The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-10-02
Gernania.
Description of the Great National Monu-
ment dedicated last Friday.

The Niederwald, on which the monument
is erected, is over 700 feet high, and the spot
chosen overlooks one of the most beautiful
points on the river-where the troops
marched past into the war, and where King
William, returning from France, 'ssaluted
the Rhine for the first time as Kaisero The
monument attains the heighG of ITO feet,
consisting of substructure, quadrangular
stone base containing relief, pedestal and
the figure of Germania, the latter being
about 33 feet in height In front of the
substlucture there are sculptured the fig
ures of Father Rhine and the nymph Mo-
selle. The Moselle is represented by a
young woman of ideal beauty, who is re-
ceiving from the hands of Father Rhine a
large watch horn, which, presumably, she is
to use as a means of call for assistance in
case she should be again attacked. On this
substructure rests the broad base of the
monument, in the front of which the great
relief representing the Emperor and his gen.
erals is let in. At either side are figures,
the one symbolizing 'War'' being represent
ed by young Roman warrior, with drawn
sword, calling his comrades together by the
sound of the trumpet to defend the threat
ened fatherland. The other statue is an an
gelic figure representing "Peace." The
grand relief in front of the base is
a marvellous piece of work. On it are
represented the Kaiser William on horse
back surrounded by all the German kings
and princes who declared him Emperor, and
the statesmen, generals, and other represen-
tatives of the army who assisted at the scene
in Versailles. This relief is composed of no
less than 1873 life-size figures, of which 12O
arc accurate likenesses. Behind the Emper-
or is a dais, on the steps leading up to which
stand the German kings, grand dukes and
princes who, while not present with the ar
nav or at Versailles, gave their support to
the declaration of the empire. The row of
princes begins with King Ludwig Ii. of Ba-
yaria, and ends on the right with old King
John of Saxony. In the foreground, imme-
diately to the left of the Emperor, is the Iron
Chancellor; to the right the silent Motke.
Near Count Moltke is a group composed of
Prince Frederick Charles, commander of the
Second Army. and the Crown Prince Albert
of Saxony. The Two other relfefs on the
sides OF the square represent "The Departure
for the War" and "The Return from the
War" The pedestal is crowned by the i'm
posing form of Germania, figure OF classic
beauty. Her left arm rests on the imperial
sword, while in her right she holds up the
imperial crown which she has won. From
her shoulders hangs the imperial mantle,
richly embroidered with eagles and precious
stones Two powerful eagles support the
throne from which Germania seems to have
| just arisen. The face of Germania is striking
| ly beautiful, dignified and earnest. The
model for it was the sculptor's own child,
whose face he idealized in the national
monument. The figure was completed by
| Schilling four years ago. 1t was cast at the
foundry OF Herr Won Miller, at Munich. Sew
en- hundred and fifty hundredweights of
bronze were required for the statue, old
ployed, for it had been ordered that no French
Guns should be used.