New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-12-14
WHAT TO DO WITH THE MONUMENT.

the Senate. Mr.. baldwin, nominated for the Col
lectOrship of Charleston, was also agreed upon.
WHAT TO DO WITH THE MONUMENT.
SUGGESTIONS BY THE ARTIST srORY-TEARING
DOWN AND BUILDING ANEW COMPARED WITH
COMPLETION NOW.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRTBUER.l
WASHINGTON Dec. 13.-The following are the re-
marks made by Mr. W. W. Story, the other day. in
regard to the completion of the Washington Monu-
ment. before the Senate Committee on Public Build
ings and Grounds
GENTLEMEN OF COMMITTEE; have not really
given that time this subject which properly should
because have been so much engaged i have endeaY-
oed 10 see though what could be done either with the
monument present shape, to make 1t an effect
i've representation Of grandeur, simplicity and beauty
or In case il was decided by the committee to remove IT,
and the materials for the construction Of entirely
new monument to decide what could be done to better
II on a totally new design.
The suggestion that have make will divide itself
naturally into two branches. one is to proceed with the
monument as it ia erected now and decorate 1t to
make o beautiful object. The first necessity
OF n public building or public monument
OF that kind is that it shall be agreeable rs a
,lhonette. II It is not formed to strike
the eye at distance and show out every detail Of finish
put upon it, the effect would be unsatisfactory. Now
the effect az of the movement at present,
Is upinyng II IS a bone without any sort OF life
beauty or feeling AS understand it, the original prop
osition was to make obclisk, and that should be
the highest in the world But in the first place tue
idea OF an obesk Is not American nor IL 1t new 1t
taken from Egypt and as al present represented IN the
WASHINGTON Monument entirely conflicts with all Egyp
Tan views as TO what an obclsk should be- The essential
OF an obelisk was that it should be mOn0h and that
IL should be engraved with hieroglyphics giving the
history Of the monument and OF the object for
which it was placed there. These additions
H.. .ttIa apfaf ~ uvIlq AZ
Otherwise be blank even surface. II does not strike me
that an obei,k was the most fortunate or the most
original idea Therefore, have to suggest simply hrst'
To consider the monument As 1t stands ana say nat can
he done with il 10 make II beautiful.
Mvnotion was that you might decorate 1t by bringing
ant the corners so "a to give relief with paser in the
renaissance style; lofty tower instead Of an
oesk for the decensiOn OF line very slight indeed,
and coud very easily he obyated then to lift ii out at
the top; matriculate 1T carry 1t up into
double cone or spire above which could also be deco
rated the entabaure be covered with any decoration
Won might choose-wh historical ideal, or represen'
tatiye and then al base to construct largo porch
or ouiutng portion of considerable extent with enab-
I,ure there make an arch and therein plant colossal
statue of Washington That is the only mode IN which
see that this monument could be rendered beautiful and
effective.
Other suggestions have been made One ia to use this
40 the base or pedestal Of statue to be placed top.
II
the first place. # recolect Alright 1t ID % feet IN diane
ter At the base and about 30 feet at the top stands
now II is square pedestal OF 90 feet or course
no statue could stand on that which Is not
immensely cumbersome in itself The only way would
be TO make an apex. II you brought the diameter to
20 feet You would still have base for an immense
re and to obtain that diameter you must necessarily
carry it up considerably further. 1 should
sav that TO base OF 80 feet you would
have to have figure some 100 feet hgl'
or az least 10 feet. Then you would have the
effect of that II could only be seen at very great
distance Standing under II, it would be completely
foreshorened Seen from distance, it would not eH-
plain itself The total effect would be the same az
That which Craword's statue produces on the dome
of the Capitol. II is nothing but silhouette
and So with such statue as suggested, IL
would never be recognized Washington The effect
necessarily would be entirely lost And then 1t must be
A., standing figure It seems TO me that for the same
an equestrian figure demands an obong base and
not square base 1t could not be seen from underneath
because it would be 80 foreshortened.
Another idea is that it should be triumphalh arc
The trumpha arch necessarily requires an avenue or
openng IL is used to commemorate triumph. At all
vens that ia the object for which used by the
ancients and do not know that they ever put stat
On top oft That been all idea of modern times, and
do not think a felicitous one Those which am ac-
ouainted WITH particularly the most extraordinary
one at HYDE Park Corner the Duke OF Wellington has
befp the eer OF the world The trumpha arch at Paris
s certainly not beautiful however effective II may be
simply as an arch at great distance. The detail
Is very unfortunate The colossal size demands colossal
decoration and that decoration has certainly not been
Put upon It in any way.
The only other thing which remains is the destruction
Of this monument and the rearing Of totally different
monument out Of the materials Of ths II that should
he decided upon, my own opinion would be
that the most beautiful thing that could be
made would be q magnificent canopy either OF the
Renaissance or Gothic style, enriched by entabla-
lure and supported by columns a ddio or pedestal
in the centre OF top Of that colossal figure OF wash
inron and the base OF that decorated with atoreleyo
agures representative OF all the great men OF the
Revolution ard OF subsequent time BY that means you
might have procession Of magnificent statues
goine all about tie base, which In themselves
would be exceedingly interesting II well done'
Then again you would have the statue OF Wash
ington within the proper angle OF vision You would be
Looking mt it a. you approached IT, just M 1t should be
seen with this canopy the whole would DO pro
eced from the weather II might DO made IN marble OF
other stone think II would be more effective In mar
bic The whole to be approached by broad platform
| NJ stems which could bo assembled.
That was something Of the idea which was carried out
in the monument which erected to Prince Albert IL