Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-10-22
LAFAYETTE SQUARE.
NOTES ANENT AN INTERESTING POINT FOR THE
YORKTOWN CENTENNIALISTS.
BY GLYNrr NNEs.

The historic and no less grateful relation
which the name Of Lafayette bears towards
these populous and prosperous United States
has been quickened by the presence on our
teeming shores of the descendants Of Gilbert
Motier de Lafayette and by the one hundredth
anniversary OF capitulatiOn In the bringing
about OF which his courage and sacrifices 30
materially assisted, and the result whereof was
the triumph Of the cause Of peoples legiti-
mate freedom. The citizens of Washington
have bestirred themselves to give to these dis
tinguished gentlemen from across the sea, a
welcome which should do honor to their guests
and to the capital of . nation whose present
destiny Lafayette did much to render possible.
There are within and surrounding the national
metropolis host of points objective for the re-
turning Yorktown visitors, but there is onethat
shall claim and receive we fancy, its special
share of observation.
Immediately opposite the north front of the
Executive mansion there is bit of sylvan
Father of his Country and the Frenchman's
frlend gave his name, feels an especially pleas
ant pride during this centennial period Other
cities may possess an urban feature now and in
connection with the cOuntrys expected visitors
so peculiarly attractive, but they lack in every
instance that intense vitality and graceful
meaning which clothes the name of WASH
ingtOn'S.
LAFAYETTE SQUARE.
This is an old institution, a local landmark,
II other than crumbling and UNCOVERED walls
may merit the distinction. Indeed they claim
it to be the first independent government park
that received horticultural attention, and GER
talnly abundant proof of such an assertion is not
wanting within it's iron enclosure. Things were
done differently in those days however, and the
equestrian statue of Andrew Jackson, which to-
day forms it's great artistic alurement, was put
in place and unveiled while yet the square was
but an unimproved government reservation.
On January 8, 1853, the thirty-eighth anniver-
sary of the battle of New Orleans the statue was
inaugurated, and within that year the work of
laying out and planting the square was COM
menced by Downing, of Fishkill, N. Y, the
then only American landscape gardener Of any
celebrity. He afterwards planned the Smithsonian
grounds: He lost his life on the fated steamer
Henry Clay, which was burned on the Hudson
many years ago, and from which we believe
Mrs. Hemans drew the inspiration for her well
known and much parodied poem Casabanca.
saunter through the many and winding
walks of this eight-acre park WILL if one is
luckily accompanied by Mr.. E. F. Austin, the
courteous and well-informed head keeper, re-
suit in the acquisition of a store of knowledge
anent trees and bushes and things botanical.
Forest monarchs are there, it's said, from every
quarter Of the globe. Spanish chestnuts from
Switzerland may be seen, several of which were
millionaire, whose mansion is contiguous, and
who, en- pdssdnt, has always evinced a deep in
terest in the park, also fine old elms, English
and American, which principally border the
grounds on their four sides within the iron
fencing Those along the II street, or north
front, were planted in 1926, ere yet Lafayette
Square had existence, and the one at the 1515
and H streets, or northeast, gate, was struck by
lightning some twenty years ago, the bolt split
ting down its huge trunk and rendering an iron
hio In1 I,o;,,
now scarcely discerned through the over-grown
bark. veritable cedar of Lebanon attracts
attention, the only one of its kind a gentleman
has said, to be found on these shores; two or
three hardy representatives of the Norway
spruce; also the mountain maple from the Pyre-
nees; the PaulOnia (Kirir) Of the Japanese;
which flowers every second season; the Rhode
dendrum from the Himaaya mountains, of
small growth here. however, and in England,
though on British estates it is planted in soil
especially imported from it's Asiatic home. The
catalpa. whose questionable fruit-the smoking
bean-is a boon to small boys who would ape
their elders; the cedar deodara. known in the
south as it's free translatiOn-God given-might
imply blessing of Heaven. and esteemed the
finest of it's species. The severe winter of last
year killed several Of these and of English
holIys and right herei it may be appropriate to re-
mind one of the retarding effects which the long
prevalent drought has had upon the parks
foliage. large and small, so that visitors thereto
these pleasant autumn days may not, because
of this article, pitch too high their expectations
The Mexican acacia is likewise to be seen; also
the horny beech, or, to use it's technical name,
the horn bean, the only one of its kind in the
city; the grandi flora magnolia, small here
compared with it's majestic height farther south,
detected from affair."; the California oak; the
sugar maple and white pine from away down
east; the hOrse-chestnut, or ''buck-eye," from
the western reserve of Ohio; the beech in its
several varieties and the trunk of one of which
near the southeast gate. bears the initials vet
which the soldiers encamped near by cut thereon
during the war period. Altogether the trees,
bushes, plants and parterres of brilliant colias
and geraniums, number, perhaps, five hundred.
Mention might now be made Of
THE JACKSON EQUESTRIAN STATUE.
This is located in the center of the square and
on rise, rail enclosed. of about six feet in
height, and, perhaps, fifty in circumference at
the base. The pedestal is of Easton granite,
OblOng in shape and eight and half feet high.
field artillery, bodies mock def1ance-but of these
more anon. The statue-whereof it is to be OBJ
served the dress and equipments of man and
horse, are perfect copies Of the originals-faces
the west 1t was, as is generally known cast
from captured cannon, and the sculptor. Clark
Mills, used to practice with plunging and rear
ing horses On the government stables pasture
in perfecting his model. The pose of the eques-
trian figure is most natural albeit trifie lively,
and one feels in gazing On it an inward pity for
the sarcastic Thackeray who, after eyeing the
horse, thrown nearly back on his launches,
timidly inquired where were the rockers But
then he was an enviOus Englishman. No
American, we fancy, can find fault with
the equine attitude if once he recognizes that
heroic poses may as properly be brought out in
statuary as on canvass. The details are such
that a veteran dragOon could find nothing omit
ted-either in the almost breathing person of
Jackson as he sits the saddle hisleft hand grasp
ing the reins and his right extended aloft, hold
ing his KOssuth, or in the trappings of the noble
animal supporting him. Ere leaving this sub
ject it may be as well to reassert here what has
often been authortatively stated, and yet meets
with many doubling ThOmases, that the Jack
son statue as here described is not braced or
fastened in any way to the pedestal wherein the
chargers hind feet give it rest. So far as me-
chanical appliances to secure it are concerned it
might have fallen from it's height long ago. The
simple secret of it's maintenance there in such q
seemingly dangerous attitude lies in the unerring
laws Of gravitation. The hind legs are solid, and
from them upward through horse and rider the
hollow character Of the statue increases until
the head of the latter is reached. Thus graded
with utmost nicely the weight is made to fall
entirely on the one point. Apropos it is said of
the sculptor, that in trying to beat this theory
cherished one of hiS-into thu hood Of