Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1881-03-21
lCOMMUNlCATED.
4 kaIidiscOpie Monument,

4 Kaleidoscope Monument,
Celtsia sign boards, by reason Of being psint.
o. on slsis, read differently as they are viewed
from right, left or front. Tho efeot is curious.
tho device Ingenious, tui not iaexp icablr, and
hundreds Of such chapgeable signs arc Aosttcr-
ed throughout the country. Washington city,
however. hes tho rround boast of possessing
stately monument of solid marble, elasticity
designed, exq1lstcly scuIptured, the pride and
ornament OF her principal thoroughiare. which
changes daily, weekly or monthly with public
events. and displays to men end gods pro-
phot;c verde! Of history 90 tho fantastic cspers
which little men arc wont 10 cut before high
Heaven ct either end Of tho Avenue.
The mutations of tho monument arc appa-
rcbt OF y to the eye of the philosopher and pa.
triot. 10 some the beautiful erection is a taste
iu meml)r 10 tho naval heroes of tho rcosbt
war. marred only BY 40 lily wooded inscription:
to some other 1t is an obstruction to travel; TO
others fine place for darkics to loaf and sun
thcms. Ives 10 public, and tho tcup!or inteLd
ca the browning figures to represent Columbia
weeping over tho names Of hur los! heroes IS
and this is tie general, received and cyery
day mcaninp Of tho classic creation.
10 tho rtfl2otlog mind OF tho PHILOSOPHER the
changes 10 tho lessons and meabirg of the fig
ures, and even 10 their personality, arc rapid
end often remarkable. Sometimes pleasant
often patriotic-very often sad, and ct times,
personal. Will the writer ever forgot seeing on
the first of January lest, Coluwbs transformed
ubto his better half, weeping over tho long roll
OF bcCkon resolutions Of abstinence aud amends
mont, which stcrn mother in law, 10 the form
OF history. n0lated cut 10 tho uuflatteriug ro-
cord of years Como by. No Never The i'm
preston has boon too recently and deenty re-
called by Grain episodes of the ''22ni, >" "the
Inauguration" ard "St. Patrick's duy in tho
m0r0lrg," or, rather. the nC xt morning.
But tho political changes of the monumental
figures are truly startling and significant. For
tn, four long, weary years of tho driveliog ed
mins,ratiop lst past, Columbia has stood weep
Ing lDconsolsOly over tile worthless names which
party rapaclty or tiuckliog subscrQaucy wero
lnSotlblpg on the roll Of honor-iho public psy
roll. Her tears flowed afrcsh ns each worthy
Uolon soldier Was sacrificed to mako soon for
political bummers. AID tho book 10 history's
hand assumed. to tho obsarVant eye the like
ness OF e lost Of bread-ot the cbldreu's bread
wbich was being given to the dogs.
"a loaugursllon day. doubtless Columbus
ttars were silently shed behind her Gown of
lowerS, IN the notifying regret that sectional
hate Oh tho cue hand and tho bIuadcriug s:u,
pldy OF party leaders or tho other, forbade
history iIlnMinatiog tho P.esidcnttl rcl with
tho glorious mama Of tho supc,b soldier, whose
iatell'gant white m. iyrity Of million votes,
Was oversllughed By tho herd of dumb driven
oattle-tbc ignorant brute mass Of halt civilized
Africans.
Si5co thea the present writer has no.ic,d
surprHiGg variety 10 tho significance of these
monumental figures. Plainly to ba seen was
the figure OF history, typii5ing Galfiod's look.
l!g over tito roll for the names of the s;alwart
friends who had nominated and elected him,
and Cclunbla. representing rapubcapism,
weeping at the ingrsltude which failed to fad,
or place there, those deserving ffonds-deserv
ICE IS the sckals deserve tho offa that tho lion
leavts-,he bones no is too eorged to rick.
at times tic figure Of Columbia recalls demo
crazy weeping Gears of bitter regret over the
record OF the party folcs of the pas, ov,r tho
brog and blustcr Of tho 45sh and the SAY
nothing AID do less" poIicy of tho 10th Con.
gresl.
Tho memories Of wasted opportunities arc
DHter, Rod the genius or democracy mOurns
glorious char rs 1eebly FILTERED away.
There is an almost painful distirc ness 10 ono
0t tho most rnoent sod distressing changes OF
these marble figures. Tear bowed Columbia b.
comes Virgiuia-the honored mothor of States
md weeping bitter tears of poignant
shame and remorso to sec history sulIy her glo
riou4 aud hnnored senatorial roll, with tho
nome aud actions OF rccrosut sou, who, under
The black banner Of reputation avows himself
w'lil"g to "buaS with tho hounds who hayo
Iavagad her basCr!-Rho iguomiaously trails
hcr senatorial toga 10 tho filthy miro Of partizau
barter and--for piiO3--tor the psltry loaves
and hshcs Of federal patronage, unjlushirgly
bc:rayS sacred trust couGdcd 70 his honor.
Macy o'h@r changes may BE- noted 10 tho
sliiInng mutations OF these monumental cfhgios
bnS so mover expect 10 chronicle saddcr or
innrr rlt,tn! oGo tha1 this last J,C,P,