Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-01-11
NTr. StOry's Monument plan.

. monument. re-orened the controversy on this
I seemingly ineXhaustible subject,-no doubt 10
the chagTin Of those in whose charge il is The
! repeatedly rejected offers of many renowned
artists and architects. including the members
. or The American Institute OF Architects, (aS a
oCdy. 10 assist In bringing about such changes
in The accepted and partly executed design.
( which would make il something of which orr
country may be proud. and hot 10 add one more
or the monuments which are unworthy OF oar
eminence among nations. and contrary 10 an
canoDS of good taste" taS Mr. story SaySA
should. ii seems. have by this time convInced
every body that the Monument Commission are
determined 10 fOlst upon the American people a
Kind OF monument, viz: the obelisk. which Mr.
story very correctly calls s.the refuge OF fnc0m-
potency in architecture TO which an architect re-
sorts when he has no fCeaS." In refusing To
accept Mr.. Storys hastily caught-Jp and hur-
riedly conceived design, the Monument Com
mission Is no more than consistent with its
past acts; which acts in this ease however
dlfer In their results from most OF the former
ones, for they will, in this instance be the cause
OF leaving untarnlShed the fair fame OF the re-
nOHned sculptor.
Mr.. story says:-'.An obelisk rising out OF 4
Grecian colonnade, is evidently the greatest
architectural anomaly and absurdity that ever
was imagined" This criticism OF the accepted
design Is so very correct and so frankly eX-
pressed that one cannot fail see in IL the true
artist who. justly indignant at this anomaly
and abSurdity. haStenS 10 avail himself OF tho
last opportunity TO huTl his anat hena I'm n snarn
ard frank criticism. accompanied BY design OF
hls own as a substitute for that which he con
OF Mf. STORY invites the imitation OF others: and
more 6sIecially 4 frank crit iciSm applied 10 him
sell lie has evidently either mis1parehendai
or m1>tspd tie high Office OF arCbiiaciura Tho
dignity or architecture is always and Justly
thendcd wien she is made a mere convenience
cf, TO display Statu3ry and bronze doors
thoCSh thiS Is a frequent occurrence with dilet-
tantl IN architecture. Mr.. Story SAYS very truly
that an obelSk rising out OF Gfecian colon
made IS the greatest abSurdity. RgJt is q Fiorea-
tine tampanlie. 425 feet high. Rising out OF a
~. D .r,a
ana ao2uldilN, especially when that particD has
ICur portals Which lead nowhere aud two doors
WAlch do not open?
Mr. story calls this obPlisl5 the talleSt chin,
hey III the world, and perhaps the UGllest which
has nothing American in its character NOTHING
indicating 1t TO be monument 10 Washington
ara llOtblng either original or beautiful or cnar-
acteIlstic in its design Mr.. STOiy'S criticism
is again correct But what would be gained by
changing the talleSt chimney (wltl any
smoke in the world into the Iallest bell-tower
without any DellS) in the world. And how
could this dumb belI-tower have anything
american I'D character?-it might have, per
hapS, py substituting huge engine house for a
Church structure TO which the campanile is a
characteristic accessory, kaS. for instance the
cainpanile Of the st. AloySiuS' church In our
city, But Willie the metamOrDAOSiS of tins
AmeTlcanKng FloTentine campanile might he
regarded as American in character, original
beautiful and even characteristic In design. its
appropriateness in this instance may be cues
toned The result thus obtaiued would Ger
talDly hc better suited for a stand-pipe TO the
city water works: and il ii were adorned with
tie figure of a fireman put in 9 conspicuous
place, SAY III the porico) and III IL We're pro-
Vlded with bronze doors figured over with the
principal events and hardShips Of 1iremans
life, this structure might then be an appropriate
monument for some grand chief OF the fire de
partment-a position. however, which. unfortu-
nately for Mr.. Story's design, Washington never
occupied.
Mr. story asks furthe What has an obp-
ilsk TO do with Washington? How does il illus
uate his character and services, his personality
or hlstory-or the events ard re sons and coun-
uy with which he is associated" All these
questions are very pertinent, bit they are
equally unanswerable by the designer OF the
taEesf chimney IN the world. as they are. by
Inc designer of the latest bell-tower in the
world. Ii is not mere quantity, but refined
qCallty that our advanced age demands: not Il
vulgar ciSplay OF materials eXtravagantly eX-
IenSlVe. but Ideas hewn in imperishabe stone
which will bot only inform future generations
OF our appreciation OF him TO whose memory
l1e nation has erected lasting monument. but
also inform them that our generation was Dos
seSSed OF some culture AID taste in fine art
AS to tie execution OF his design Mr.. story IS
evidently complete diettanti lie does not
Know, or even imagine the technical difficulties
Wnlch lie In It's way. The execution OF his de
sign, rlT"l'e5ly carried ont. would require the
demolition OF the entire shaft as il stands. in
Wnich event II would unqueStiOnably he prefer
able tG take M the present insufficient founda-
uon also, and start anew. This done. why could
not the commission accept Senator Morrill's
Idea OF erecting grand triumphal arch in
nolof OF Washington, using all the materials
again? There is no professional architect nor
evenan ordinary mechanic whose practice has
given him some skill in construction who would
lot shrink from a patchwork such as the eXecU-
ton OF Nj. StOry'S design would otherwise ne
cesStaIe. monument OF such dimensions,
Win an underplnned foundation and patched
up SuperstIucture could never be permanent.
aid could only result in national dlSaDDopt,
ment.
In regard to its cost Mr.. Story SAWS. 81
scarcely think il would be much more than that
involved In carrying the plain obe!isk 70 the
pioposeu nlght IL VIII, no doubt, surprise
MI story TO learn that the difference between
the cost or his design, executed as he cOntem-
Plated, If carried only up TO the present hight
li5 feetl-that this difference would be more
tnan doubie what the whole obelisk would cost
II finished Of the same stone q. e. MARYLAND
maIble) and Of the proposed hight, exclusive OF
statuary and bronze doors.
Every citizen Of the United States. native
born or adopted takes ali interest in this ma
tlonal monument. Many have contributed TO
It's erection in times past, and it is therefore
very proper. IN TACT. desirable for the commits
sion 10 receive suggestions and honest cri, j.
cism. IL the commission could only De Induced
uticfe gong any further in this matter, 10 n-
Nlte the genius and talent OF the country To
submit designs and make practical suggestions
much COED would, no d0CJt, result from il
Scuiptors would Unite with architects ia ioint
eHoltS 10 create work or art which in gran
GeCr OF conception. in dignity and beauty, would
be credit TO the nation, and worthy of the
grand ana loity character Which it would COM
hehlufate j. l.. SaITHMEYER.
FIVE THOUSAND DIsCONTEHDED INDIANS START
On RAiD.-AdVlceS from Fort Sill state that
the Indians there have been greatly d;scon-
tented Tor two months, and that recently 3 OO0
OF them started Southward. and We're soon
neard from as depredating upon the ranchmen.
1helf excuse was that they have been starved
at the agency, and proposed TO Kill such cattle
as they needed for Sustenance. The military
were sent after them, and they were overtaken
on !he boundary between the Indian Territory
ana texas. Gen. Sheridan has telegraphed
PERMISSION TO issue beef to them until further
Instructions The Indians are mainly the dan
gerouS Comanches, Apaches. and kiowas
OHIO GREENBACKERS.-1he Ohio state central
committee OF the national greenback labor
party met in Columbus Thursday, eighteen out
OF twenty districts being represented. It was
decided to take steps for more thoroughly Or
ganH1ng the party for the next campaign and
10 hold state convention In that city on the
first Wednesday in June next.
TERRIBLE ACCIDENT occurred a few dayS
ago in the Commune of Chapelle- -MOche, In the
Orne. crowd OF children, numbering -, were
slid1ng On deep pond near the village. when
uddenly the ice broke, and As were precipitated
% the bottom or the pond, from which their
bodies were taken out lifeleSS.