Altogether its appearance
was of the teeth and claws order, remind.
ing one of lobster, inspiring belief in its
ability to move one way as we'll as the
other, to dog the visitors footstep through
the dark meandering corridors, as 'young
Jerry" was followed by the horrible ap'
partition of his fathers "honest calling,
or, in short, to do anything but stand still
OF course everybody said. what is it Z
Timid ladies hald their breath in passing,
and little children hand in hand kept q
safe distance, until assured that it con-
tanned nothing dangerous, it was only the
statue of the lamented Lincoln.
This statue, ordered by Congress and
executed by Miss Winnie Ream, in Rome,
was placed in this position a few weeks
ago, where it was subjected to a private
official inspection by the Secretary of the
Interior and aeYeral members of Congress,
and pronounced acceptable. The formal
unveiling and presenting to the public
transpired last evening. AS the afore-
said structure was removed from around
the statue it was closely wrapped in cloth,
which gave it stark mummyfed appear
ance, sort of st-in-the-meal-bag look,
and while in this chrysnlis state its prob
able merits were eagerly discussed by the
curioug.
The rotuuda being susceptible of con-
vening only few hundred, and as the
ceremonies were to be conducted with
great pomp and display, it was naturally
inferred that thousands of the community
at large would attend, so it was found to
DC hCtESSiif W CiOS5 tIb builu1uRg OulF
admitting the President and Cabinet,
the Judges of the Supreme Court, Sem
ators, members OF Congress and their
families, who meeting at the Senate and
House respectively formed in procession
and marched to the rotunda at a given
time, and after having fifteen minutes to
secure their positions the doors were
thrown open, and the eager crowd outside
poured in like food until everybody
was sqeC zsd ont of shape and there was
not another square foot of room left. To
preserve the lives and limbs of those in
side it was found necessary to close the
doU,r, "heIuupUu tho. angry crowd o..%~
side commenced to pound the doors and
raise such a tumult as to render the police
necess lry. Those possessing the neces-
sary "shiboleth" mounted the dark and
intricate winding way to the Tholus,
and soon appeared above our heads, and
as the eagle mounts upward, 80 they in
tedious slow gyrations neared the frey
SERPENT far above Us, and like inhabitants
of other worlds, looked down upon the
unVeiling of Lincoln.
A stand, constructed about the pedes-
tai of the statue in the centre of the
room, was the centre of attraction. From
the back side Of the stand rose the well
known figure of Lincoln in spotless mar
BILE, upon bis right sat the artist, Miss
Ream, a few of her friends, vice-Presi-
dent Colfax and President Grant, upon
his left sat Judge Davis of the Supreme
Court, Hons. Shelby M. Cullom, n. P.
Banka, Senator Trumbull and others.
Soon, from some sequestered spot III an
adjacent part of the building, the plain
tive notes of the Marine Band hushed
the audience into stiffness.
wish had time, space and ability to
depict the sublimity of the scene here pre-
sented under the present circumstances
by this homogeneous blending of every
class of community, from the President
and Foreign Embassador down to the lit
tie negro boy who stood behind my chair
gazing eagerly over my shoulder, but l
have neither essential, and will not at
tempt. The ceremonies were conducted
by Senator Morrill, of Vermont, who first
introduced Justice Davis, the old and in
innate friend of Mr. Lincoln, who would
unyeil the statue. By means of a cord
and pully the large banner, which care
lessly covered the upper part of the statue,
was slowly and reverently raised a
breathles5 silence followed, as first the
hand, then the broad chest, then the sad
face, and finally the whole figure was re-
vealed. A momentuous time for the young
artist; five long years of labor, reputation
as an artist, and bright visions of the fu-
ture-all hung trembling in the balance.
The audience sat in Judgment moment
only, when the verdict was given in a
general applause.
Senator Trumbull was then introduced
and delivered an off hand address. eulo-
CYSTIC of the character of his old friend and
associate, Mr.. Lincoln.
Hon. S. NJ. CulIom then paid beauti-
full tribute to the martyred President in
lengthy set speech. Mr.. Cullom possess.
ed voice unequalled for that place and
occasion, and his remarks were also able !;
but in my opinion he failed to do justice
to class of community there represented,
to which, more than all others, our public
men are indebted. K.
GOOD TEMPLARs.-The following Of
fcers of Rutland Lodge of Good Templars
were installed on Wednesday evening
last ...... -
w. G. T.; Put Newton
W. V. T.; Miss Mary Atwood.
W. Chap; Marshall Smith.
w. Sec'y.; W. Hayes