Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-09-22

ment upon the specified term. anil conditions.
TN the l4th of June in the following year.
i 1880. public meeting If citizens was called
for the purpose and a resolution adopt
ed by it requesting the city council
i to make an appropriation towards defraving
the cost of the monument, under a statute of
the State authorizing towns to appropriate
money for that purpose. The appropriation
was made in accordance with the request
The Committee of the Association ap-
pointed to select design, after inspecting
the seven de.igns presented and
listening to the arguments of some of the
competitors who desired to appear before the
committee in behalf of their designs and the
material recommended. the committee made
choice of the design presenter by Maurice J.
| Power of the National Art Foundry, New
0rk, for monument of granite with bronze
tablets, panels, embIems and surmounting
| figure.
The task of the committee was a most
difficult one. On the one hand it sought to
obtain a work which should fifty show forth
the purpose for which it was erected and tell
its story at once to the eve. and which at the
same time should possess either grandeur or
artistic beauty or both, and be enduring On
the other. choice was confined by certain
! limtations-the amount of funds accumu-
lated for the purpose, the number Of designs
presented, and the nature of the location
| selected.
The Association confirmed the selection of
| the committee and directed it to procure the
erection of the monument after the model of
the accepted design. Contracts were accord
ingly made with the Hallowell Granite
Company for the granite portion of the
| nd viii Mr. tIa
work. After the delays usually incident to
a work of this character, the monument was
completed late in tine autumn of last year,
accepted by the committee, and report of
acceptance made 20 the Association.
The entire monument is fifty feet in height.
| The base and die are hcxagonal and their
three longer sides are parallel with the
streets bounding the park. The shaft is
round column crowned with an ornamental
capital. The shaft and die are of polished
granite. A bronze tablet inserted in the
| inscription -
III honor
! Of her heroic sons .cho died
| in the
War for the Union
and to commend their example
| TO Succeeding generations
thus monument is erected
by the
City of augusta
4. d. 1881.
! The two remaining panels contain tablets
hearing the names of Augusta's dead in the
war.
| The three bronze reliefs Of the die excite
admiration by their artistic excellence and
give to the eye spirited epitome, which he
l Sc and
services of the Union soldier. The first re-
lief represents the volunteer called from the
| peaceful employments of the farm to the de-
fence of the flag, and admirably suggests the
enthusiasm of the rally, the suddenness of
the call to arms, and the fact that the Union
armies were composed of men unframed in
military exercises.
The second bronze relief pictures the battle
and the death of soldier on 1.-THE field of
honor" the third, the return from the war,
the glad welcome, and grief for ''the unre-
turning brave" At the base of the shaft ap-
pear the coats -of-arms. in bronze, of the
United States and of Maine, united by en-
| twining branches of oak and laurel, and
bronze trophy of military emblems. The
shaft is snrmounted by female figure, in
bronze, of heroic size, representing Patriot
| ISM guarding the name and fame OF her
martyr sons. In her right hand she holds the
rescued banner of her country. and her left
clasps to her breast the sword by which the
deliverance was wrought
The monument in the symmetry of its pro-
portions, the harmony OF its coloring, the
expressiveness of its designs, and its adapta-
ton to its surroundings. Is as pleasing to the
eve as its sentiment is grateful to patriotic
hearts.
OF the ten members of the building
committee of the Association. four have died
| within short space OF time-Hon. Il. ID.
Rice, Hon. J. w. North, Mr. Fri Wills, who
gave son to the roll of honor, and Capt.
Granville p. Cochrane, a gallant soldier
whose life was undoubtedly shortened by
wounds and exposure in his country's SER
vice. Mr. Geo. w. Jones, to whom the dis
tinction is accorded of being the prime mover
| of the project of erecting the monument,
lived long enough to see the success of his
enterprise assured but not long enough to
| look upon the finished work.
| Comrades of the Grand Army, we give you
hearty greeting, and thank you for the ser
| vice YOU have rendered in the ceremonies OF
the day. undaunted by the inclemency of the
skies. | am sure that it was grateful duty
to Won to assist in paying tribute of honor to
our comrades who have passed on to the
eternal bivouac.
We welcome YOU ALL fellow citizens, who
|
Inv your attendance, whether in association
or as individual. We regret with you that
the unfavorable character of the day has pre-
vented the carving out of the dedicatorv ex-
| ercises as arranged. Although the form OF
our ceremony has been mutilated, with none
the less sincerity and earnestness OF spirit DO
we dedicate our monument to our heroic
dead in the hope and trust that as long as
stone and bronze may resist the elements II
willy stand. as now. on the soil of the great
republic. bearing silent yet eloquent witness
of the cost and worth of free government.
Gen. John l.. Swift, the orator OF the eve
ming. is a fine looking gentlemen at the me-
r;dian of life. His fresh complexion. grey
moustache. and courtly bearing, call to mind
pictures of French noblemen of the old re-
oime. Gen. Swift spoke about an hour, and
his Grafton was frequently applauded- We
present it IN full to our readers this morning
| A familiar NEUROLOGICAL fable teaches the