The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1881-10-28

gZSL8WSES :sSSMEXEMG M
DRAFT OF THE YORKTOWN MONUMENT.
One hundred yeers have elapsed since the
Continental Congress joyfully voted to erect
a monument on the field were the last and the
decisive blow was struck for American inde-
peudence. 1t was on October %, 1871, that
the resolution wal adopted pledging the new
Nation to this act. The news OF Cornwallis's
surrender had reached Philadelphia the
night BEFORE almost week after the occur
reuce. Great was the rejoicing thereat, and
although it was near midnight when the
courier arrived, not many minutes elapsed
before the entire city new the glad tidings.
When Congress met, its President, Thomas
Mexican, read the dispatches from General
Washington, and then the members decided
10 march in a body TO the nearest church
and return thanks to the Almighty. After
that the resolution for the building of the
monument was passed. The subsequent
financial difficulties of the new Government
led to the silent neglect OF The project, and
when money was more plentiful it was en-
tirely forgotten. The approach of the CEN
teuiary Of the important victory led to the
appropriation of $4,000, wherewith to re-
deem the pledge made so long ago.
On Tuesday, Tie 18th, the Cornerstone of
the monument was laid on the Yorktown
battlefield by the Grand Master OF Masons
in Virginia, assisted by the Grand Lodges of
the thirteen original States. This is the ceu-
tenuial anniversary of the sure nder of 5000
British troops to the allied French and
American forces. The chair occupied by the
Grand Master on this occasion was the one
which Lord BotIetourt, when loyal Governor
of the Old Dominion, presented to the Grand
Lodge of Virginia, and in which George
Washington sat while Grand Master OF VIr-
ginia Masons. The sash and apron worn b.
Grand Master Peyton s. Coles, of Virginia,
were worked by Mrs. Lafayette and presented
to Washington in 1854 at Mount Vernon.
Afterward, in 1912, they were given to the
Washington Lodge, OF Alexandria, Va, by
Major Lawrence Lewis. The gavel was
made from portion of the quarter deck of
the Uni ted States frigate Lawrence, flagship
of Commodore Perry, at the battle and victo-
ry of Lake Erie, September 10, 1913, aud was
presented TO the Masonic Veterans Associa-
ton by Venerable Brother M. w. Rev. Mar
shall B. Smith, june 2, 1850; mounting and
inscription presented by Venerable Brother
r. w. Zachariah Dedeiick.
The monument is TO be composed of three
parts namely A base, which, with its sty-
lobate and pediments, will be 81 feet high and
will occupy au area of 50 square feet upon
. ha nronnH. han n hiullu o.ly iup,
25s feet high and ID feet in diameter in the
form OF drum. supporting a column 60 feet
high aad u feet in diameter at the base.
This shaft Is composed of a succession of
drums, which give practical reason Cor de-
partnre from the conventional treatment
which belongs to mouolithic shafts, The joints
being masked by four bands, decorated by
laurel leaves and justiied by decoration of
stars symmetsically disposed upon them and
breaking the outline of the column. The
tiuti0gs Of the shaft appear in the lowest aud
highest sections only. The idea of the mon
unent to be conveyed in architectural Ian
guage is set forth in the dedicatory insctip-
ton, that By the victory at Yorktown the in
dependence of the United States of America
was achieved. The four sides of the base
contaiu-irst, an inscription dedicating the
monument as a memorial of this victory;
second, an INSCRIPTION giving succinct mar
rative of the siege, prepared in accordance
with the archive, in The State Department
third, the treaty of alliance with the King of
France, and. fourth, the treaty of peace with
the King of England. In the pediments over
| these four sides are respectively presented,
carved in relief-first, emblems of national
ity; second, emblems of war; third, emblems
of the alliance, aud, fourth, emblems of
peace. The base Is thus devoted to the his
| torical incidents Of the monumeata compo-
| sition, which are inseuded solely to appeal
to the imagination. To celebrate the joyful
| union of the STAGES the sculptor will repre-
sent upon the CIRCULAR podinm which arises
| from the base a solemn dance of thirteen
typical female figures, hand-in-hand, encir-
cling the drum, which bears upon belt be-
| meath their feet the words
ZONE COUNTRY, oNe CONSTITUTION, ONE
DESTINY"
As the existance of The nation is proof
of the possibility of "a government Of the
people by the people aud for the people, y
| the column thus adofued eliminates with
1 bAoVhty HoiScit, sltI-CtOWueus anu WeicOH-
ing the people of all nations to share equally
with us the fruits OF our peace and prospect
ty. Tn the lowest drum of the column is a
shield of Victory, bearing the word "York-
town." and with an olive branch appearing
behind it. The commission presents the pro-
posed Yorktown coinlna in two sizes, with a
recommendation that the larger OF the two
be adopted and the appro priation be increas-
ed to $1,000 for that purpose. The greater
monument will be IA feet high, the area of
each side of the base bearing inscriptions be-
| ing % feet BY 10i feet, and the browning fig
ure of Liberty being 16 feet in height. The
lesser design would give us monument ex-
actly half that size in every detail, The
height being 70 feet and the browning figure
feet In height. The former Is fitted to
stand in the open air and be an object of i'm
portance when placed in the midst Of historic
scenes; the latter Is better suited to an en-.
closed space where 1t would no be subjected
to the dangerous competition of natural OBJ
iects, and where its diminished size would
not interfere with its dignity as a work OF
art and with its importance as a national
monument. The present appropriation Of
500, 900 will build the small monument only
|
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